April Demonstrator – John Beaver

john beaverWhile the focus of my demonstration is on my unique “wave” technique, my goal is for the audience to see a lot of tips and tricks that can be applied to their own designs. The genesis of my work comes from the ability to deconstruct and reconstruct a turned vessel in a number of different ways while maintaining grain and wall alignment. The advantage of my technique is it allows the turner to begin with wet logs and still build constructed turnings.

John Beaver Holly Ebony wave bowl
3.5 x 5.5 Holly / Ebony Niche Awards Finalist AAW Symposium Recognition
1. Introduction

Powerpoint presentation showing the evolution of my work and talk about design.

2. Creating The Wave

From a small block of dry wood I show the basic technique behind my “wave” design. I mark and freehand cut the block on a bandsaw, glue one layer “wave” into it, and then turn it into a bowl.

Additional Tips and Tricks:

  • steam bending with a microwave
  • tips for keeping the block aligned when reassembling
  • importance of grain direction

3. Protruding Wave

From a rough turned and dried bowl, I show the jig I made and demonstrate the steps I use to turn a bowl with a protruding wave from one piece of wood. The jig can also be used for many other applications that might not include my wave design. This is followed by discussion on how I accomplish some of the other implementations of my “wave” design.

Additional Tips and Tricks:

  • how to keep a deconstructed bowl aligned for reassembling
  • how to set depth stops for turning part of a bowl smaller
  • how to clamp and glue a deconstructed bowl back together
  • cleaning up glue squeeze out
  • cutting curves in non backed veneer with no splitting

4. Flying Rib Vase

From a rough turned end grain vase, I show how I use my jig to cut the vase apart, add the protruding ribs and reassemble the vase.

Additional Tips and Tricks.

  • clamping and gluing a round object
  • how to achieve perfect joints for gluing

To see photos of my work, please visit www.johnbeaver.net

You Could Be a Winner

aawDid you know that as a member of the AAW you are automatically entered into a monthly drawing for several nice prizes? The prizes include tuition scholarships, $100 gift certificates, sanding supplies, DVDs, chucks, grinding jigs and lathes. There have been 29 winners this year alone.

At the end of the year one lucky AAW member will win a Powermatic 3520B lathe and their designated chapter will receive a Jet 1642 or 5 Jet mini-lathes.

Is this a great benefit? Just ask John Rebman from Washington state who won the Powermatic 3520B and his club, the Woodturners of Olympia who received the Jet lathes.

Find out more about AAW membership at http://www.woodturner.org/org/mbrship/

Upcoming Woodturning Events

hub city turnersThe Hub City Turners of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan are holding their turning symposium on July 27 – 29, 2012. Demonstrators for this 3 day event include Jimmy Clewes, Beth Ireland, Michael Hosaluk and Mark Sfirri. The symposium will be held at the Kelsey Campus of SIAST. This event is all inclusive as two lunches and one dinner are included in the $295.00 price.

turn on chicagoThe Chicago Woodturners are holding Turn-On! Chicago on August 3 – 5, 2012. The 3-day event is being held at The Conference Center at the University of Saint Mary of the Lake in Mundelein, IL. Featured demonstrators include Eli Avisera, Kurt Hertzog, Stuart Batty, Dixie Biggs, John Jordan and Bob Rosand. Registration for the event is $260.00 if signed up by July 15th.

The Southwest Association of Woodturners, an organization of 24 Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas chapters of the AAW, is holding their 21st annual symposium on August 24 – 26, 2012. Demonstrators include Michael Hosaluk, Todd Hoyer, Cindy Drozda, Johannes Michelson ad Barbara Dill. The event is being held at the Waco Convention Center.

