June 10th Meeting

June is our annual member exhibition.  Please bring something in to share with the group. This is always a fun meeting ,seeing the variety of different projects.

We also have the 4bd ft Poplar challenge. The members will be voting on which build they like the best and that will determine the Rockler gift card awards. 

Hope to see everyone there.

May 13th Meeting- Reproduction John Townsend Document Chest

 Ray Spitz-Becker a professional Violin maker and restorer will be rescheduled for September.

Marc going to talk about the reproduction John Townsend Document Chest that is now completed. This was probably the most complicated piece he has built, since there were over 250 dovetails with the majority half blind. Much of the work had to be done with hand tools to duplicate the moldings  and the carved elements. It still amazes Marc that the original was built around 1760 in Newport RI.

April 8th Meeting

This month’s meeting will start with Carl Anderson discussing and demonstrating a Shooting Board. This process is a very effective way to precisely fit parts together.

Steve Altman will follow with a talk on Accuracy in Joinery and the clamps and glue type chosen for precise glue ups. He will bring one of his recent boxes to show specific joinery that’s used. He will also talk about the 4 miter planes that he uses in hand tool joinery. Steve is always an interesting and entertaining presenter, so this talk shouldn’t be missed.

Marc Gaertner will finish with a build in process, of an 18 century reproduction Document Chest that was originally built by John Townsend in Newport RI around 1760. Although this piece is small it is very complicated and he’s been working on it for the past 3 months.

This meeting is open to all, members and guests are most welcome!

March 11 Meeting

Sondra Flite will host and lead a discussion on Sculptural Carving.  

Many of us have witnessed Sondra use her creative abilities and vision to take an unassuming stick and turn it into a unique piece of art.  She will share some history and techniques used.  Anyone that has done any of this type of work is encouraged to bring it in to share to make our presentation a most interesting experience.

Club member Jerry Seid befriended the late Robert Whitley, a Bucks County Studio Furniture Maker.  Before Robert passed, he gave Jerry a box of parts to one of his famous rocking chairs.  Most of these parts were milled, some were near complete, and one spindle was missing to complete the chair.  Well, I accepted the challenge  of assembling the chair and finishing it.  Marc Gaertner came over and we spent some time working on this together.  As I write this was, the last parts of the chair were assembled yesterday.  Now I have to detail and finish.  This chair and a brief story of Robert Whitley will be on display on Wednesday.

 

The Tool of the Month will be the Japanese Hand Saw.  Robert Hess predominately uses  these saws in his shop when making his musical instruments.  Robert has quite a few and will introduce us to the world of a saw that cuts on the pull stroke.

February 11th Meeting

Our next meeting on Wednesday, February 11, will welcome guest presenter William Robbins

and his work. William has been involved with the custom and studio furniture craft in our

local region for years now, and is a continued presence at the Philadelphia Museum of Art

Craft Show as well as other shows in the area.

William has a unique line of work that is highly creative, drawing from traditional methods of

construction while exploring new envisioned designs from within. Just a visit to his website at

https://www.williamrobbinsfurniture.com and you will find a varied assortment of builds from

traditional americana to contemporary studio pieces.

Our next meeting on Wednesday, February 11, will welcome guest presenter William Robbinsand his work. William has been involved with the custom and studio furniture craft in ourlocal region for years now, and is a continued presence at the Philadelphia Museum of ArtCraft Show as well as other shows in the area.William has a unique line of work that is highly creative, drawing from traditional methods ofconstruction while exploring new envisioned designs from within. Just a visit to his website athttps://www.williamrobbinsfurniture.com and you will find a varied assortment of builds fromtraditional americana to contemporary studio pieces.