This month, October we had the privilege of a demonstration by Willie Creighton at our chapter meeting, which was well attended by both members and very welcome visitors from other chapters. Willie had brought with him some Baltic pine which he had salvaged from repair and restoration projects he was working on or had worked on. The first piece he worked on was to be a ceiling rose or if you prefer a centrepiece for a light pendant and the blank he had prepared was made up of four 75mmx30mm pieces jointed, this is a good way of using up offcuts and timber laminated like this is quite stable less likely to warp. This Willie had cut to a 300mm diameter circle which was fixed (and well-fixed I noticed, good safety example) to a faceplate which he mounted on the lathe. Using a bowl gouge Willie started to true up the face and then worked across with various mouldings, champers and beads explaining all the time what he was about and the photo I include can far better do it justice than any description I can attempt. The only other tool Willie used was a spindle gouge and I marvelled at the fine finish he could archive with just these tools, a tribute to his skill.
The second piece Willie took on was to be a small vase, a bud vase really but maybe a bit bigger than ones I’m used to seeing. For this Willie mounted on the lathe a blank of Baltic pine about 100x100mmx 280 long and this piece of wood he told us came from the project he is working on at preasant namely Boland’s mill, one of our historic buildings, and here he is working to repair and restore the roof trusses which have been attacked by dry rot. Anyway back to the turning, having cut a spigot he mounted it on the chuck and with a roughing gouge turned a cylinder, then proceeded to shape the piece using the same two gouges as before. When asked about sharpening Willie told us he sharpened everything freehand and not to ask him about angles, he knew when they were right by looking at them. The shape he developed was urn like and again the finish from the chisels was polished, when finished he gave it us to keep and we should display it at all our meetings to remind guys like me what is achievable.
Willies third and final piece, (time was running out,) was a bowl, again from a blank of Baltic pine this time from a job he had done on Ballina Cathedral which was built in 1834 so a well-seasoned piece of wood. Although he didn’t get to finish it completely it was a lesson in bowl turning by a master of his craft. Thank you Willie it was an afternoon I enjoyed immensely as I know everybody present did also.
To the result of our monthly competition the subject being a pen, the 1st place went to Jack O Roark 2nd to Tom Gibson 3rd Pat Gannon. The novice section 1st was Anthony Murphy 2nd Frank Trappe
Next month will be our AGM so a good attendance is important to keep us all informed as to the running of the chapter and to elect the committee for the next year so I look forward to seeing you all. So until then keep well and work safe.
Pat Gannon