Andrew returns to reality after an April Fool's Day article. Indeed, Andrew returns to questioning and evaluating the cost/benefit of another tool. We empathize with Andrew when he runs into woodworking problems, but it gives the website considerable useful material.
This month Andrew discusses the mortise chisel after working on an Arts & Crafts shelf stand. He also presents a useful table for the woodworker buying a mortise chisel. File this article away when the time comes for you to consider experimenting with a new tool, or replacing or upgrading your existing mortise chisel.
The Perpetual Novice returns to provide a public service. Previous Perpetual Novice articles have attempted to look at the trials and errors of learning the woodworking craft with a bit of humor. This one is different in that it is serious. I’ve been surprised of late to see the “wrong” alcohols in a number of people’s shops. I’ve known about this for a long time and assumed it was general knowledge, but since it doesn’t seem to be, allow me this one time to slip into lecture mode.
Meetings of the Guild's Furniture Interest Group (FIG) are held every third Monday of the month. All members are welcome. Ordinarily, members meet at a different member's house every month where they attend to discuss all things furniture building, including designs, jigs, wood species, joinery, tools, etc. During the COVID -19 pandemic members are issued a Zoom link to meet virtually.
Either way, members have a chance to seek advice from a varied, friendly, and experienced assembly of woodworkers or add to this body of collective knowledge. Keep an eye on FIG meetings for time and place in the Upcoming Guild Events at the top of the page.
Featured Piece of the Month
Don Michael's Finished Pieces
Don Michael, our friend, colleague, and multifaceted guild volunteer died last September. You may also know our friend and self-titled Perpetual Novice had a reputation for taking on challenging woodworking projects, but after feeling satisfied with the learning process sometimes left them incomplete. He would move on to other woodworking challenges.
As you might extrapolate, this pattern left several projects in his workshop in parts. A group of EMGW woodworkers knowing this, offered to complete the projects for Cathy, Don’s wife. Cathy was taken with the idea. Over the past few months, these woodworkers individually planned with Cathy COVID-compliantly to move the projects to their own workshops, complete the projects, and return them. Cathy decided that four projects had special value. The four pieces are listed below along with the woodworker who completed the job.
Don knew all these woodworkers well. I’m sure that he would be proud and grateful to them for transitioning the projects to their extraordinary completeness for Cathy. Much like what Don offered to the guild, it is teamwork. It’s a beautiful statement and testament to all involved. Enjoy reading the process each woodworker took by clicking their link below.
Mentoring in the Guild takes many forms. Everything from a brief conversation or email on a particular technique to a full-blown cooperative effort to build an entire piece. Most mentoring occurs informally among members. However, the Mentor Program provides an easy way, especially for new members, to get involved in mentoring. Members listed on the Mentor Program page of this website have expressed a willingness to help other members in a variety of ways.
To read more about the Mentor Program, click here or navigate to About Us then Mentor Program. To see the list of Mentor members with their interests and contact information, click here or navigate to Members then Mentors.
Board of Directors 2020 - 2021
At the June, 2020 monthly meeting the following were elected to the Board of Directors:
The Perpetual Novice returns to provide a public service. Previous Perpetual Novice articles have attempted to look at the trials and errors of learning the woodworking craft with a bit of humor. This one is different in that it is serious. I’ve been surprised of late to see the “wrong” alcohols in a number of people’s shops. I’ve known about this for a long time and assumed it was general knowledge, but since it doesn’t seem to be, allow me this one time to slip into lecture mode.
Mentoring in the Guild takes many forms. Everything from a brief conversation or email on a particular technique to a full-blown cooperative effort to build an entire piece. Most mentoring occurs informally among members. However, the Mentor Program provides an easy way, especially for new members, to get involved in mentoring. Members listed on the Mentor Program page of this website have expressed a willingness to help other members in a variety of ways. 