Bob Hutton
What’s the big deal about woodworking, anyway? Is this the attitude of someone you know?
So, you stick a few pieces of wood together—Whoopie!
Well, search YouTube for “segmented bowl” or any number of cutting board patterns like “waveform cutting board” or “optical illusion.” It will amaze you.
Segmented bowls can be sawn, glued, and ready to turn in a handful of hours, depending on design. And though a complicated design will take you much longer, a simple laminated strip (or end grain) cutting board can be made in relatively few hours of shop time as well, once you have the instruction.
Or “band sawn boxes.” What fun! And you needn’t start with one large piece. It works equally well to laminate up from smaller pieces.
Or a birdhouse. Many, many designs are available, or design your own! That’s the fun of it!
These are some of the many classes planned for the community when the Woodshop opens. After completing a safety orientation, classes will make sure you have success in whatever item(s) you chose to make. Most are wonderful as gifts, especially for grandchildren or great-grandchildren.
A big part of the Woodworkers Club (and the Woodworking Shop when it’s built) is instruction. Instruction in safe practices, design and materials, layout and cutting, gluing and fastening, and so much more, such as finishing, will be so very important to the success of all aspiring (and returning) woodworkers. Whether you’ve never worked a piece of wood or haven’t for ages, there are correct ways to ensure you work in a safe, successful manner.
Recently, a member put on a demonstration explaining the set-up, care, and use of wood planes and scrapers. Hand tools are very valuable tools, even in our machinery-dominated craft.
This is not only a “hands-on” club, it is very much a “brains-on” endeavor as well. So important to continuing a healthy, active retirement is wellbeing, a healthy and active life!
Not only does a hobby satisfy a need, experts have proven that our self-esteem, our relative happiness, and, indeed, our overall health are all enhanced when we include some in our life planning. Those who simply sit and veg in front of the tube or tablet will soon only be capable of that. Those of us who continue to challenge our minds and bodies will continue to prosper. This isn’t just an opinion.
Woodworking is open-ended. Imaginations have conjured up so many possibilities. Many are possible for even the novice woodworker. We meet in the Saguaro Room on the first Tuesday of each month at 2 p.m. Come check us out or email us at [email protected].