The Rocky Mountain Woodturners are holding their 14th Woodturning Symposium on September 7th – 9th, 2012. This year’s symposium features John Jordan, J. Paul Fennell, Johannes Michelsen, Trent Bosch and Allen Jensen. The symposium will be held at The Ranch / Larimer County Fair Grounds in Loveland, Colorado in the McKee building.

virginia woodturning symposiumThe Virginia Woodturners Inc. is holding the VA Woodturners Symposium on September 15 – 16, 2012. Featured demonstrators are Jimmy Clewes and Brian Noble-Marx. There will also be mentoring sessions and vendors. Two-day pass is $50 if registered by August 31.

Chapter Profile – Woodturners of the Virginias

wodturners of the virginias logoThe Woodturners of the Virginias (WoVA) is a chapter of the AAW located in the heart of the beautiful Shenandoah Valley in West Virginia. They meet the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of every month in Mt. Jackson.

The WoWV is an active group of 60 members of varying skills. The meeting on the first Saturday of the month is their normal membership meeting with business issues and upcoming events and then demonstrations. The meeting on the third Saturday is a “skill enhancement” hands-on session with mentors available.

stonewall jackson prayer treeThe members of the WoVA have an opportunity to give a second life to a historic tree. In 1862 Gen. Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson’s army of 15,000 men camped between the Middle and South Rivers. According to historical documents, Jackson attended a religious meeting during that encampment. Legend has it that he attended a prayer meeting under a towering white oak tree which has been called “Jackson’s Prayer Tree”

stonewall jackson prayer treeThat tree has now succumbed to disease and toppled. The members of WoVA have been given the opportunity by the current property owner to turn the wood from Jackson’s Prayer Tree into useful items. Planning is in the works for some of these items to be donated to various Civil War historical venues and in support of other organizations such as the Wounded Warriors. It is estimated that the tree was 350 years old.

Here is one members site with items for sale made from the Jackson Prayer Tree.

The chapter has a growing video gallery on their website to show off members work and demonstrations from their monthly meetings. They are also preparing for the upcoming Virginia Woodturning Symposium scheduled for September.

What’s Happening at Other Chapters

The Northwest Woodturners in Beaverton, Oregon will be meeting on April 5th at the former Hollywood video store at the mall. The meeting will feature current AAW President Dale Larson who will be demonstrating spheres.

The Inland Northwest Woodturners in Spokane Valley will also be holding their next meeting on April 5th. The featured demonstrator will be Ben Carpenter, a full time turning and carving artist in Moscow,Idaho, who will talk about turning, coring and design.

The Seattle Woodturners next meeting is scheduled for April 12th at the VFW hall in Redmond. The demonstrator for the evening will be John Beaver. The subject of the demo, as well as the all day demo on Friday, will be his wave bowl. John will be the SPSW demonstrator on the 19th.

The Fraser Valley Woodturners Guild in Abbotsford, B.C. are holding their next meeting on April 12th. Doug Neufeld from Neufeld Brothers in Aggazzi, B.C. will talk about getting the best wood out of a log, stump, or growth.

The Willamette Valley Woodturners in Salem, Oregon will be meeting April 12th and will have a demonstration by Terry Gerros on Keith Gotschall’s Secret Salt Shaker.

The Beaver State Woodturners in Eugene, Oregon will be meeting April 12th. Joe Essin will demonstrate peppermills.

The Cascade Woodturners membership meeting will be on April 19th At the Franklin High School wood shop. The meeting will feature a demonstration on tools by Dave Schweitzer. Dave is also having an all-day hands-on class on Saturday the 21st.

The Olympic Peninsula Woodturners will be hosting a demo by John Beaver at their meeting on April 25th. John is also the demonstrator at the SPSW April meeting.

The Greater Vancouver Woodturners Guild in Vancouver, B.C. is meeting on April 25th. The demonstrator has not yet been announced.

The Island Woodturners Guild on Vancouver Island will be meeting on April 28th and will be hosting a demonstration by Stephen Hatcher. Stephen will also be giving two two-day workshops on April 29 and 30, and May 1st and 2nd.