Saturday, March 9, 2024

Toy Workshop (TWS2024-05) and General Meeting (3.9.2024)

We held our fifth Toy Workshop (TWS) for 2024 on Saturday March 9, 2024, from 8:30 to 11:00 am.  This was held at the Wood Shop at 910 Wood Ave in Rapid City.  The shop is in the basement of the annex to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.  The March 2024 General Meeting was held from 11:00 am to noon. 

We have all the cars (2x4 stock) traced, including the love bugs. Darwin and Tony cut some toys to shape on scroll saws.  Jim Brown drilled axle holes.  Al, Roy, and Russ worked on airplanes -- 50 are completed and inventoried. Rick repaired the bandsaw.

The attendees at today's workshop (15) included Harley, Julian, Keith, Stu, Lon, Rick, Lauree, Darwin, Al, Grant, Jim Brown, Russ, Tony, Mary Jo, and Roy.

Cori, Don, Mary C and Dave Maude joined us for the meeting at 11 am.

Photos from the event:



















March General Meeting



RCWA Meeting Minutes

Date: March 9, 2024 Meeting Start: 11:00 Meeting Finish: 12:00

Attendees: Keith Brink, Jim Brown, Darwin Buus, Lauree Buus, Mary Coffin, Lon Gose, Dave Maude, Al Oines, Don Roberts, Harley Schmadeke, Russell Stueckrath, Tony Verchio, Rick Weisbeck, Cori Weisbeck, Julian Wigen

Introductions/ New Members:

No new members or guests attended today's meeting.

Treasurer’s Report:

RCWA $2,252.75 for craft parts (wheels, axels, etc.) in March 2024. We earned $1.24 interest in checking and $0.02 interest in savings. Current balances are


Checking $3,597.83

Workshop $1,550.00

Savings $ 331.89

Total $5,479.72

We received a $440 donation from church in Pennsylvania as a result of Jerry and Patsy’s toy reach out there.

Shop Tours

Al Oines reported no shop tours or events are schedule at this time.

Special Interest Groups

Next Scroll Saw SIG is scheduled for March 21 at Rick Weisbeck’s home (6704 Kimberly Drive, Blackhawk) from 1:00-3:00 p.m. Will be working on compound cut for nativity scene and sleighs.

Turning SIG is scheduled for March 27 1:00-3:00 at Brown’s home (2878 Spotted Fawn Lane, Rapid City).

General Meeting

Next general meeting will be April 8, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. Note we are returning to Monday evenings for the summer operations.


Other Topics

Tool sale will be June 15.

Rick will again be seeking volunteers to help with pinewood derby cars April 12th and 13th. Tony will bring his sander. Rick and Cori will bring scroll saws.

Cori Weisbeck has set up a feedback mechanism for community requests to connect members with community members’ making requests for assistance, etc. Please contact Cori to provide skill sets. A column has been added to the member rosters to include skill sets as well.

Wood Show

The Wood Show is tentatively set for the third Saturday in April (April 20). The theme is Christmas in April. Set up is scheduled after 4:00 p.m. on Friday April 19. If you can’t be there Friday, let Rick know so we can reserve a space for you. Remember to bring your name tag for your display area. We will meet Friday afternoon at shop to load the trailer, and unload on Sunday.

Rick Weisbeck reported he is making approx. 50 racing sleighs and Keith Brink is making a Santa driver to be installed in each one (see show and tell picture for example).

Lon Gose will bring old tools and tool display.

Jim Burke will set up the slide show again for this year.

Discussion for better management of the Silent Auction was held. In the past, more items were brought than originally planned, which is a good thing, but planning in advance would make management easier.

Discussion on the Lathe demo was held. Dave Maude suggested that a focused approach to items being turned would make the set-up process easier. It was also suggested, since only one lathe is on site, that a schedule is made for the turning demos and the person demonstrating.

Mary Coffin has identified areas for posters to be hung first or second week in April. Please take a stack if you willing to help distribute. Mary Coffin will do the tri-fold as well as send an announcement to RCJ. Cori will do Craig’s list and facebook. Mary will contact the tv station for coverage. Cori and Rick will make CNC signs for indoor use. Maybe we make sandwich boards and 2-3 hangar flags for outdoor use. Cori showed a banner example that can be purchased for around $40.

