April Membership Meeting

This month we are having the first of our two Annual Mini Symposiums. For those of you who not attended one, these are meetings where several of our members demonstrate various techniques that have to do with wood turning. These are only possible because our members take this time to share their knowledge with us. Demonstrations wil include everything from sharpening your turning tools (the most important part of turning), to pen turning, to hollowing, and enhancing your turnings.

This time, at a minimum, we will have:

  • Carol Zandell
  • Tammie Bachmeier
  • Michael Poirier
  • Roy Lane
  • Stephany Lane
  • Ken Light
  • Pat McCart

I say at a minimum because we usually have some last minute person who also is willing to demonstrate.

This is a very informal event, so please come and join in the comaraderie.

Two last things,

Pat’s demonstration on tool sharpening depends on you bringing in your new or dull tools.

And we will be having only the Show part of the Show and Tell. So bring in your objets d’art and let the others see them.

AAW / demonstrator / Membership Meeting / techniques / woodturning events

What’s Happening at Other Chapters

The Northwest Woodturners in Beaverton, OR will be meeting on April 7th. Terry Gerros will demonstrate making twists on the lathe.

The Inland Northwest Woodturners in Spokane Valley are meeting on April 7th. This will be an open turning night with 7 lathes.

The South Coast Woodturners in Coos Bay, Oregon will be meeting on April 9th. Jon Magill will be demonstrating decorative turning.

The Mid Columbia Woodturners in Pasco, WA will be meeting on April 9th. The meeting will feature a preview of a demo to be given at the upcoming Utah Wood Turning Symposium.

The Southwest Idaho Woodturners in Boise, ID will be meeting on April 12th. The program for the evening has not been announced.

The Willamette Valley Woodturners in Salem, Oregon will be meeting on April 13th. This is a change of date for this meeting only. Walter Thies will be demonstrating.

The Seattle Woodturners are meeting on April 14th. The program will feature a tool swap and an “Ask the Mentors” panel.

The Fraser Valley Woodturners in Abbotsford, B.C. will be meeting on April 14th. Maarten Meerman will be demonstrating nano turning – how small can you go?

The Northwest Washington Woodturners in Mt. Vernon will be meeting on April 21st. Helga Winter will be demonstrating artistic embellishments.

The Cascade Woodturners in Portland, OR will be meeting on April 21st. Jim Piper will be demonstrating thin wall turnings and negative rake.

The Island Woodturners Guild on Vancouver Island will be meeting on April 23rd. Internationally known turner Trent Bosch will giving an all-day demo. He will also be conducting two, one-day hands-on workshops on the 24th and 25th.

The Olympic Peninsula Woodturners are meeting next on April 27th. The program will feature how to take a chunk of wood to a bowl blank using a chainsaw and band saw.

The Southwest Washington Woodturners will be meeting on April 27th. Kathleen Duncan will be demonstrating thin walled turning and piercing.

The Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild in Vancouver, B.C. will be meeting on April 27th. Steve Hansen will be demonstrating turning with a frog. (Yes, that’s what it says!)

The Woodturners of Olympia are meeting next on April 28th. Bob Espen will be demonstrating a box with a twist.

The Beaver State Woodturners in Eugene, Oregon are getting together on April 28th. The program for the evening has not been announced.

AAW / chapter profile / demonstrator / Membership Meeting / techniques / woodturning events

March Demonstrator – Eric Lofstrom

There is nothing more powerful than being inspired by an idea and having the confidence to create that one-of-a-kind piece on the lathe…this is what woodturning is all about! – E.Lofstrom

Eric LofstromWoodturning adventures began for me in October of 2001 at a woodworking store in Sumner, WA. Attending a free woodworking demonstration on turning pens and letter openers was all it took to hook my curiosity. Creating shavings on a lathe consumed my thoughts for the next few weeks as I wrapped my brain around how a finished piece could emerge from rough materials so quickly! After hearing all the details (several times), my wife pursued this spark of excitement and set my woodturning journey in motion with a mini lathe and tool set for Christmas. Years later, my woodturning enthusiasm continues to grow. Like many turners, my woodturning adventures began with scraps of 2x4s and “factory sharpened” tools. Several startling catches in the first few projects quickly focused me on the why and how of creating curls instead of settling for sawdust. Gaining tool control and improving my technique became a personal quest. Whether creating a fitted lid box or multi-axis turning, a translucent or winged bowl, a hollow form or exploring surface embellishments, I enjoy projects which challenge my skills and stretch my creativity.

