Here’s a quick video showing the steps to shaping a bowl from a log. This section of log was from an American Beech tree. You’ll notice the completed bowl has very thick walls – this is called “rough-turning”. Because the bowl is turned while the wood is still “wet” or green, the walls are intentionally […]
Joe Nestlerode
Setting Up an Automatic Payment and Registration System for Remote Demonstrations
I serve as the Program Director for Delaware’s AAW Affiliate Chapter, First State Woodturners. I also maintain the Chapter’s website and mailing list. Last week, Cindy Drozda hosted a remote Zoom demo for our Chapter. Prior to the event, I set up a simple system that allowed people to register and pay for the demo […]
DIY Kiln for Woodturners – A Low-cost Solution to Speed Up Drying
Why Use a Kiln? Many woodturners utilize the twice-turned method to produce bowls – the bowl is rough-turned with thick walls while the wood is still green (wet), and then it is allowed to dry before the bowl is remounted on the lathe and turned down to it’s finished thickness and shape. (The walls are […]
2019 AAW International Symposium – July 11-14th
The American Association of Woodturners’ 33rd annual International Symposium will be held this week in Raleigh, North Carolina. The conference will bring together more than more than 1300 turners from around the globe to learn, share, and celebrate the art and craft of woodturning. It is the largest woodturning event in the world. For registered […]
Teaching Woodturning to High School Students
I was thrilled to be among a group of woodturners who collaborated with faculty and staff at Mt. Pleasant High School, Wilmington, Delaware to teach woodturning to students over a three week period in April. Nine members of First State Woodturners, our local AAW Chapter, volunteered their time, tools, wood, and lathes to teach six classes […]
First State Woodturners July Field Trip
In lieu of the July meeting, First State Woodturners will be going on a Field Trip to Hearne Hardwoods in Oxford, PA on Saturday, July 9th. With over 140 species of domestic and exotic hardwood lumber in stock, Hearne Hardwoods is one of the largest specialty lumberyards in the world. They have over 20,000 square […]
Salvaging a Large Maple Covered with Burls
First State Woodturners was recently contacted by a homeowner in Wilmington who offered us a giant maple tree trunk that needed to be taken down. The trunk was approximately 45″ at the base and literally covered with burls. FSW member Eric Krum headed up the salvage operation, enlisting his neighbor John – who does tree […]
MacGyver Tip: Shine a Light Inside that Bowl or Hollow Form!
This tiny magnetic LED light is marketed as a “Tool Light”, to snap onto a screwdriver or wrench for someone working in dark, confined spaces. However I’ve found another nifty use for woodturners… (Check out the short video, above.) Available for about $7.50 from Lee Valley Tools.
First State Woodturners Awarded 2016 EOG Grant
First State Woodturners has been awarded a 2016 AAW Educational Opportunity Grant! The grant – in the amount of $1370 – will be used to purchase a portable mini-lathe, accessories, and safety gear which will facilitate our efforts to re-introduce woodturning into two local Delaware high schools. The two high schools are Mt. Pleasant High […]
Alan & Lauren Zenreich to Demo at First State Woodturners
Alan and Lauren Zenreich will give a demonstration at First State Woodturners‘ March 2nd meeting. This husband & wife team create unique woodturned jewelry. Alan demonstrates ways to create pendants using multi-axis turning, boring, and beading. A feature of the demonstration will be the use of the Joyner Off-Center Jig Chuck. Lauren has an extensive […]