We will continue to do door prizes which will be held every 15 minutes or so. The club is looking for additional items for door prizes. Al will coordinate raffle. Need 8 raffle prizes. Lauree and Darwin, tic tac toe game for raffle. Stu will contribute a half dozen wine stoppers for either the raffle or door prizes. Rick will donate a cradle and Kathy a quilt for the raffle.

Patsy and Cori will coordinate silent auction. Nick will have a cutting board. Stu will donate an inside-out ornament with stand and a bowl or vase of some sort. The Nativity set will be donated by Scroll Saw SIG group. We will try to get a complete list of items for both the raffle and the silent auction at the April meeting.

Scroll saw demonstrations: let us know who is interested in doing scroll saw demonstrations.

Rick will bring his CNC and gattling gun.

Patsy, Kathy, and Mary Jo will coordinate lunches. Please bring some $$ for lunch donations next meeting.

A friendly reminder that this is not a sale. It is only a show. We cannot sell items within Knecht’s during the show without running into legal problems with sales tax.

Please commit to stay until 4:00 on Saturday.

Jerry will bring in Christmas tree that we have at the Christmas party for hanging ornaments.

Toy program

Next Toy Workshop will be Saturday, March 23, 2024.

Jerry Hood is working on a new toy motor boat while in Florida.

All toys, except critters, are traced.

Cutting will start at next meeting and depending on weather, cutting, routing and sanding can begin outside.

If you know someone who wants toys, we have an application for toys on the RCWA website.

Wood Recovery Project

Tite Bond sent 5 cases of glue. Please send them a short note of thanks accessible from web site.

Show and Tell

Rick brought in the nativity scene. Rick also brought in a scroll saw man with birds and Santa’s sleigh. Pictures follow:








Minutes taken by Stu Kellogg




For more information, go to www.rapidcitywoodworkers.com.

Friday, March 1, 2024

Woodturning SIG (2.28.2024)

 The Wood Turning Special Interest Group (WT SIG) was held on Feb 28, 2024.

All RCWA members and guests are welcome to attend.  It is on the calendar for the last Wednesday of each month at 1 pm. It is held in Jim and Maggie’s Shop at 2879 Spotted Fawn Lane, Rapid City, SD 57702.

Thank you to Maggie and Jim for hosting and preparing today's Woodturning SIG.  

Attending:

Lon, Stu, Dave, Al, Maggie, Jim Brown, Ken, Rick, and others.

The main discussion was planning what the Turner's would be demonstrating and giving away at the upcoming April 20th Wood Show at Knecht Home Center in Rapid City.  This is our sixteenth annual show.

Tops were one candidate discussed.

No photos are available.

For more information, go to www.rapidcitywoodworkers.com.

Sunday, February 25, 2024

TOY WORKSHOP (TWS2024-04) 2.24.2024

We held our fourth Toy Workshop (TWS) for 2024 on Saturday February 24, 2024, from 9:00 to 12:00 am.  This was held at the Wood Shop at 910 Wood Ave in Rapid City.  The shop is in the basement of the annex to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.

The attendees at today's workshop included Harley, Julian, Keith, Stu, Lon, Ken, Ed, Rick, Lauree, Darwin, Al, Grant, and Adam (or Roy).

Paul picked up 6,000 wheel pegs to spray paint fluorescent green for 2024. 

Rick asked Adam (or Roy) to put wings on completed airplane fuselages. Wheels were put on the whale push toy making it the first completed toy of 2024.

Items that remain to be traced include a group of 5 cars, as well as the Turtle Banks, Love Bugs, and critters.

Photos are not available.

For more information, go to www.rapidcitywoodworkers.com.



Friday, February 16, 2024

Wood Parts Resupply Completed Today 2.16.2024


Our wheel supplier lives in Texas.



Browns visited our wheel supplier on Monday on their way home;  they arrived back in SD a few days ago with our 2024 wheel and pegs supply on board.  Just for the record, we received 15K pegs, 14K standard wheels, and 1K bigger 2" wheels, that we will use this year on our journey thru the toymaking world of the RCWA.  A BIG THANK YOU TO THE BROWNS FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF THESE CONSUMABLE ITEMS!


For more information, go to www.rapidcitywoodworkers.com.

 

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Toy Workshop (TWS2024-03) and General Meeting 2.10.2024

We held our third Toy Workshop (TWS) for 2024 on Saturday February 10, 2024, from 8:30 to 11:00 am.  This was held at the Wood Shop at 910 Wood Ave in Rapid City.  The shop is in the basement of the annex to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church.  The February General Meeting was held from 11:00 am to noon.

