This Wednesday, April 4, 2012 I will be presenting at the Woodworker’s Guild of Rhode Island. The meeting starts at 7:00 pm and is held at the Scituate Community House in North Scituate, Rhode Island, which is just west of Providence. Click here for a link to a map and directions.
The nice guys at WWGRI were kind to invite me to speak and demonstrate at their group. Naturally, I demanded my usual compensation: all the plane shavings I can stuff in my apron pockets and not a penny less. Seriously, it’s always fun to hang out with fellow woodworkers and share the craft that we enjoy so much.
The topic of the talk segment will be “The Design Journey,” which is summarized in my article in the Winter 2012 issue of Woodwork magazine, and is discussed in the 2010 eight-part series here on the blog, “Creating a work in wood – from idea to finished piece.” This will include a short series of slides.
Then at the bench, I will demonstrate strategies for planing difficult woods. Bed angles, cambers, bevel-up, bevel-down, back bevels, toothing blades, scraper planes, and so forth will be included. There are many ways to approach this task and this presentation will hopefully assist each woodworker in finding what is right for his work with his tools.
The WWGRI welcomes new members and, Heartwood readers, if you are in the area, come on by and say hello.
Your Teaching Moment
Rob, I hope that all Guild members feel as I do—how lucky we are when a master woodworker visits us to share his art, life experience, vision and special skills.
Particularly your insights in the planing of figured wood species—tools, sharpening and approach—they have been absorbed and will be put into practice at my first opportunity.
At a Guild meeting, if I take away one unique “trick of the trade” from a presentation/demonstration, or some statement of “validation” that I might be headed in the right direction in my own study of woodworking or just plain be able to stand and converse with a master woodworker—as I’ve found that they are such approachable craftsmen—then frankly first, I am humbled and then I am most grateful for the generous gift.
Mentoring is what the Guild System was all about. Rob, special thanks!
Julian,
You are very kind, thank you. It was really my privilege to address such an enthusiastic and fun group. I hope the presentation was helpful.
Rob