Next Guild Meeting –
Date: TBA
Time:
Speakers:
Past Meetings
September 2022
Speakers: Frank Klausz
A once in a lifetime opportunity to meet Frank and watch him work in his home shop, this was a unique and informative meeting. Youtube Frank Klausz, and you will find a woodworker who has been helping keep the craft alive for decades.
December 2021
November 2021
Blat Billiards
350 S. Main St.,
Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075
We had a great meeting at Blatt Billiards on Wednesday. A big thank you to David and the owners for staying open late for us. I have attached some of the many pictures that I took. The facility was about 45k square feet FILLED with inventory, tools, wood, slate, etc., but most of all…Pool Tables. Check out the face book page for even more photos.
Hope you all had a great week and look forward to seeing you next month.
This Message was from President Matt Weiss of MCW Carpentry LLC
Hello fellow woodworkers,
I am happy to announce our November meeting will be held at Blat Billiards – 350 S. Main St. Woodridge, NJ 07075, hosted by David Pollack. Dave will be showing us how pool tables are manufactured and made with inlay work for customized pool tables.
I am still working on opening an instagram account and setting up google calendar invites.
I look forward to seeing you all on the 17th.
October 2021
With a Last Minute Change of Location:
Date: Wed., October 20, 2021
Time: 6:30pm
Speakers: Matt Weiss and Jim Hallock
at Matt Weiss’ shop at
127 Brighton Ave.,
East Orange, NJ 07017
The program was a demonstration of the William & Hussey Shaper Molding Machine by Jim Hallock.
Barbecue dinner
Matt also went over the plans for the November, December and January (Chris Shelhaub’s shop) meetings
At the last meeting, Jared Martin and Todd Koenig agreed to share the Secretary’s responsibilities, including a) finding shops and presenters for meetings and managing b) the club’s Meeting Sign-in Book where new or potential members write their contact info, c.) the club’s Gmail account correspondence, Contacts list of abut 190 persons divided mostly into two groups, Current Members and Potential Members and keeping the Membership Master Spreadsheet (Excel) up to date with the contact info of new members, potential new members and changes to existing members’ contact info. The treasurer, Lee Renner, relies on the Master Spreadsheet for billing and reimbursing host members for their meeting’s food costs.
Below are the Bylaws (Word document file) of the Guild without the logo on the top of the first page. The bylaws with the logo is stored in the club’s Google Drive but wouldn’t allow me to download it.
Frank Mangravite
Outgoing Secretary
It was fun.
September 2021
In Person:
Date: Wed., September 15, 2021
Time: 6:30pm
Speaker: Matt Weiss and Steve Lowke, presenter
at Antiques Plus
282 West Main Street
Rockaway, NJ, 07866
This Message was from President Matt Weiss of MCW Carpentry LLC
Hello fellow woodworkers,
I hope everyone had a nice summer vacation or was able to take a vacation.
The Covid19 virus is still a very large concern with many of our woodworking friends and families. It has turned the world upside down with supply chain problems.
I hope everyone is busy like myself. I would love to see every one return to our woodworking group as it was before the pandemic. I understand that things had gotten messed up and confused with meetings with the pandemic. But now it’s time to get back to normal.
We have some very exciting meetings coming up in the next couple of months. And please don’t be afraid to post some of your projects on our Facebook page.
At the October Meeting, we elect our officers. Frank Mangravite will be stepping down as secretary, for he has some other obligations to attend to. So we need someone to step forward and take his place as secretary. Please don’t be afraid it’s not that hard of a job and we need your help.
Hope to see everyone at our next meeting on September 15th.
Matt Weiss,
President
Steve Lowke showed the art of boomerang making. If you have not seen Steve’s work, now is the time to come and see it, they are amazing works of art.
June 2021
Was In Person!:
Date: Wed., June 16, 2021
Time: 7:00pm
Speaker: Wally Kunkel
Mr. Sawdust School of Professional Woodworking
128 Willow Grove Street
Hackettstown, NJ 07840
908-619-2555
mrsawdustschool.com
Dear Members, Prospective Members and Guests:
This month’s meeting will be in-person at Wally Kunkel’s Mr. Sawdust School of Professional Woodworking in Hackettstown, NJ at 7:00 pm on Wednesday June 16, 2021. The program was announced later and
but will certainly include an update on the school’s progress including its new scholarships.
February 2021
Was a ZOOM MEETING:
Date: Wed., February 17, 2021
Time: 7:00pm
Speaker:
Chris Shelhaub of Circle Three Designs
Circle Three Designs manufactures road cases and stage props for bands, production companies and professional sports teams, as well as medical and aerospace companies. Clients include The Rolling Stones, Ozzy Osbourne, Justin Timberlake, the NBA and NHL amongst others. Road cases are reusable boxes used for shipping products safely and securely. Generally speaking, at the most basic level, they are panels of plywood held together with aluminum extrusion and riveted together. More complex designs include workboxes and complete home entertainment systems all designed to be able to travel safely and fit properly on trucks, planes and inside venues.
www.CircleThreeDesigns.com (P) 908-725-1709 (C) 973-879-1959
Circle Three Designs, 44 North Gaston Ave, Raritan NJ 08869, Christopher Shalhoub
ZOOM HOST: Bart Goldberg was the Administrator/Host during the meeting.
