Our September 2016 workshop was held at Tony Farrell's workshop.  It is always a popular venue, not alone for the quality of Tony's demonstration but also the food that he, Alice and her band of helpers serve.
Tony has a top class ventilation system and that made it the ideal venue to deal with sanding and finishing.  Our host went through both hand-sanding and power sanding as well as the various finishes he uses.  Everybody learned something new.
For hand-sanding Tony favours Abranet but for power sanding he uses the Simon Hope system with the 47mm sanding pads and the 50mm discs that he cuts using a wad punch.
Most of us are familiar with bees wax mixed with liquid paraffin but Tony has his own variation in which he uses pure turpentine instead of the liquid paraffin (mineral oil in the USA.)
He does, however, use liquid paraffin extensively, especially for his food plates.  He fills a container with the oil and dips the plate into it, then lets it drain in another receptacle.  The finish is most acceptable.  For heavily spalted wood Tony likes to use the mix of sanding sealer and thinners - 50/50. That clearly stabilises the wood and produces a much better finish.
The subject for the monthly competition was a bowl and there was a good entry.  Judging was undertaken by Kieran Higgins and Gerard Hennessy and their critiques were themselves valuable lessons. In advanced Peter Manning secured first place and Charlie McCarthy got 2nd and 3rd.  In Intermediate Joe Kennedy was first, Jim Byrne was second and Michael Pattwell was third.  Tom Daly won the beginners.
The subject for the October competition is a plate.  That workshop will be held at Leo O'Donoghue's in Little Island.

Tony Farrell finishing a large platter

Happy Birthday, Tony.

The competition entries.

There seems to be some confusion about the day/date of the chainsaw event.  It is confirmed that it is on on Wednesday, 12th October at Oriel House Hotel, Ballincollig,

Seventeen members of the Cork Chapter of the Guild travelled to Glenn Lucas’s Woodturning Study Centre in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow recently for a day of demonstrations.

To use the old phrase that was usually used in reports of events in the provincial papers many years ago, “a good time was had by all”.

From the outset Glenn spared nothing and his top-class teaching method, his willingness to share his knowledge and experience and his humorous asides quickly put us all at our ease.

For the morning session Glenn started with some spindle turning and the boring of a lamp.  This was followed fairly closely by the subject of his 4^th D.V.D., ‘Traditional Irish Platter’ from his ‘Mastering Woodturning’ series but with the added advantage that we, his audience, could ask questions and even have a sequence of the procedure repeated.

Immediately after a delicious lunch prepared by Glenn’s wife, Cornelia, ably assisted by his children Isabelle and Matthew, Glenn gave a demonstration of cutting up a tree with the chainsaw.

Back inside the workshop our host then went through the turning of a bowl.  Throughout all of the topics covered the choice of the tools being used, the best way to hold them and use them, the sharpening of them and the care of them was dealt with in detail. 

I am certain that nobody, even the most experienced turner among us, left that workshop on the day without having learned something.  One of the senior members of the Chapter was heard to say that in all the years he has been attending workshops that day was the best he had ever experienced.

Thank you Glenn, Cornelia and family for your wonderful hospitality - I must mention the fresh scones and tea/coffee on arrival – your generosity in imparting the great knowledge you have acquired and your friendship.

Thank you too to the 37^th Cork Scout Group (Togher) for the use of the mini-bus.  It added greatly to the day and the banter and fun between all of us made the journey seem quite short and certainly enjoyable.  Thanks too to our Hon. Secretary, Mick Bouchier, who did all the organising.

The entire group from Cork, with Glenn Lucas.

The course on the care, maintenance (including sharpening) and use of the chainsaw is scheduled for  Wednesday, the 12th October at Oriel House Hotel, Ballincollig at 7.00 p.m.  Please let Mick Bouchier know if you are attending.  Mick's contact details are 086 852 0542 or email him at mick.bouchier@gmail.com.