Eastern Massachussetts Guild of Woodworkers

Upcoming Guild Events

April 08, 2023 9:00 AM • Needham Furniture Makers, 590 Hillside Ave., Needham Heights, MA
May 13, 2023 9:00 AM • North Bennet St School, 150 North St., Boston, MA
June 10, 2023 10:00 AM • To Be Determined

Upcoming Non-Guild Events

No upcoming events


Map of Member Locations

For in-person meetings, the possibility to carpool to monthly and FIG meetings may be of use to you.  Tom Shirley has updated the Member Map as of October 2022 that displays members' locations on a Google map.  To access the map, log in, click the Member tab, then from the drop-down list click Member Map.  User instructions can be found there.

Annual Auction Update

The Program Committee has scheduled our Annual Tool Auction at the in-person April 8th meeting.  Members and non-members are invited to the auction.  \The details of the event can be viewed from the Upcoming Guild Events gadget at the top of the page.   As always, members can donate tools and other woodworking related items they no longer need/want to be auctioned off.  Look around now, in the dusty corners of your shop, for those tools, jigs, books, etc. that you no longer need or use and bring them to the auction.  (Please, no automotive or other non-woodworking related items, or battery operated tools with batteries well past their prime).  This auction is the only fundraiser sponsored by the Guild and all proceeds go towards funding the meetings and programs we all enjoy and benefit from.  This year there will be a new feature called Large Items.  It will work as follows:

If you have a large item, like a stack of oak boards or a lathe you want to upgrade, that is too large to bring to the auction, you can photograph it, write a description, and email it to- jtartaglia@charter.net no later than Saturday March 11th.  Soon after, an email will be sent to all members listing all large items and descriptions.  On auction day, a picture of each large item will be

held up and can be bid on.  Payment is made at the auction and arrangements for pickup are made between buyer and seller.  As with other auction items, all large items are sold “as is”,  all sales are final, cash or check are accepted.  Once an item is listed you may answer questions from interested parties but not accept offers before the auction. 

Your description should include:
  • Information about the item
  • Photograph(s) of the item
  • Location of the item (just your town will suffice)
  • If you want one, a minimum opening bid
  • If you want one, terms of a split with the Guild.  (Typically 100% of proceeds for auction items go to the Guild, but for large items you can split proceeds of the sale with the Guild, up to 50/50.) 
  • Contact information, preferably your email address, for questions

Current Large Items to be auctioned are listed below.

Delta Unisaw

Delta Unisaw - purchased new in about 2001

230 V - 52" model

Includes:

  • portable base
  • Incra Miter guage
  • Jessem material guides
  • Brett overhead guard and dust collection
  • Factory inserts (regular and dado)

Location of saw: North Lincoln, MA

I have never had a problem with the saw. I am upgrading the saw and looking for a good home. Note: The cabinet under the extension table does not go with the saw.

Email questions to Don Halsted


Hawk Router Table

The best way to understand how this unique router table works is at this link (which includes videos): http://www.rbiwoodtools.com/WebsitePages/The-Hawk-RouterSHOP.html

Purchased in 2004 (without router) for $700., price new today over $1000.

Includes:

  • Bosch router
  • Foot pedal on/off switch
  • Manuals
  • Various fences & jigs

Router table and router work well, selling because I want a shiny new one with a lift.

Location of router table: Worcester MA

Email questions to Jim Tartaglia.


Bevel Cut


Measure 9 Times, Then Measure Again

by Andrew Davis

You are reading the correct column.  Indeed, this is the Bevel Cut, not the neighboring Measure Twice, Cut Once column.  And it must be said that Bevel Cut is not trying to outdo MTCO even though it stresses many more than two pre-cutting measurements.

Actually, this article is about reassessing Andrew's (and by extension your) measurement process - the tools he uses and the tools he might consider adding to his toolbox.  The question remains, however.  How many times does it take to measure before you cut?

Read Andrew's Measure 9 Times, Then Measure Again.

Andrew welcomes your feedback.

Measure Twice, Cut Once - Wisdom From the Shop


Hit the Nail on the Head

Rob Carver

I figured at some point Rob would reveal his essay with this titular theme.  And now we have it.  It's a saying that we all know and, no doubt, have used in and outside woodworking.  Rob gives a very nice interpretation of this common saying.

One doesn't need to know much about hammering to know what could happen if the nail head is not hit squarely.  Because of the effect of hitting the nail not on the head, the title could have been "Think Twice, Hit Once", with apologies to the author.  But, of course, "hitting the nail on the head" has nonliteral meanings.  And that's why this saying is used so often.

Read all about it in Hit the Nail on the Head.  May I say (and maybe give Rob an idea for another essay), that he nailed it?

You can reach Rob for comments and additional information, by clicking Rob Carver.

Featured Piece of the Month


TV Console

by Ed O'Neil

We are fortunate that Ed O'Neil decided to venture into writing a summary of his TV Console piece.  Ed quickly caught on to the form and function of a Featured Piece of the Month document and submitted a wonderful example of a woodworker deciding to work on a specific piece, formulating a plan, acquiring the necessary stock, resolving pitfalls, learning new skills, and placing the piece in operation. 

One of the skills was writing the document.  Fortunately, Ed had taken pictures along the development path so he had all the ingredients to complete the summary. I'm grateful that Ed persevered through the processes, both woodworking and sharing his experience in this document.  Check out Ed's delightful TV Console.

Further information can be requested by clicking Ed O'Neil.

Another season of Featured Pieces is ongoing.  Your contributions in any form are welcome.  Click my email address to send your draft.

Remember this column is not necessarily dedicated to furniture pieces.  Tools, jigs, processes, and other woodworking related themes are also relevant.

Mentoring in the EMGW

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.

EMGW Projects 2022 - 2023

Steve Hoffmann and Jeff Clunie are leading workshop projects for guild members. The intent is to provide a program where new members and long-time members can mix over a course of a few weeks, learn new skills, share experiences and make nice projects to bring home.  Read below for updates to each project:

Stools Project with Steve Hoffman


Steve Hoffman's Stools project is yet to start.  Estimated scheduled time is early spring. Eventually, Steve will notify participants with a mutually agreeable date and list of preparatory materials.

Steve welcomes anyone else who wishes to join in.  Just contact him.




Cutting Board Project with Jeff Clunie

The Cutting Board Project is well underway.  Ten members have  participated at the first meeting at Jeff Clunie's house.  Jeff, in his 

inimitable, self-deprecating style, has brought the group together and showed what to do when the  unexpected happens.  The group is well on  their way to producing fashionable cutting boards sure to please.  We hope to collect photos of the participants in process.

Click Read Instructions for details on process and materials and write to Jeff to answer any questions you may have.

Starting out in Woodworking? EMGW Members Compiled a Guidebook for You

Considering getting into woodworking?  A team of members of EMGW has written a guidebook targeted for new woodworkers and a refresher for other woodworkers.

The guidebook is complimentary.  It can be viewed and downloaded for your reading pleasure.  We hope that reading the guidebook will engender interest in woodworking and membership in our guild.  Click here for a priceless copy.

Discounts and allowances Dry cleaning Coupon Price, Sale Sticker, text, logo, banner png | PNGWing

Considerable work has already gone into renewing older and securing new discounts from various sources.  To review the list on the website you must first login then click Members and then Special Membership Discounts.


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