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Special Interest Groups

Members have always been keen to share their knowledge and skills. Before the fires Special Interest Groups operated by demand. Members would write their availability and skill set on a white board and people interested in learning would add their name to a list. SIGs still exist under our constricted circumstances albeit in members home workshops!
Below are the classes that were conducted at our old workshop at the original Gold Rush Colony.

Past SIGs included:

Helmut Delrieux
Box Making

Helmut is more than willing to teach new and old members skills that he has mastered.

Judy Rafferty was thrilled to learn how to make a jewelry box with a glass lid.

Steve Love made this beautiful box out of Tasmanian Black Heart Sassafras.

  

John Tanner
 Turner and Carver

For quite some time now John Tanner has been sharing his expertise and knowledge of turning,tool sharpening,furniture making and carving.
Many members have availed themselves of his tuition by attending his workshop once a week for a couple of hours. Some members have never turned before and others like Susanne Page need pointers on how to improve. Above is a sample of the objects John has supervised over several weeks.

Tool Sharpening
with John Tanner

Everyone needs to know how to sharpen and maintain their tools and
John Tanner is just the person to demonstrate the correct method of sharpening turning tools.

Here he has a most attentive group of experienced and inexperienced members.

Pen Turning
with Malcolm Mc Donald

Ann and Trevor have a go.      

Ann has a finished pen and a new skill.

Dovetail joints using the table router
with Cyril Elliot

Woodie members are always willing to share their knowledge and skill. Below is Cyril providing tuition to the lady members of the club on how to use the bench router to make dovetail joints.

Ann looks on while Linda concentrates.

Box making

in memory of Art Keeler

When anyone needed to know how to make a quality box, Art Keeler was the member to go to.

At monthly meetings the club members bring in items for show and tell. Above left is one of Art's magnificent boxes and on the right he can be seen explaining how he achieved such a beautiful result.

Ann was one of many who had the privilege of having Art show them how to make a quality box.
His advice will never be forgotten by all those who sought to take advantage of his knowledge.
We will miss Art and his attention to detail, his love of and his skill with hand tools.

Basic Wood Working Techniques
with Eric Simes

As an Architect and boat builder extraordinaire Eric knows the value of making working drawings of a project.
He also knows the value of being able to use hand tools.
Over the last couple of weeks under Eric's tutelage Ann,David,Dana,Nick and Sharyn have made a saw horse/trestle using hand tools. 

   

 



Final step. Making sure the whole thing doesn't wobble.
 Eric shows David how to even up the legs.

footnote : all of Eric's pupils went home with a functional saw horse.

Show and tell at the October monthly meeting.



Ann Salmon and Nick Stone decided to pretty up their trestles with warnings from members that if they are going to use them for their primary purpose they won't look pretty for long!

Carving



Dana is interested in learning to carve. JJ has been giving advice and tips as she progresses.

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  Updated:16/08/22