North East Chapter – Irish Woodturners Guild

May 2017

It was a pleasure to welcome Charlie Ryan back to the North East Chapter for our May demonstration.  Charlie commenced with a comprehensive review of the importance of safety procedures, and the onus on all woodturners to be continuously vigilant and aware of implementing ‘Best Practice’ at all times.

Measuring tape - Charlie Ryan

First on the menu was an acorn shaped ‘measuring tape’ turned from Purple Heart for the base and with Yew for the top.  Drill a 35mm cavity 30mm deep in the Purple Heart to house the tape.  Pick up the centre point of this cavity and drill a 6mm hole x 10mm deep to hold the central winding spindle.  Turn to an acorn shape, and cut a lip to hold the top.  Mount the Yew and size the top to fit the acorn.  Drill a 6mm hole all the way through the top to facilitate the winding spindle.  Turn a 6mm x 50mm winding spindle.  Cut 25mm slot in base for measuring tape.  Cut slot in spindle, insert end of tape in slot and superglue in position.  Turn a decorative tape winding knob/handle.  Glue a locking washer on spindle under the top and assemble the unit. 

Pin cussion - Charlie Ryan

Next project was a pin cushion – using a ½ polystyrene ball or sponge ball cowered with the wife’s sock as the pin cushion.  The base consisted of a 3” x 7” spalted beech blank which was turned into a lidded box, with a recess in the lid to hold the pin cushion. 

Charlie Ryan's hinged box

The 3^rd project was a box with a hinged lid with provision to fit a clock on the inside of the lid.  Charlie donated the first two items to Cecil Barron for his Alzheimer's Society fund raising sale, and the latter item was presented to Eamonn McKeever for finishing, and Bob Dier was the recipient of a set of timbers and tape to turn a replica acorn measuring tape unit. 

Thanks Charlie for your generosity and an entertaining evening. 

Thanks to Seamus Cassidy for his critique on the following exhibits:-

Tulipwood silver rim bowl – Eamonn McKelvey: 

Figured Chestnut broad rim undercut bowl – Richard Coyle: 

Macrocarpa round rim bowl – Cecil Barron:  

Sycamore rolled rim mini goblet – Cecil Barron:

Cherry popery pot – Gene McConnell: 

Burr Elm bowl – Bob Dier: 

Laburnum vase & tulips – Dave Carroll: 

Yew angled rim bowl – John Conneff: 

 Beech lidded bowl – Paul O’Leary.