The attendees at today's workshop (14) included Nick, Harley, Bob, Kathie, Rick, Lon, Tony, Ed, Julian, Dee, Roy, Keith, Don and Al.  Dave Maude joined us for the General Meeting.



Today we continued tracing toys, mostly on 1" stock.  Prior to the workshop, Bob pre-cut several boxes of poplar down to sizes needed for specific patterns.  We finished tracing on 1" poplar stock today.  The toys left to be traced will be on 2" stock, except for critters which are done on 3/4" pine.  Lon started cutting some toys to shape today on the bandsaw.  Ed took three boxes of traced blanks home to cut to shape, and Don took two boxes home to cut to shape.  Rick has been working at home cutting helicopters, airplanes, and tractors to shape.  Keith has been tracing and cutting "Set 1" of Critters to shape.  He took home two more sets of Critters templates today to cut to size and sand.  Prior to today's workshop, Rick cut out xx templates for the new Critters sets.

Our goal for 2024 is to build about 3,500 toys to donate to organizations who work with kids in South Dakota.

Results of Today's Toymaking Efforts:
  Patterns traced:  22     
Toys traced:  439

Total Patterns traced to date: 61/89
Total toys traced to date: 1,659

Total Traceable Toy Patterns left to trace:  23 (plus Critters)
(All using 2x stock.)  

More to come:  we will be tracing toy templates for at least one more workshop, but will also start the cutting, drilling, and milling. We will be well into phase 2 - 3 - 4 on many toys for next time.

Here are photos from today's event:







GENERAL MEETING

The General Meeting was held from 11 am to 12:30 pm upstairs in the annex.  Dave Maude joined us for the meeting.

  The current slate of officers was re-elected for the 2024 term.  This included:
President: Bob Buchanan
Vice President: Rick Weisbeck
Secretary: Stu Kellogg
Treasurer: Tony Verchio

Dave Maude volunteered to help with the Wood Recovery Function.

Meeting Minutes were taken by Nick, as Stu was out of town.

_--------------------_

RCWA Meeting Minutes

Date: February 10, 2024 Meeting Start:  11:00 Meeting Finish:  12:40

Attendees:   Keith Brink, Bob Buchanan, Kathy Buchanan, Lon Gose, Dave Maude, Al Oines, Harley Schmadeke, Nick Spano, Tony Verchio, Rick Weisbeck, Julian Wigen

Introductions/ New Members:

 No new members or guests attended today's meeting.

Treasurers Report:  

RCWA collected $225.00 in dues and $800.00 in donations for January 2024. Keith Brink made a $775.00 donation and John Wolf made a $25.00 donation. Keith Brink makes and sells toys at his Keystone, SD business, Powder House Restaurant and donates the profits to local charities. This year RCWA was the recipient. 

An expense for building usage fees of $125.00 was paid. Interest on checking for January totaled $0.68. Interest for the savings account was $0.02.  Current balances are:

Checking $5850.58

               Workshop $1548.76

Savings $  331.87

Total $7731.21


Bob Buchannan reported that purchase of wheels and axels is pending in the amount of approximately $2300.00. 

Election of 2024 officers

All of the current officers agreed to continue their position for another year. Bob Buchanan, president, called for a vote to re-elect the current officers. Al Oines made first motion; Nick Spano made second motion, and the vote was unanimous to re-elect all current officers. A list of all positions is available from Bob Buchanan.

Shop Tours

Al Oines reported no shop tours or events are schedule at this time. Bob Buchanan referred to a list of prior events and suggestions were made by the Group for future events.

Nick Spano told the Group that Toni Gerlach enjoyed giving the demo at her Mind Blown Studio because of the interest and enthusiasm we showed her. Bob Buchanan mentioned picture and recap of demo available on our Blog. There is a link in the Newsletter.

Special Interest Groups

Next Scroll Saw SIG is scheduled for February 15 at Rick Weisbecks home (6704 Kimberly Drive, Blackhawk) from 1:00-3:00 p.m.  Will be working on compound cut for nativity scene.

Turning SIG is scheduled for February 28 1:00-3:00 at Browns home (2878 Spotted Fawn Lane, Rapid City).  

General Meeting

Next general meeting will be March 9, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. in conjunction with the Toy    Workshop. 

