RCWA Nov 9th, 2009 General Meeting

The monthly General meeting of the Rapid City Woodworkers Association was held on Nov 9, 2009 at 7 pm at 910 Wood Ave. A short business meeting was conducted by President Bob Buchanan, followed by show and tell. We want to extend a welcome to ___________.

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Toy Workshop - Nov 7, 2009

A Toy Workshop was held on Saturday Nov 7, 2009 at the RCWA Shop at 910 Wood Ave in Rapid City from 9 am til 1 pm. The workshop served as a wood/parts exchange. Members in attendance: Lon, Grant, Harley, Ron, Kathy, Bob.

Kathie and Ron put wheels on sanded car bodies.

Bob and Grant hooked up a drill press donated by Grant; Grant hooked up a Ryobi table saw donated by Grant.

Bob brought in 200 animal cutouts. Animal cutouts were passed out to Harley, Lon, and Grant for sanding and edge easing. Bob returned finished cars with windows ready for sanding, passed to Lon for sanding.

Lon used Jig SK001 (jig for drilling holes for the dowel in the base and backboard) to drill 1/2 " holes to accept basketball pole (dowel). Checked fit of dowels in backboard and base. Found a discrepancy in depth of some holes, so we will re-drill some holes and use final assembly jig to check for proper hole depth. Basketball game parts count: 100 bases, 96 backboards, 60 dowels. Grant brought in material for launchers. Bob will cut the stock and add the .087" slot to accept Wendys spoons. Will need 3 more boards at 5' each to make 100 launchers. J&D Woodworking is making the basketball hoops using their CNC router. Bob and Kathie will begin making the ball/string sets.

Grant brought in ten cup and ball game prototypes. Bob will install strings and balls when 3/4 inch balls ordered by Roger are received from Casey's.

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Toy Workshop - Oct 31, 2009

A toy workshop was held on Saturday Oct 31st, 2009 at the RCWA Shop at 910 Wood Ave in Rapid City from 9 am til 11 am. The workshop served as a wood/parts exchange.

Toy car blanks and animal cutouts were passed out to Harley, Lon, Grant, and Gary for sanding, routing, and axle hole drilling. Basketball game parts (bases and backboards) were received from Harley and passed on to Lon. The jig for drilling holes for the dowel in the base and backboard (SK001) was passed to Lon. Axle pegs were received from Gary. Cars needing window cutouts were passed to Bob.

Cup and ball games being made by Grant were evaluated - need to order some 3/4 inch balls to fit the current wood supply and current available tool sizes. Order was passsed on to Roger.

Wheel count was estimated for completing 125 cars currently in work - requested 500 as a minimum. Order was passsed on to Roger.

Donations for wheels was given to Roger ($100) to deposit.

The owner of Curves in Rapid City graciously offered to let us do a quilt raffle to raise money for Wheels for Toys for our Toy program in her place of business. The two donated quilts to be raffled off in December are located in the Curves on Sheridan Lake Road. The quilts are presented next to a display of some of the toys we have made (shown above), and some brochures about the toy program and the RCWA. Tell anyone who likes quilts and wants to support the toy program to go to Curves and check out the raffle.

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Oct 24, 2009 TOY Workshop

The toymakers in the Rapid City Woodworking Association (RCWA) began a series of workshops this weekend, as the final push to build and finish wood toys for delivery at Christmas. One of the purposes of the Rapid City Woodworking Association (RCWA) is to enhance the quality of life for underprivileged children of the Black Hills. This is accomplished through this special year around Toy Program for making and distributing handmade holiday gifts and toys to charitable organizations in the local area. Members work year around in their own garages as well as in monthly Saturday Toy Workshops to produce quality wood toys. Before Christmas, the toys are distributed to various organizations in the area.

The workshop was held Saturday October 24th, 2009, in the RCWA Shop in the basement of Our Redeemer Lutheran Church at 910 Wood Ave from 9 am to noon. Call Bob Buchanan at 348-2865 or Roger Bares at 484-3498 for any questions.

If you want to help build and assemble toys for the Toy Program, we can always use an extra hand. If you have the skills for running a scroll saw, we can use your help as well. If you can help between now and Christmas, call Bob Buchanan at 348-2865 or check our website http://www.sdwoodworker.org/ for more information.

If you want to help with donations, we are currently in need of wheels and axles to make toy vehicles. Monetary donations can be mailed to our RCWA Treasurer, Roger Bares at 834 Farlow in Rapid City, SD, 57701 or dropped off at the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church office at 910 Wood Ave in Rapid City.

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RCWA - October 2009 General Meeting

Tonight's agenda was a short business meeting followed by the presentation.

Presentation for the evening: "Bring in one or more of your favorite "old tools"."

The toymakers prepare for a busy October and November as they finish cars and basketball games.

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RCWA - Toymaking Workshop - Sept 19, 2009

A picture is worth a thousand words... so here's about 5000 words!

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RCWA - Sept 2009 General Meeting - Studio Tour

The September 14, 2009 meeting of the Rapid City Woodworkers Association was a field trip to the shop of Will Bellucci and Rachel Sheffel in Rapid City.

Grant, Rick, Kathie, Bob, Harley and Rex watching Will's demonstration.

Will explained how he cuts the tree to approximate size in the field, coats both ends with anchorseal, then lets it cure for six months to a year. To prepare the wood for turning, he knocks off the corners on the bandsaw. Then he took this chunk of tree and began shaping the outside of the bowl. Will explained his choice of tools and his preferred shapes for the grind.

Will and Rachel explained the technique for the vessel top edge treatment using templates to perfectly space the carvings.

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

or

When life gives you scraps, make quilts.

or

When the bowl splits, make a jack-o-lantern!

Many thanks to Will and Rachel for their hospitality and for a very educational and entertaining evening of woodturning.

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