Number of Attendees: 16
Notes:
Mark opened the meeting at 7:15 PM
Iron Hill dinner beforehand, starting at 4:30 PM. Please let Mark or Brad know ahead of time so he can reserve a large enough table
Next meeting will be at Rockler, Nov 3rd.
Breaking at 8 PM so folks can make any final purchases
No new folks for introduction
October presentation by Aspen Golann (North Bennet graduate, worked at Williamsburg, artist in residence at Winterthur)
She presented at Williamsburg and impressed everyone
She is at Wintethur this quarter and was available to present
Got involved in crafting and always wanted to learn from “the ground up”. Did weaving of wool from her sheep, felled a tree to do her wood project, etc.
Wanted to learn the skills, and then apply them to what she wanted to build. A mix of 18th century and contemporary
Started woodworking four-and-a-half years ago
Air brushing of some items as a style, Learned how to do sand shading, glasswork, carving, etc.
Practices with little objects before she puts in on a larger project
Had a 5-year plan when she first started to buy all the tools to make Windsor chairs. Got called from Woodworker who was going into Hospice, and he donated them to someone who would use them. She will use them for the rest of her career, and then she plans to donate them to another woodworker
This is now part of the “living tools” project to collect and donate used tools.
Aspen then demonstrated how she uses lasers to determine how to drill for Windstor chairs
Discussed “rake” and “splay” for the angles needed for the leg
Uses lasers to determine the “resultant angle” for the chair legs
Designs at half scale, with seat 8” off ground (standard chair is 16”). Seat is 1-1/2”, so model is 3/4”. Then uses coat hangers to make legs and moves them around till it looks good
Use “sight line” to determine the “resultant angle” for drilling
Grinds her bits to a 4 degree angle as it works very well for angled drilled, converting less expensive bits into brad point bits
Uses the two sets of lasers to show which angle to go into each way. Two lights to angle off
Likes to have a very sensitive clutch. That way if she goes offline, it stops, and when the bit exits, the clutch engages. Enables her to then back off and go full bore – which leaves a nice clean hole
Uses reamer to clean out and put angle in hole for legs
Most Windsor Chair makers use split wood, green wood. This allows you to use straight grained wood. Using kiln dried wood creates a level of difficulty. It can be done, but splitting Kiln dried is a challenge
Lasers are typically $50 each
Website is www.thechairmakerstoolbox.com
Mark closed the meeting at 8:33 PM
