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   CHAPTER MEMBER

Please note that there has been a program change

Turning and Decorating Simple Spheres - with Norm Cloutier

  • Thursday June 13th
  • Hybrid Meeting - Live at NC State Craft Center or via Zoom Call 
  • Zoom call opens a 6:15 for socializing
  • Meeting begins at 6:45 PM
  • Demonstration begins at 7 PM

Due to illness, Lars Nyland will not be available to present his demonstration as scheduled. We wish Lars a speedy recovery.

Filling in for Lars, Norm Cloutier will demonstrate his method for turning and decorating simple spheres.  In addition, Norm will explain and show some of his efforts on using minimal resin for some multi-media platter designs.  We appreciate and want to thank Norm for making this happen on such short notice!


Turning a sphere is a skill every turner should have in their belt.  It’s a great practice for perfecting your beads/curves and an opportunity to play and build some skew sense. If you start small, it’s easier to learn, and Norm  teaches beginners with scrap spectraply to help them be more precise until they develop enough skill to go bigger with natural wood.  Also, every sphere can also be a canvas  for your embellishment of choice. Norm will show how to use cup burrs and burning wire to achieve a variety of looks.


After the break, Norm plans to show and discuss some of his more recent design experiments with resin on twice-turned platters. Rather than just filling voids, he’s taken a designer’s approach to rims that achieve more than just wood would allow. Not to mention, his approach uses mush less of the expensive material and doesn’t require a pressure pot and the size limits that imposes.

About our Demonstrator:
Norm Cloutier is a long time member of WGNC.  Norm is a former president and VP and is currently serving as a member of the WGNC Board as well as Event Coordinator.  When not busy with WGNC business, Norm teaches a variety of classes for all levels.  You will frequently find Norm at both the Cary and NCSU craft centers.








Upcoming Events
A Look Ahead
Late breaking News:

The Bull City Woodshop 
is hosting a fundraiser on May 4th.  They would like to have as many woodturners as possible attend the event.
There will be live music, dinner and a silent auction.
To learn more about the event:  About the event.

To donate or buy tickets for the event: Tickets/Donate


Artsplosure – The Raleigh Arts Festival will be returning May 18 - 19, 2024.  WGNC, will once again, have a booth where members will be demonstrating small projects on one of the club's lathes.  Members will  also be exhibiting and selling their work.  If demonstrating isn't your thing or you don't want to exhibit or sell, we'd still love to see you.  So stop by the booth and take in the entire Artsplosure scene.  It's a great event!  For more information, see below:

Artsplosure website:  Artsplosure

WGNC Article: WGNC Article

Register to exhibit & sell: Registration is closed, all slots filled

Register to demonstrate: Registration - Demo

Breakout Sessions
Emerging Turner Resources
Breakout Sessions are Back


WGNC is happy to announce the return of Breakout Sessions. To enhance the value of these sessions to members, we have established a coordinator to help identify topics, hosts and schedules that are aligned with the interests of members.

As Session details are confirmed, the information will be posted on this web page so that a member can look at available subjects and associated details, and then when a topic of interest is found, simply click on the button to sign up.

Breakout sessions are generally free of charge and are offered on a first come first serve basis.  Scheduled sessions will be created as Events and will show up on the Home Page in the "A Look Ahead" table, on the "Events Calendar" and on the "Breakout Session" selection under the "Resources" menu .

To learn more about: 
   - How to join a breakout session
   - How to Host a breakout session
   - Review the Breakout Session Schedule
Click here.

Part of the learning process for every turner is to be exposed to all the questions and answers other turners have already experienced. Because when you are first starting out you might not even know what questions to ask, you just are eager to get started and see the chips fly!

Here are some of the questions that might emerge:

·  What lathe and tools do I need as a beginner?

·  How do I sharpen tools and how often?

·  If I don't have a lathe, can I rent one?

·  What wood should I start out using?

·  What speed should I turn at?

·  Are there any safety concerns I need to be aware of?

·  Are there woodturning classes available?
·  Is there someone who can guide me on this journey?


......and the list grows as your adventure begins with woodturning. It is for these reasons that WGNC has created the "Emerging Turner" section of our website.

To explore the “Emerging Turner” sections just select any of the eight menu items found in the “Emerging Turner Resources” menu.

As a starting point, we suggest you take a look at “New Member Resources”.  This page gives you an overview of all the sections and links to each section. To review, click here.

 And in other news:

Welcome Members
Welcome New Members!



WGNC’s Latest 2024 Breakout Session

On Saturday April 13th, WGNC held our 3rd breakout session of the year at Stephan Moll's Shop.  The topic for this breakout was "Finding Wood and Chainsaw Processing".  Six members participated in the session.  At the conclusion of the main breakout, Stephan added a tour of his shop which allowed the group to ask questions and enjoy some quieter conversation.


Slideshow
04/13/24 Breakout Session - Using the Chainsaw w/S Moll

More breakout sessions are being scheduled, so check back often to see what's coming up.  You can check the calendar by clicking here





WGNC T-Shirts available for sale:
T-Shirts are available to members at any in-person Demonstration or Show and Tell event.
For full details, pictures and availability, please click here.