We had a comfortable-sized crowd for the May meeting, including two new members Pete Silvestre and Ed Lewis.

Twinning Program

George "Segmented" Nazareth said the Twinning Program with the British Hampshire Woodturners Association, is going slowly and would like more members to offer to join in. The "twinning" project connects a member in our club with a counterpart in England, by matching interests, skill levels etc., George said his "twin" sent him photos lamps that he made and George said he will suggest the twin send a few over here to be sold at the Wickford Art Festival.

Twinning Newsletter Articles

Speaking of twinning the chaps across the pond have a newsletter and are asking whether any of our members wants to write an article for their letter. If we send them an article they will send one to us. Anyone interested? See Jeff Mee at the meeting.

Club’s Mini Lathe

The Club’s mini lathe is still being loaned to Elizabeth Hammond, our youngest member. If anyone wants to borrow it next, speak up at the June meeting.

The Library

Bill Smith our librarian reports that videos # 4, Bowl Turning Part 2 by Boodridge and #5 Introduction to Bowl Turning by Hirt are still missing. Anyone out there have them?

Mark this date down: Sunday Sept. 28 is the annual outing to be held on the shore at the Cold Spring Community Center just south of Wickford. Three people have volunteered to set up the thing but they will need help: they are Larry Dunklee, Mike Murray and Jean Schwinn.

AAW Membership Reminder

Rudi Hempe reminded members that the American Association of Woodturners is looking for members. For $35 a year you get a quarterly magazine chock full of information on turning (no ads) and a book of all the members from coast to coast if you are traveling. Forms are at the Woodcraft check out counter.

Turning Lessons

An endorsement from Jean: Jean Schwinn one of our newest and most active members (she’s turning out stuff like there is no tomorrow) sent this testimony recently after taking a free lesson with club president Ken D’Ambrosio. "I was able to spend a morning with Ken at his shop a coupole of months back and he mentioned that we should let someone know how helpful it was. It was a very informative morning. I have not yet done any large pieces so it was great to watch this being donw. It is also great to get to know more of the members." Ken is still giving free lessons, usually on Sunday mornings. Want to have one? Call him at 295-0987.

Woodworking Grant

Wayne Collins a club members and vocational instructor at the Tiverton Middle School has struck it rich! He applied for and got a $875 grant from the AAW Educational Opportunity Grant Program to enhance the woodworking class at his school. This is a first for a member of Ocean Woodturners.

Wayne Collins found this information at Woodonline for treating green bowls to prevent them from warping and checking. Soak the bowl in a solution of water and good quality detergent (Ajax was one brand mentioned). The detergent to water ratio recommended was 1:6 for good quality detergent 1:2 for cheap brands. The idea is to turn the bowls to rough. Soak them in the detergent solution for 5 days, dry it in a paper bag for about a month and then air dry it for several months before finish turning Obviously one has to plan ahead! Another solution is to soak bowls in Pentacryl which the club has ordered in bulk in the past. It is costly but it works. If you are interested in Pentacryl, perhaps it is time for us to purchase another batch. We need a commitment on who wants to buy before we order. Interested? Bring it up at the next meeting. The club gets a price break on the stuff.

A new magazine called "Woodturning Design" is in the works by All American Crafts Publishing Inc., of New Jersey and they are putting out the word that they are looking for people to contribute articles and photos. Anyone interested can contact Joe Herrmann at 440-576-7697 or latheturner@earthlink.net. First issue is planned for February.

The Adirondack Woodturners Association will present a 2003 Totally Turning Symposium at the Sage College Campus in Albany, NY Oct. 25. Fee is $75. Box lunch is $6. For more info check out www.adirondackwoodturners.org or call Ken Evans at 518-753-7759.

Another all-day workshop on woodturning will be held July 12 at the Homestead Woodworking School in Newmarket, NH. Call 1-888-659-2345 or www.woodschoolnh.com. Cost is $90 and includes materials.

Those who attended, especially those new members, were entertained with a presentation on the design and construction of the club’s project for the 2002 AAW Symposium in Providence—a steam engine made of wood based on a Corliss design. Tom Schwab, George Nazareth, John Chakuroff gave the presentation but actually others were involved in the building as well. At the end, a compressor was turned on and the engine started running, complete with steam whistle! Thanks guys. The engine normally resides in the Slater Mill Museum in Pawtucket.

Show & Tell

Randy Miller produced locust bowls. They were from the same log but one was much tougher to cut than the other; Dick Murphy produced a bird house made in the shape of an apple; Larry Dunklee showed a pen made from apple; new member Peter Silvestre showed a pen; Mike Murray showed a roughed-out bowl; Emilio Iannuccillo showed a cherry bowl and a piece of mesquite fitted with a clock; Ken D’Ambrosio showed a bowl of bird’s eye maple. (Note: Apologies if I missed anyone. The show & tell section of our meeting is usually somewhat chaotic. One presentation at a time with clear identification of the presenter would help for accuracy in recording)

AUCTION: Tom suggested that future auction include a gift certificate.

WOOD AVAILABLE: Larry Dunklee says he knows someone who will be taking down some red and white oak trees. Interested, see Larry

THE NEWPORT HISTORICAL SOCIETY is having an early crafts show in Sept. 28. (Same day as our outing) . They would like someone to demonstrate turning on a treadle lathe. Anyone interested, call 846-3542.

Anthony Scuncio has the following items for sale:

Hitachi 10" compound miter saw with Freud blade, three years old, $125

Reliant 14"bandsaw with several extra blades, 4 years old for $275

Both machines in excellent condition with very little use.

Call 401-728-5171 or antny358@cox.net.

NOTE: Have anything to sell? Want to buy something? Let Rudi Hempe know for the next newsletter: rudi20@cox.net