Download the presentation by Andy Hatting on the Layout of Workshops

GENERAL POINTS TO CONSIDER IN LAYING OUT A WORKSHOP

What type of woodworker are you?

Dust extraction a must in all workshops

Ample lighting

Ample plug points (plug points suspended from ceiling work very well – no tripping over wires

Most well laid-out workshops have ample work benches and work space

Most workshops should have at least two exits

Wheels desirable on most machines, especially if you have a small workshop

Combination tools are ok if you have a small workshop

Melamine top for glue-up bench

Try and protect clamps from glue spillage – discolouration of tools and wood projects

Noise factor a big consideration when designing or equipping workshops

Safety a major concern – goggles and hearing & dust masks

Be careful of cluttering workshop floor to prevent accidents etc…

Solar power or light ducts can aid for better lighting

Extension tables essential for a number of tools

Brakes on most wheeled tools – sample

BEST TOOLS TO START WITH:(DEPENDING ON WHAT YOUR INTERESTS ARE)

BANDSAW
ROUTER
TABLE SAW
THICKNESSER
SMALL TOOLS ARE A GIVEN (DRILLS, BISCUIT JOINTERS PALM SANDERS, BELT SANDERS ETC….)

Andy also demonstrated how to make a chessboard and some photos are given below.

New Chairperson: Billy de Klerk	A view of Andy's spotless workshop
Another view	Andy and the chessboard stages
Cutting	Gluing and clamping
The chessboard	The board made into a chess table

The MARCH meeting was held in our "home", the St Andrews Design & Technology Centre. The focus of the meeting was on "The Identification of Wood" with a presentation by Andrew Stevens. The PowerPoint presentation can be downloaded (see below).

After the presentation, Andrew identified some examples brought by members - a mahogany stool and a picture frame with bird'seye maple veneer. Andrew had also prepared a set of examples of woods to be identified by members.

After this Wouter Holleman explained the silent auction of lots of wood from Ian Macdonald's workshop. Wouter and Billy de Klerk put a huge amount of work into this sale and members got some real bargains.

Download the presentation by Andrew Stevens on the Identification of Wood

Andrew Stevens	Andrew Stevens and Billy de Klerk
Wouter Holleman explains the auction	Mike Palmer tackles the test
Identifying examples	A picture frame with bird'seye maple veneer
The sale and auction in progress	Another view

On the 15th March the Grahamstown Woodworkers took part in the annual Hobbies Fair. Andrew Stevens demonstrated the turning of cylindrical boxes with lids and Andy Hatting demonstrated the secrets of making picture frames. Fuller versions of these demonstrations will be given at our regular meetings. Some of the Woodworkers' products were also on display - see the photos below.

The APRIL meeting was held in the St Andrews Design & Technology Centre. Andrew Stevens demonstrated the turning of lidded cylindrical boxes. An article from "Fine Woodworking" can be downloaded (see below).

Photos below by John Keulder.

Download article

Andrew Stevens,the Jet lathe, chisel selection and completed boxes	Blanks for box and lid
Blank mounted on screw chuck	Rounding the outside
Beginning the hollowing	Finished box
Another view	Working on the lid
Finished lidded box	Another view
Another box	Another view

The MAY meeting was, as usual, held in the St Andrews Design & Technology Centre. With the Festival coming up in July, some of the woodworkers involved in our stall demonstrated the skills and techniques involved in making some of their popular products, which range from pens and peppermills to walking sticks. There was also some interesting discussion on the pricing of items.

Photos below by Andy Hatting.

Rob Moss started the evening by showing a solid oak tray. There was discussion of the need to allow movement of the wood panel making up the tray base and the avoidance of glue across the panel. He then spoke about the making of his very popular remote holders and the use of a drum sander to make thin panels.

Rob Moss and the tray

The TV remote holder

Wouter Holleman then spoke about his wooden butter knives, his salt boxes and his book reading stands.

Wouter holding up a butter knife	A closer look at the knives
Book stand	Salt boxes in preparation

Andrew Stevens described the various techniques needed in making walking sticks and displayed a selection made from hazelnut wood.

Andrew Stevens and a walking stick

Some more rustic examples

Koos Jonker has built up an enviable reputation for his magnificent 1/12th scale dolls house furniture. He explained the problems of working on this miniature scale and also stressed the value of a drum sander for safely preparing the thin starting material.

Koos Jonker and his miniature furniture

Another view

Peter Breetzke is a specialist in the making of elegant pens and pencils. He showed some of the equipment needed and techniques used. He also spoke about sources for the pen parts.

Peter Breetzke and his pens and pencils	Some of the equipment needed
	A display of the range

The JUNE meeting focussed on framing techniques. [Photos below by John Keulder.]

Andy Hatting showed some of the ways of clamping picture frames, using a very efficient strap clamp and also a homemade diagonal clamp for large frames.

Mike Brown discussed some of the problems of making a circular mirror frame from four segments and the router jig required.

Andrew Stevens demonstrated a shooting board for using a plane to accurately trim mitre joints.

Andrew went on to demonstrate additional clamps for frames and the use of the PUSHMASTER framing kit, available from Strand Hardware, for pinning corners and holding the picture or mirror in place.

On Saturday 9th August a party of Grahamstown Woodworkers visited the Woodoc factory in Fort Beaufort. They were royally hosted by Mr Freddie Greeff and after lunch at the Country Club were given a guided tour of Fort Beaufort by Mr Gert van der Westhuizen.

Mr Frikkie Greeff from Woodoc	The visitors
Inside the factory	With the products

Visit the Woodoc website.

The regular AUGUST meeting featured a visit from Strand Hardware of Port Elizabeth and a demonstration by Andre Esterhuyze of techniques and equipment for sharpening edge tools. [Photos below by John Keulder.]

Andre Esterhuyze and Gerard Wong from Strand Hardware	Close up of the Jet waterstone sharpener, a copy of the well-known Tormek system
The jig for plane blades and chisels	The grinding and sharpening angles on a plane blade
The angle-gauge accessory	Using the wetstone with the jig
Applying "Autosol" polishing paste to the stropping wheel	Stropping on the wheel
Using an oilstone, or even sandpaper on plate glass, as an alternative method of sharpening	Flattening the back of the bevel
How the plane blade and the back-iron should be adjusted. Note the gap in the angle of contact	How the plane blade should protrude from the sole
Sharpening a bowl gouge using a jig	Another view as the gouge is rotated
Sharpening a large roughing gouge	Leather wheel for small gouges and carving chisels
Some of the "temptations" on display and for sale

Visit the website of Strand Hardware, PE