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The West Virginia Woodturners Association provides woodturners in southeastern West Virginia and western Virginia with an opportunity to meet other turners, enhance their skills, and share their skills and interests in woodturning. Send an email to info@wvwoodturners.com to request additional information about the club and its activities.

Are You Safe?

All turners are concerned about safety in the shop, but how safe are you? Take this assessment and it will probably include several topics you may not have considered. Additional articles about woodturner safety are included in the new Safety page.

***** Regular Meetings Resume *****

Regular meetings are now scheduled for the rest of the year. Check the Schedule page to see the activities, demonstrations and challenges that are planned.

Next Meeting: May 21 at Harmony Wood Arts in Beckley

The WVWA Board has decided that it is time to begin regular monthly meetings again. The Club will meet at 9:00 AM at the Harmony Wood Arts studio in Beckley on May 21. Come early and have coffee and donuts with friends for the first time in 2 years.

After Jerald Carter demonstrates segmented bowl turning, the Club's semi-annual wood and tool auction will take place. Check your tool crib and wood storage areas and if you find surplus items, bring them to the auction. Woodcraft has donated a nice tool for the auction and Got Wood has graciously donated several bowl and spindle blanks. Support the Club and bring home some new treasures!

Directions to Harmony Wood Arts

From Lewisburg: Take I64 west to Beckley. Continue on I64W/I77N to exit 44 (Harper Rd). Turn right and follow Harper Rd east. In 2.1 miles Harper Rd will turn into Neville St as you cross SR16 and reach down town. Continue on Neville St to Woodlawn Ave. Harmony Wood Arts is in the red brick building (on your right) on the corner of Woodlawn and Neville. Look for "Ax Hole" signs. Parking as described below.

From the north: Follow US19S to North Beckley exit. At bottom of ramp turn left onto US19/SR16. In 3.4 miles bear right (south) onto SR16. In 2.3 miles turn left onto Neville St. Continue to 328 Neville St.

Address: 328 Neville St (Same building as "Ax Hole". Enter thru door on Woodlawn Ave; Down 3 flights of stairs; Free parking in gravel and paved lots across the street, free on-street parking on weekends and after 5 PM during the week, free parking in municipal parking lot (on left just before getting to Woodlawn Ave.)

The June meeting will be held at Montwell Commons on June 25.

Second Class: WVWA / Carnegie Hall Woodturning 101 Class

The second Woodturning 101 class is well underway with (L to r) Mary Vigueras, Dennis Ott, John Wooton, and Michael Lentz showing off their natural edge bowls.

Their next project was pen turning and they created some very special pens.

After learning basic tool handling skills, their first project was to turn a flat rimmed bowl. They are proud of their accomplishment!

Turning Tips

This new section is intended to give the Club members an opportunity to share some of their tips that help them create high quality turnings. Tips can refer to turning techniques, methods of finishing, specialized tools and jigs, or anything else that might help another person become a better turner.

Gary DeGraff has offered this description of how he produces a flawless finish. "My finishing procedure includes cleaning the bowl with denatured alcohol between sanding grits. This removes any dust and grit remaining from the sanding. Once I have completed sanding with 400 grit, I apply a coat of sanding sealer. When dry I sand with 400g again and apply another coat of sanding sealer. I continue this procedure with 600 grit and stop when the surface looks and feels the way I want it. I then apply Shine Juice, which is a friction polish. I apply 2 or 3 coats with a soft paper towel until I get the finish I like."

Gary makes his "Shine Juice" by mixing equal parts of clear shellac, boiled linseed oil, and denatured alcohol.

For further information about any WVWA activity, call Gary DeGraff at (314)640-3863.

Supporting Companies

We would like to thank these companies for the support they have provided to the Club during the past year. Check out their websites when you are ready to purchase products that they stock.

Craft Supplies USA is a one-stop shopping site for everything a wood turner might need or want - lathes, tools, accessories, project supplies, materials, and more.

Woodcraft offers a 10% discount at the Roanoke store to WVWA members when they show a current membership card.

TurnTex supplies acrylic casting resin, solutions for stabilizing and hardening punky and spalted wood, and associated equipment.