Other Topics

Cori Weisbeck has set up a feedback mechanism for community requests to connect members with community members’ making requests for assistance, etc.  Please contact Cori to provide skill sets. A column has been added to the member rosters to include skill sets as well.

Wood Show

The Wood Show is tentatively set for the third Saturday in April (April 20).  The theme is Christmas in April.  Set up is scheduled after 4:00 p.m. on Friday April 19.  Bob will be leaving town the end of February and will be back April 1.  

Rick Weisbeck reported he is making approx. 50 racing sleighs and Keith Brink is making a Santa driver to be installed in each one. 

Suggestions for new signage at a cost of approx. $300.00 was made by Rick Weisbeck.  

Suggestions for multiple Donation Boxes to be made and placed around the wood show was made by Nick Spano.

Discussion for better management of the Silent Auction was held. In the past, more items were brought than originally planned, which is a good thing, but planning in advance would make management easier.

Discussion on the Lathe demo was held. Dave Maude suggested that a focused approach to items being turned would make the set-up process easier. It was also suggested, since only one lathe is on site, that a schedule is made for the turning demos and the person demonstrating.

Toy program

Next Toy Workshop will be Saturday, February 24, 2024.

 We have added new toys this year to take advantage of the 1-inch wood that we have in abundance.  Keith Brink has been working with  3/4 " pine; he took this to a new level, exceeding all expectations for this task.

Jerry Hood is working on a new toy motor boat while in Florida. 

Tracing is almost complete, 1" stock is done and only a few hundred of 2" stock remains to be traced.

Fluorescent Green will be 2024 peg color, with the leftover orange pegs being used on Love Bugs.

Cutting will start at next meeting and depending on weather, cutting, routing and sanding can begin outside. 

If you know someone who wants toys for 2024, we have an application for toys on the RCWA website.   

Shop Projects

Bob Buchanan brought some "drawer handles" that will be mounted in the shop, and used for tape measure holders. 

 Wood Recovery Project

A brief discussion on wood recovery and lumber not suitable for toys but valuable to members for other projects.   

Show and Tell

Dave Maude showed an antique Stanley no.78 plane he purchased after seeing it in a email Bob Buchanan sent to all members. 

Al Oines showed a unique Hickory “Emerging Bowl” he recently turned, a wonderful example of his turning skills and craftsmanship.


Minutes taken by Nick Spano


For more information, go to www.rapidcitywoodworkers.com.

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Tour of Mind Blown Glass Studio (2.1.2024)




Toni Gerlach, proprietor of Mind Blown Studio at 73 Sherman St in Deadwood, SD, invited us to a shop tour/demonstration on Feb 1, 2024.  The weather was perfect and the demonstrations were amazing.  Thanks Toni, and Nick, for inviting us, for taking time to show us your shop/lab/studio, and for giving a super presentation of the some of the techniques and tools used to make items from glass today.  Thank you for hosting, and for answering our questions today!



Nick and Toni



RCWA Members Attending(13) today:  Darwin, Lauree, Dee, Tony, Stu, Adam, Nick, Rick, Kathie, Bob, Harley, Keith, and Al


Glass in pure form before melting and adding colors.
Glass is purchased in 50 pound bags.

Photos from the tour:
















The vase/bowl was immediately put in the frig to cool.



If you want to see more of the products Toni makes, go to her Facebook page and her ETSY page:




For more information, go to www.rapidcitywoodworkers.com.



 



Wednesday, January 31, 2024

Woodturning SIG 1.31.2024

 

The Wood Turning Special Interest Group (WT SIG) was held on Jan 31,  2024.

All RCWA members and guests are welcome to attend.  It is on the calendar for the last Wednesday of each month at 1 pm. It is held in Jim and Maggie’s Shop at 2879 Spotted Fawn Lane, Rapid City, SD 57702.

Thank you to Maggie and Jim for hosting and preparing today's Woodturning SIG.  

Attending:

Lon, Stu, Dave, Al, Maggie, Jim Brown, Bob, Kathie, Ken, Rick, 3 others

Demonstrations planned for today included turning mallets, lidded boxes, making baby rattles from  "popcorn wood" , and making goblets.   Dave Maude shared photos and videos from his recent trip to Germany.

Al 's demo




Dave Maude with stories from visit to Germany







Here's Al sharing his latest project:
Femispher





Popcorn wood



Al Oines turning a baby rattle from popcorn wood



Dave and Ken discussing spindle turning techniques


For more information, go to www.rapidcitywoodworkers.com.