October 2020
Location:
MCW Carpentry
127 Brighton Avenue
East Orange, NJ 07017
Program:
A. Finding Resources for Professional Woodworking.
B. How to Make a Fluted Column.
Elections: Nominations for elections of officers. Please consider stepping up to be an officer.
President: Matt Weiss has been President for six years. The bylaws set a two-year limit. More importantly, Matt is working two almost full-time jobs. Please consider being our new President.
Treasurer: Lee Renner wishes to continue. She does most of the work by phone.
Webmaster: Bill Hall wishes to continue.
Secretary: Frank Mangravite is willing to continue or to step aside.
New Member Coordinator: Todd Koenig wishes to continue. He has just received two artificial knees.
Vice President: Open. Preside over meetings in absence of the President. Coordinate special functions like the Woodworking Show in Secaucus around early March. Recently, the Treasurer has coordinated the Holiday Party but there will not be one this year. The July Picnic, is usually held at Joe Fernandez’ house.
Program Director: Open. Identifies and schedules speakers. Helps find host members for meetings two meetings in advance. The Secretary helps with these functions.
Food: There will be food.
Masks: It will be up to each attendee to wear a mask or not. You are encouraged to do so, except when eating. Masks will be available.
Notes:
- Don’t go down the driveway in between the two buildings. ark on the street.
Christmas Party: Cancelled for 2020.
The November Meeting will be at Mark Kenny’s Shop. He will talk on two subjects, one being whether there is interest in considering a purchasing collective to achieve discounts or other benefits.
September 15, 2020
Subject: Meeting Minutes, September 16, 2020 of the Professional Woodworkers Guild of Upper NJ
ATTENDANCE: 10. One potential new member was present.
LOCATION: Sean Benetin’s Millwork & More LLC Shop in Riverdale, NJ
BUSINESS. President Matt Weiss discussed the effects of the pandemic on our meetings. He reviewed the last meeting at Wally Kunkel‘s Mr. Sawdust Shop in Hackettstown, NJ.
NEW MEMBER COORDINATOR: Todd Koenig has been contacting potential new members.
TREASURER: Please pay your $120 2020 dues if you have not done so. If you join during the year, the first meeting is free and you pay $10 per month for the remaining months of the year. Annual dues are due in January of the year.
PROGRAM: Sean Benetin and his employees, Mark Allholer and John Hall, reviewed their shop, which is set up to quickly produce custom cabinetry and other woodworking. He demonstrated a CNC router which could turn a 4′ x 8′ or larger sheet of 3/4″ high density hardboard (from Peru) into ornate cabinet doors and other complex or simple shapes. Separately, they can quickly produce cabinets, doors and other lillwork from maple, oak, poplar and other hardwoods. Multiple machines, each set up to cut a specific joint, streamline the process. The finish painting uses a two-part epoxy coating.
Please see the pictures taken of the meeting on the website under the meeting minutes section – give it some time to be updated.
UPCOMING MEETINGS:
October 21st, 2020 Meeting will be at Matt Weiss’ MCW Carpentry Shop in East Orange, NJ.
July 15, 2020
Location:
Wally Kunkel’s Mr. Sawdust School of Professional Woodworking,
128 Willow Grove, Hackettstown, NJ, 07840; 908-619-2555
MINUTES of the July 15, 2020 Meeting
ATTENDANCE: 10. One potential new member was present.
BUSINESS: President Matt Weiss discussed the effects of the pandemic on our meetings. There is no August meeting. The next meeting, which is expected to be at a shop, will be on September 15th.
NEW MEMBER COORDINATOR: Todd Koenig brought a sample of the information packet that will be provided to each new member.
TREASURER: Please pay your $120 2020 dues if you have not done so.
PROGRAM: Wally Kunkel showed us his amazing facilities, discussed his woodworking courses, and education philosophy. He also showed us several pieces of equipment, a refurbished-used-tool room, and his basement of additional equipment including an antique table saw designed to cut printing type blanks. Its scale was in picas and each cut automatically dropped into a bin/cart. Wally is a bip advocate of radial arm saws. He has many. With shaping attachments, they can be used to make the arched molding on, say, a highboy. Wally offers a series of courses – hand tools, power tools, specific furniture building, etc.
The building is beautifully refurbished and large. Originally, it was used to make wooden farm implements in colonial days. At least two of the members present discussed a desire to take one of Wally’s courses.
PHOTOS:
January 15, 2020
Location: Scott Nelson’s Shop
Antiques Plus
Past Meetings Archive