Monthly Newsletter
Fiddlers Grove Woodcarvers
Lebanon, TN
February 12, 2022
Meeting Conducted By: Rich Patterson
Location: Town Hall, Fiddlers Grove
Number in Attendance: 7 Visitors: 0
Old Business:
We had a lengthy discussion about presenting sharpening classes at our monthly meetings throughout 2022. We brainstormed the topics we would like to see presented/covered by discussions and/or demonstrations as indicated below. This list is not a comprehensive list and members are welcome to let me know of anything related to sharpening that is not included on this list. Many items on the list can/will be combined with other items so that each item on the list won't be a discrete/stand alone topic. The topics below are not in any specific order.
- How and when to use leather, cardboard, MDF, cotton/muslin, slotted vs not slotted wheels, shapes and sizes of wheels to include the benefits and drawbacks of each.
- How to sharpen a "V" tool.
- How to sharpen gouges in general.
- How to build your own sharpening system using drills, motors, etc.
- Water vs oil vs diamond sharpening stones -- uses, benefits and drawbacks.
- How to do power sharpening -- benefits and drawbacks.
- Using the rough vs smooth side of leather.
- How to know when you are done sharpening.
- Different stropping compounds -- green, yellow, black, red, white, gray, brown, etc. Lapping compounds, aluminum oxide, etc. When/how to use benefits and drawbacks.
- How to sharpen fishtail gouges.
- How to sharpen micro-tools.
- Angles to sharpen knives, gouges, chisels, etc.
- Techniques for sharpening with sandpaper to include types of sandpaper, grits, etc.
- Making strops -- benefits and drawbacks of various types of leather, leather vs sandpaper, size, etc..
- How to restore tools to include abused tools, dropped tools, etc.
New Business:
Rich indicated that he will update the website to include consolidating the newsletters for 2021 into a separate page to make it easier to find the 2022 newsletters. He also indicated that he would update the "Links" and "Events" pages to reflect the woodcarving workshops/seminars/shows that have been announced for 2022. As additional workshops are announced, these pages will be updated. Go to the Links and Events pages on the website to see the current information.
The club members were reminded to pay their 2022 dues which is $20 for the year.
Patricia, the club's treasurer, indicated that, as of December 31, 2021, the treasury had $1853.79.
Show & Tell
Three members had carvings to show at the meeting. First, Dennis had a relief carving of a humming bird and a flower as well as an ornate coffee scoop.
Jon made a buzzard out of scrap wood one day to amuse himself!
Joe displayed two large carvings that he made at the Geisler-Moroder Woodcarving School in Elbigenalp, Austria. Joe lived in Germany for five years and has attended the school for about seven years. He described the courses of instruction at the school (what and how they teach) and highly recommended the school. He also discussed in detail how the school paints their carvings. First, they seal the carving using rabbit skin glue heated in water and made very thin. After 24-hours or so, they paint the carving using watercolors mixed with a stain made from ground walnut shells. His carvings (below) were painted using the techniques taught at the school. Note: The smaller face carving in the second picture was a test piece using a stain made from steel wool disolved in vinegar. For more information on the Geisler-Moroder Woodcarving School, click here then click on the "English" button in the upper left hand corner of the page. To download a copy of the course program (in English) for 2022, click here.
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