Meetings – 2019

December 7, 2019
Annual Christmas/Holiday Party

Location: Stage House Tavern
stagehousetavern.com/

A good time was had by all – more on this to come

November 17, 2019

Location: Frank Klausz’s shop

NOTE: Frank’s shop with all its equipment is for sale. He can be reached at 908-658-4396. He has sold his Peapack house and moved to a Branchburg ranch house. His phone is now 908-658-4396. Disregard previous phone numbers.

Attendence: 26

MEETING: President Matt Weiss reviewed upcoming events.

PROGRAM: Frank gave an informative, interesting and entertaining program on 1.) Wood technology, 2.) Quick sharpening techniques, and 3.) Hand cut dovetails. He cut dovetails in in a matter of minutes, during one demonstration.

Schedule of coming events:

CHRISTMAS PARTY: 6:30pm, Saturday, December 7, 2019 at the Stage House restaurant in Scotch Plains. Bring your significant other or guests for $35 each. Members are free. Bring an old or new tool or other interesting item for the auction whose proceeds help pay for the event.

JANUARY 15, 2020 MEETING: Scott Nelson’s shop, Antiques Plus, 282 West Main Street, Rockaway, NJ 07886. Program to be decided.

FEBRUARY 19, 2020 MEETING: Walter Vargas’ shop, Walter’s Homecrafters, 37 Commerce St., Chatham, NJ 07928. Program to be decided.

October 16, 2019

Location: Matt Weiss’s shop

Attendance: 13 (heavy rain)

PROGRAMS:
1. Steve Lowke discussed Boomerangs, how he designs and makes them. He brought many examples with exotic woods, multiple woods, different designs, and two of his self-designed jigs. They were beautiful. He explained the history and myths about boomerangs. Some had four wings (arms). Most had the typical two wings. The joinery at the crux of the wings was remarkable. He explained that you do not want the air lift of the wing to be too great. He also brought a few throwsticks, which boomerangs are related to but were used as weapons.

2. Carrie Sargeant of the New Jersey Forest Service of the NJDEP discussed the state’s forest programs and grants. She also came to thank the Guild for responding to her request for help in preparing annual awards that her department gives out each year. Four Guild members offered their help. She chose Steve Owens because he used a CNC router to cut intricate large oak leaves (1.5-inches thick) as the plaque and could do the lettering. (carrie.sageant@dep.nj.gov, 609-462-8465). She drove from the Trenton area.)

September 18, 2019

Location: Joe Corigliano’s shop

Attendance: 26 persons

PROGRAM: MICKEY MCCANN DISCUSSED AND DEMONSTRATED INLAYS, VENEERS AND MARKETRY AND USE OF A DONKEY BENCH.
There was considerable discussion. Mickey handed out examples.
Frank Klausz showed some intricate curved window grilles.

LOCATION: JOE CORIGLIANO’S SHOP BEHIND HIS HOUSE: Joe Corigliano , 9 Daly Road , Far Hills, New Jersey 07931

Informal discussions and food started at 6:30 pm. President Matt Weiss led the meeting at 7:30 pm. He outlined future activities:
1. October 16th Meeting at Matt Weis’s shop (127 Brighten Ave, East Orange, 07017, elk down the defending driveway). Program: Steve Lowke will show and discuss the beautiful wooden boomerangs he makes.
2. November 20th Meeting at Frank Klausz’s shop (1992 Burnt Mill Rd, Pluckemin, NJ 07978). Program: Frank Klausz will present how to hand make dovetailed joinery.
3. December 7, 2019 Christmas Party (Pines Manor, Westfield, NJ – same as last year). Significant others are welcome.

Two wood puzzles made and donated by Frank Klausz were raffled off.

Joe’s shop:
    
Matt Weiss made announcements and then Mickey McCann gave his presentation and demonstration of Marquetry techniques.
          
Frank Klausz showed some of his intricate work.
 

July 14, 2019 – Annual Picnic

June 19, 2019

Location: Tyler Merson’s
Cod Fish Park Design shop:

Guild business was conducted – membership was discussed, participants introduced, the Picnic was announced

Tyler gave a presentation about the Introduction to Woodworking program he helps with in local schools.

A presentation was given about hand-made boomerangs

 

May 15, 2019
Attendance was 24 persons.
Dan Catisone ran the meeting. President Matt Weiss was away.

Frank Claus, an Honorary Member who helped form the Guild in 1981, announced that he was selling his 5,000sf shop and business (including possibly hiring its existing employees) in Pluckeman, NJ, and is also selling his home and large home shop (refurbished 100-year-old well house).

Presentation on MILESI WOOD COATINGS
by Atlantic Plywood Corporation representatives.
Dominick Wright, Lacquer Specialist
MILESI COATINGS are superior to the urethane coatings in the US, Particularly their water-based coatings.

  1. Shorter dry times.
  2. Most are for sprayed but there are brush-on types as well, which leave no brush marks.
  3. The pigment particles (up to 30%) react with the coating rather than just be mixed in without bonding. Thus, one coat will cover another color.
  4. Many urethane products can be polished (US urethanes cannot be polished), some after only 10 minutes of drying.
  5. Stains match Minwax colors but contain much less oil and can be coated with urethane sooner.

April 17, 2019
President Matt Weiss discussed:

  1. the need for a location for the next meeting, which was not decided.
  2. the new officers – VP unfilled, Lee Renner – Treasurer, Dan Catizone – New Member Support, Bill Hall – Webmaster, Frank Mangravite – Secretary.
  3. welcomed new members.
  4. inquired whether any woodworking shows were coming up. One member recommended we consider local art shows which often contain woodworking.

Secretary Frank mentioned that there was a meeting of the officers on April 15th at his house and the following was discussed:

  1. Dan Catizone will change our Facebook URL, which is now unmemorable.
  2. Lee Renner discussed whether dues should be annual on the same month for all members and new members pay a prorated dues for the first partial-year. Her records of when people fist paid are incomplete. Use of PayPal was discussed.
  3. Bill Hall discussed using Constant Contact or Mail Chimp for the members to communicate with each other.
  4. Treasurer Lee asked all to pay their dues, if they have not done so.

Dan Catizone gave the presentation – One Method for Milling a Wide Thick Slab. His cherry board was several feet wide and 2.5” thick and was not flat. He sawed it into less than 20” wide pieces, then planed them on his 20-inch spiral blade planer on a self-made sled that has pointed screws on bottom that grip the board and can be adjusted up or down to handle warping, etc. Once one side was flattened, he used that side as the bottom without the sled to plane the other side. The process would be repeated back and forth for the two sides with finer planing settings.

We ate Pizza.

March 20, 2019
Table Saw Presentation at Joe Corigliano’s shop

February 27, 2019
After a delay due to weather, the guild met at Mark Kenny’s workshop.

First meeting of 2019 – January 16
The Guild met at Joe Corigilano’s place. Our president, Matt Weiss opened the meeting. We talked about how our group might be of use to younger people in light of the general lack of shop programs in the area high-schools.

 

There was a presentation of some custom fine furniture.

  

 

Past Meetings Archive

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