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Eastern Massachussetts Guild of Woodworkers

Upcoming Guild Events

June 10, 2023 10:00 AM •
September 09, 2023 9:00 AM • Fletcher House Furniture and virtual on Zoom
October 14, 2023 9:00 AM • 288 Shaker Rd, Canterbury, NH 03224
November 06, 2023 6:00 PM • Needham Furniture Makers. 590 Hillside Ave, Needham, MA 02494
November 11, 2023 9:30 AM • Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

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.

Upcoming Non-Guild Events

November 06, 2023 6:00 PM • Needham Furniture Makers. 590 Hillside Ave, Needham, MA 02494


New Discount Offerings

The Vintage Toll Shoppe - Online

Eric Robinson of www.thevintagetoolshoppe.com is offering an ongoing 10% discount to EMGW members for online purchases.  They sell quality vintage tools and the store is in NH, so there is no tax and shipping is included.  Log into the website to navigate to the Special Member Discounts link under the Members tab for special online instructions to receive the 10% discount.

Northland Forest Products - Kingston, NH

at 36 Depot Road Kingston, NH 03848.
(603) 642-8275 is direct line to the retail shop in Kingston for folks to call with questions or to help determine lumber availability and price.  Ask for Derek or Gabbie for assistance and 10% discount with your up to date membership card.  Northland Forest Products is a self serve 1st come 1st serve facility.  Steve McKenna is a satisfied customer.

Barney and Carey Lumber (https://www.barneyandcareylumber.com/), a new lumberyard to the Guild, is offering a 10% discount with an up to date EMGW membership card or a picture of it.  The lumberyard also offers woodworking tools, supplies, and milling.  Barney and Carey Lumber is located in Avon, MA.

For Those Who Attended the North Bennet St. School Tour

You Will Know What These Pictures Are Of

- Compliments of Marc Holland

Bevel Cut


The Track Saw Can Be Your Friend 

by Andrew Davis

The track saw is generally and underrated tool.  At least Andrew thinks so.  And given his premise the track saw has considerable value, especially, when cutting 4' x 8' plywood sheets or rough slabs, which he does. 

An article like this provides considerable valuable advice from a user you know.  In fact, Andrew offers a check list of useful considerations if you are considering a purchase.  Make up your own mind but The Track Saw May Be Your Friend.

Congratulations to Andrew for another good year of well researched and imaginative articles.  Andrew welcomes your feedback.

This is the last Bevel Cut article until the next membership year starting in September.  All past Bevel Cut articles from the past year will be added to the archive accessible from the Resources tab. 

Measure Twice, Cut Once - Wisdom From the Shop



Ask an Expert

Rob Carver


There are no metaphors in this article.  There are no hidden messages.  No philosophical adages.  Plain and simple, this is a straightforward message for all levels, any time, anywhere.  This is must reading, if nothing else, as a reminder that we are in a community of shared expertise.  After all, aren't we all students?  Take a look at this well-written article Ask an Expert.


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

Congratulations to Rob for another good year of thoughtful and motivational articles. 

This will be the last Measure Once, Cut Once article of the membership year.  All past MTCO articles will be available in the summer accessed from the Resources tab.

Featured Piece of the Month


Carving Journey

by Ken Zoller

Ken has contributed Featured Pieces in the past, beautifully constructed furniture.  But due to circumstances you will read about, Ken has extended his talents to carving.  He states he's a newbie carver, but just look at that three dimensional piece?  Yep, the current EMGW president is humble too. 

In his document, Ken wrote about his process beginning to end with lots of pictures.  His education was supplemented by Mary May videos, a good set of chisels and gouges, and trial and error.  And if that piece wasn't enough Ken displays other carvings in Carving Journey that will give you pause.  How could he do all that as a newbie?

Further information can be requested by clicking Ken Zoller.

Much gratitude is extended to all contributors to the Featured Piece column.  The articles have been motivating, educational, and impressive, very impressive.

This is the last Featured Piece of the Month article until the next membership year starting in September.  All past Featured Piece articles from the past year will be added to the archive accessible from the Resources tab. 

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 is leading a Shaker Stool workshop 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 a project update.

Stools Project with Steve Hoffman


The project kicked off a several weeks ago at Steve's workshop.  Participants are making either or both a “tall” stool and a foot stool based on the original Shaker Stools detailed in Ejner Handberg’s measured drawings and later interpreted by modern woodworkers including Kerry Pierce, John Kassay,  Thomas Moser and others.

To the right you will see one pf the stools completed by Ken Zoller.

As in past guild projects Steve has led, a good deal of the preparation was already completed.  Participants were given a good platform but variations are capable.  Even Steve's wife Grace got in the act by supplying a delicious lunch with positive reviews from the lucky participants.

Wavy Cutting Board Project with Jeff Clunie

A very successful wavy cutting board project has completed.  Jeff Clunie and participants wrapped up the project this past week.  See the Featured Piece of the Month column for more on the Cutting Board Project.

Annual Auction Update

Last month EMGW completed the annual tools and related materials auction at the Needham Furniture Makers facility in Needham.  It was a very entertaining event with a good turnout.  Jim Tartaglia did his best impersonation of a Sotheby auctioneer, but with jocularity.  Scott Brown assisted Jim preparing the pieces for auction moving the process at a good pace.  Treasurer John George was busy tallying the sales and buyers. With numerous buyers in attendance, the guild netted nearly $1500.

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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