PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE, APRIL, 2011

This week many of our Northern members have left and are already missed.

Welcome back, Judy Wolf; it was very good to see you at our Workshop this week.

For those who haven't heard, Bill Briggs is back in good health and is traveling to California.

Welcome to our new members in Tampa. I, for one, am looking forward to your carvings in our show next January. Bill Murphy and I visited Tampa, Monday evening 4-11-11. I would like to extend an invitation to any Seminole member that would like to join Bill and me next month.

Thanks to all the members who have accepted my challenge and are wearing their name tags.

Alan Anderson

SUNCOAST WOODCARVERS MEETING MINUTES

April 12, 2011

Seminole Recreation Center

President Alan Anderson opened the meeting and welcomed Treasurer Judy Wolf back. Judy did not have all the financial input and will report it next month.

OLD BUSINESS

Storage of Show equipment and materials was discussed by Alan. A decision at last meeting was delayed by incomplete cost data. Information from Vice President Bill Briggs indicated that the cost of commercial storage would be $50 per month or $600 per year. A separate prefab shelter was reviewed, but placement on private property appeared as an unlikely solution, although the cost was lower than commercial storage. Further progress in use of a modified flatbed trailer for storage at Carl Smith’s mobile home park appeared to be a cost effective and practical solution. At a Board Meeting this week at Workshop, it was agreed to propose this storage solution for the membership. Ex-President Andy Szymaszek moved that we proceed with purchase, modification, and licensing of the trailer. Nick Stella seconded and the vote by hand count was unanimous. Carl Smith, who has done most of the planning, will modify the trailer for storage with the help of Bill Murphy and others. Details, such as title ownership and others, remain to be determined.

PROGRAM

The meeting then turned directly to a demonstration of duck decoy carving by Mark Daly. These are working decoys of the type used by hunters in the Barnegat Bay area of New Jersey. They lack the detail of display decoys and must be rugged and float like real ducks.

The wood is New Jersey white cedar for its lightness and buoyancy. A hunter might carry as many as 24 of these to the site of his duck blind in a burlap sack.

The body has a two piece glue-up of 2 ¼” x 6” hollowed by drilling adjacent and overlapping holes in both parts, leaving a wall thickness of ¾” to 1”. Pebbles were added during glue-up with Titebond 3 glue. These are to confirm the hollowness.

Shaping was done with a hatchet while the piece was held between Mark’s belly and a step block attached to a 1” x 12” plank, which Mark sat on.

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The hatchet blade is ground thin with a long taper and used for nothing but shaping.

The next step is the use of a spokeshave with the blade almost parallel to the tool contact surface. Shaping and smoothing results. Sanding follows, if necessary. Mark uses a bow sander.

This type of decoy is known as a smoothie and doesn’t entail any detailed carving on the body. The head is a separate piece, attached after carving completion. He used a dowel to strengthen the body joint, where 5 minute epoxy was used.

The eye is a glass eye of the proper eye size and iris color. It is pressed into a matching hole size without glue or filler.

Painting is with oils vs acrylics. Although oils dry slowly, they blend in the interfaces. He also uses auto paints, such as Rustoleum for their durability and cost. Vermiculation occurs by use of a comb dragged through the wet paint, usually low on the side panel.

A lead plate was attached to the bottom for balance and depth.

Mark answered questions during and after the demonstration and received a round of applause and thanks.

SHOW AND TELL

Barb Smith showed a large slab with bark wood burned and painted with acrylics and watercolor. This was a Roundup project.

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Bill Dewald showed 3 of the 4 items started at the Roundup. They were a Ross Oar elderly hiker, a Floyd Rhadigan Peter Rabbit, and a Leah Drummond sitting bear. All were from basswood roughouts, painted with acrylics.

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Len Ondick showed a deep relief landscape painted with stain, acrylics, and epoxy on the surface of the stream.

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Joe Kane showed an ornate Swedish love spoon carved in butternut.

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UPCOMING EVENTS - There are no further events (Shows) listed for Florida in the current issue of CHIP CHATS, the official organ of the National Wood Carvers Association, through November.

· However, members are encouraged to demonstrate carving on Wednesdays through Saturdays at Heritage Village. Club members regularly demonstrate carving and display their works on Thursdays at Heritage Village. If you’d like to join us, or if you’re interested in demonstrating carving at Heritage Village on a day other than Thursday, please contact Bill Dewald.

NOTES

Thanks to Richard Samay for the photos included in this edition of CHIPS.

If you have any changes in your contact information (street address, email address, or phone number), please call me at 727-595-7542 or email me at

suncoast_woodcarvers@comcast.net

We hope to see you at the next Business Meeting on Tuesday, May 10 at 7PM in the Seminole Recreation Center and at the Tuesday morning Workshops.

The meeting was adjourned.

Bill Dewald, Secretary