In the fall of 2002, I began my membership in the South Puget Sound Chapter of the AAW. I served on the board of directors from 2005-2012 and have enjoyed representing our club at several woodworking shows in addition to mentoring others at our club’s monthly sawdust sessions. I began demonstrations and teaching woodturning classes at local woodworking stores in 2006. Since then, I have demonstrated at several symposiums and woodturning clubs around the Pacific Northwest. The constant exposure to other turners continues to transform my awareness and understanding of turning fundamentals.

Conscious of the importance tool control plays in creating pieces, I believe it is not only important to know which techniques work but also why they work. As a passionate teacher and woodturner, I hope to impact the world of woodturning by helping others build confidence in tool control and developing their own voice in woodturning!

AAW / demonstrator / Membership Meeting / techniques / woodturner profile / woodturning events

What’s Happening at Other Chapters

The Northwest Woodturners in Beaverton, OR will be meeting on March 3rd. This will be station demo night.

The Inland Northwest Woodturners in Spokane Valley are meeting on March 3rd. The program for the evening has not been announced.

The Southwest Idaho Woodturners in Boise, ID will be meeting on March 8th. The program for the evening has not been announced.

The Fraser Valley Woodturners in Abbotsford, B.C. will be meeting on March 10th. The meeting will feature bowl turning with FVWG member Keith Ruttan.

The Willamette Valley Woodturners in Salem, Oregon will be meeting on March 10th. Dan Tilden will demonstrate turning hollow vessels.

The Seattle Woodturners are meeting on March 10th. Stephen Hatcher will be the demonstrator. Stephen will also be conducting an all-day workshop on the 12th.

The Mid Columbia Woodturners in Pasco, WA will be meeting on March 12th. Dave Biancosino will demonstrate how to turn a turkey pot call with details on wood selection and decoration. Dave will also show how to turn an acrylic pen without chipping and getting a super gloss finish.

The Northwest Washington Woodturners in Mt. Vernon will be meeting on March 17th. International demonstrator Jimmy Clewes will be the demonstrator for the meeting. Jimmy will also teaching a members only class on Friday and will hold an all-day demo on Saturday the 19th.

The Cascade Woodturners in Portland, OR will be meeting on March 17th. Dale Larson and Mike Meredith will demonstrate spheres and threading.

The Island Woodturners Guild on Vancouver Island will be meeting on March 19th. This is a week earlier than usual. Rob Dunlop will demonstrate turning a spoon. Tim Soutar will then do a demonstration on Surface Texturing using a variety of tools including rotary cutters and a wood burner.

The Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild in Vancouver, B.C. will be meeting on March 23rd. Ed Pretty will demonstrate holding with jam chucks and Bill Fowle will demonstrate putting a picture on wood.

The Southwest Washington Woodturners will be meeting on March 23rd. The program for the evening has not been announced.

The Woodturners of Olympia are meeting next on March 24th. The program for the evening has not been announced.

The Beaver State Woodturners in Eugene, Oregon are getting together on February 25th. The program for the evening has not been announced.

The Olympic Peninsula Woodturners are meeting next on March 30th. Jay Shepard will discuss design elements for woodturners.

AAW / demonstrator / Membership Meeting / woodturning events

Woodturners of Olympia 2016 Symposium

woodturners of olympia logoThe Woodturners of Olympia are holding their 2016 symposium on July 23rd. Bob Espen will open the day followed by Michael Hosaluk. Bob will explain the why and how of filling, patching and coloring, sandblasting, and finishing burl. The Michael will discuss design considerations, then will demonstrate spindle work: bending, offset, subtractive techniques, a top, candle holder, ladle & spatula. Following lunch Michael will demonstrate a bowl with a carved element using subtractive techniques, unusual boxes and containers and artistic elements. There will also be door prizes. More information is available on their 2016 Symposium page.

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