Greetings to all fellow woodworkers! (For those of you who read the earlier post – I apologize for the error in attributing the First Place finisher in our contest. It has now been corrected.)

As I look out a our first decent snow-fall of this year, it seems like I have a bit of time to add some notes to a newsletter – until driveway shovelling is recommended, and I must give up the thought of playing in my workshop/mancave!

Our last meeting on February 14 had a few wonderful surprises for us!

First of all, our presenter, John Noble, the woodworking teacher at Nanaimo District Secondary School gave us a slide show of works that his students have produced in recent times – from beginning Grade 8 to senior levels. The creativity and beauty of the students’ work was awe-inspiring and reinforced our commitment to our support for the art of woodworking in the mid-Island area.

After the presentation, we voted for the entries in our contest to create a project out of 3 board feet or less of milled wood. The results were impressive to say the least!

Terry Robinson’s entry

Tony Dobson’s entry

Charles Beaulieu’s entry

Sara Frisch’s entry

Ed Tremblay’s entry

Dave Workman’s entry

Bruce Markstrom’s entry

Bernie Waatainen’s entry

Bill Beese’s entry

Pierre Blanchard’s entry

AND…the three winners are:

Third Place: Bill Beese

Second Place: Bernie Waatainen

FIRST PLACE: Brian Rigby

On another issue, a recent email from a member who also is a member of Makerspace mentioned cherry pieces for sale from a tree removal in a local yard. If you are interested, please contact me.

Also of note: Mid-Island Woodworkers’ Guild is offering its first skills-based course to be held this coming Saturday, February 24 from 9:00 a.m. to noon. This course is on tune-ups and hand-sharpening of bench planes as well as hand-chisels and scrapers. The equipment needed is very low cost and easily available for the most part. In order to be insured against injury, you must be a member of MIWG (easily done, and very cheap!) and have paid a $30 entry fee. Please contact info@miwg.ca by Thursday if you would like to participate. (If participation is too low, this course may have to be postponed.)

Required equipment for Tool Sharpening workshop:

1. Plate of tempered glass, or plexiglass, or granite, or marble: approximately 30 cm x 30 cm or slightly larger (check flatness with a carpenter’s square) and at least 1/4” thick. (Brian McLaurin suggests mounting glass on a piece of arborite/particle board or plywood);

2. Wet/dry sandpaper (emery paper) or 3M sharpening sheets representing grits from 120 to about 1200; (Above 1200, if you have water stones or fine oilstones, bring them.)

3. Small water-spray bottle, and/or light honing oil;

4. A small piece of anti-skid drawer-liner rubber (to sit under the glass);

5. If you have one – a honing guide (store-bought, or home-made – see internet);

6. At least one bench plane needing work (including a new one out of a box), and a couple of bench chisels;

7. If you have it (not necessary!)…a diamond plate or stone for flattening blade backs and water stones;

8. Paper towel and a cotton cloth or two;

9. Shop apron or something to protect your clothing;

10. Safety goggles, ear-plugs and if possible – steel-toed boots.

Best wishes to all, and work safely in your shops!…Tony