Demo night 27th October - Ray Jones

In a last minute change to the schedule we have esteemed woodturner Ray Jones with us tonight, making something mysterious that he won't identify yet. We also have a lot of visitors tonight - always nice to see new faces.

Wigan Woodcrafts On Tour!

Well, not exactly, but a few of us will be down at Axminster Power Tool Centre in Warrington tomorrow morning (18th October) from 10am, for the North West Woodturning Club Day, and doing some turning in store. Come along if you want to meet us and see what we're about, and see us attempt to turn out some halfway nice things on unfamiliar lathes that are probably way more impressive than what most of us have in the shed...

Demo Night 1st September 2014

We have Andy Rounthwaite in tonight, giving us a more beginner-level demonstration of how to make and finish a small fruit bowl from Sweet Chestnut.

Next meeting is a hands-on - 15th September. See the diary on www.wiganwoodcrafts.co.uk

Hands-On night 18th August 2014

Busy night tonight. Some new faces and many familiar ones. Chairman Fred Worthington teaches new member Mark how to use the various tools to turn work between centres.

Business as usual

Tony Wilson testing his mushroom stool for fit

The full day Tony Wilson demo event was a great success. Around 25 members came along to see Tony in action and I think we all learned something on the day. I personally now feel like I need at least two more sizes of bowl gouge, and I've made a very nice sycamore bowl using techniques picked up on the day. Watch this space for details of any future full-day events.

Peter Osborn turning a wine-glass stem

Work that Peter brought along for us to see

We had an excellent demo from Peter Osborn on Monday night, who showed us how to replace the stem on a wine glass with a much more impressive creation in everyone's favourite medium - Wood!

Next meeting is the 18th August and will be hands-on night.





All Photos : Mark Parkinson (http://www.markparkinson.photography/)

Green Fayre 2014 - Beacon Country Park

The club had a presence at the fayre in Beacon Country Park this year. See below for some shots of the stall and the members who manned it.

Full Day Woodturning Demo - Tony Wilson 26th July 2014

A rare opportunity to spend a whole day learning woodturning from an expert.
See the event poster for details and how to sign up!

Demo night 28th April

We've had a talk and demo on longbow making and their history and use tonight from the very knowledgeable bowyer Callum Youngson. He brought along a number of completed bows and a stave to demonstrate technique on, plus his tools etc.

Next meeting is hands on, on the 12th May.

Beginner's book recommendation

A few people have asked me recently where I learned what I have about turning, and while I'm by no means a particularly experienced turner, this book was recommended to me when I first started out and I don't hesitate to further pass on that recommendation.

The book is Woodturning - A Foundation Course by Keith Rowley. I found a copy in my local library network in Wigan then bought my own a few weeks later. It starts from absolute basics and moves on to some fairly advanced techniques.

The book is available from (among other places) Amazon.co.uk

Submit your book recommendations to wiganwoodcrafts@gmail.com and I'll include them here.

Lively hands-on night, 14th April 2014

The newly instituted AV corner showing wood craft videos

Bill Makin showing a new member the basics of turning while
club Chairman Fred Worthington tutors another.

Lots going on tonight. Four lathes at one end, instructional videos at the other, Brian selling pen turning equipment and consumables, Russell selling Abranet abrasives on behalf of the club, more wood for sale in the centre, tea and coffee ready for later while people peruse the monthly table of members' work. The pictures don't really do the activity level on the night justice here. 

Wood and pen supplies for sale

We had three new members/visitors having a go at turning on the four lathes for the first time and probably about 50 members present total, which is the most I've seen since I joined.

Demo Night 31st March 2014

We have Dave Atkinson in tonight, making a square and a rectangular bowl. It's also the first outing for the new P.A. system so we can all hear him clearly.

Hands-on night 17th March 2014

The regular monthly hands-on night tonight sees club secretary Russell and regular member Jim demonstrating turning to some potential new members, while Peter turns a bracelet on the right. These nights are opportunities for new or less confident carvers and turners to pick up skills and knowledge from the wealth of experience of the existing membership, or for people without their own lathes at home to come along and work on their own projects with skilled backup if needed.

Demo night 3rd March 2014

Long time member and "pen wizard" Brian Hetherington demonstrates assembly of a one-piece pen, among other projects.

Hands-on night with shop- 17th Feb 2014

Alf Bentham (some of his work available to view in the gallery on www.wiganwoodcrafts.co.uk) talking through the table of members' work - a regular feature of the hands-on nights. Also visible is the latest visiting shop with plenty of turning and carving equipment at apparent show prices from www.bivenmachinerysales.co.uk.

Inverted Turning - the result!

Brian has sent us this picture of the piece he was working on at the last demo, all finished. We're grateful for his time at the demo night and for this update on the outcome.

Demo night 3rd Feb 2014 - Brian Ledsham, Inverted Woodturning

Great demo tonight from Brian, who battled the M60 to get to us. Some interesting techniques shown during turning of the body of an inside-out candlestick/oil burner.

New Blog

Watch this space for lots of exciting Wigan Woodcrafts news and pictures.