Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Toy Program Update: 5-8-2020 -- No Monthly General Meeting in May

In lieu of the May 2020 General Meeting, here's an update and activity log of toy-making since last month's update:  We continue with our virtual Toy Workshops, that is, everybody working remotely in their own shops.

It's been a few weeks since our last update.  Boxes have mysteriously been moving in and out of members shops and into sanding homes, sealing booths, finishing booths, and wheel assembly areas.  Many members have had a little more free time on their hands recently, but some are still fully employed.  Here's a recap of the mysterious movement of boxes.

April 14, 2020 (9 degrees and snowing – heavy Hallmark snow)

Bob – drilled 8 holes for crayons in about half of the crayon whales.  Rick texted that he had finished the airplanes, so I emailed Ralph to let him know the airplanes were ready for wheels. 

April 15, 2020:  (30 degrees and snowing)

Ralph picked up airplanes from Rick’s shop in Black Hawk.  He also picked up jigs and wheels.  Ralph’s inventory:  495 standard wheels, 495 axles (at least), 200 yellow axles, 170 blue axles.  Ralph will install two wheels on each airplane using the special airplane wheels jigs.

Jim brought 5 boxes of toys to Bob’s shop.  With some edge round-over routering, they will be ready to be sealed.  Jim picked up two more boxes of blanks from Bob and took them home to work in his shop.

Bob finished drilling holes for crayons in the rest of the crayon whales.

April 16, 2020

Loaded the buckboard and headed to town to take on supplies – last trip to Sam’s was 17 days ago.  
Delivered two boxes of chalkboard blanks, cut to size with scroll-sawn handles cut out to Gary Graves, plus items for ICU Items.  Received a box full of critter bags (12) sewn by Pat Graves.  Gary and Pat team up to make the fancy chalkboards, complete with chalk on a string.

Mailed masks to kids in Indiana and CA. Mailed package to Oregon City for Aunt Barb’s 100th Birthday.

April 17, 2020:

Lon dropped off two boxes of toys ready to be sealed.

Ed brought two boxes of toys hand-sanded by Gloria, ready for final finishing.  Ed also brought a box of caravans, cut, drilled, routered and sanded and ready to seal, and four more boxes of toys ready to be sealed.  Ed took home two boxes of toys for hand-sanding, and two boxes for edge routering.

April 18, 2020 – Woodworking Show scheduled for today at Knecht Home Center was postponed to a later time.

April 19, 2020:

Zoom with kids in CA; sketch out plans for movable base for Pattern File cabinet;  make short video to send to A Barb for her birthday party.

April 20, 2020:

Prepared the sealing room for Kathie.  Move boxes around to prepare for sealing.  Move stack of boxes for Routering to new shop.  Move stack of boxes for hand-sanding to stall #2.

April 21, 2020

Jerry and Patsy Hood brought two boxes of heart boxes, two boxes of fire trucks and toy wrecker hooks, all ready to be sealed.  Jerry also brought all the Show Ducks, completed and ready to give out at the Woodworking Show.

Kathie sealed 10 double heart boxes, 43 single heart boxes, 37 thin firetrucks, 35 thick firetrucks, 32 PT Cruisers, 20 Hippos, 32 little VWs, 22 caravans and trailers, and 26 wrecker hooks.

April 22, 2020:

Mary Jo brought two boxes of hand sanded toys, ready for final finish.  She took home four boxes of toys to hand sand including turtle banks, and paddles.

April 23, 2020:

Al Oines dropped off three boxes of toys ready to seal including whales, and ring toss sticks.  Al brought home two boxes of toys to edge router.

Bob and Kathie picked up completed airplanes (152) from Ralph and moved them to inventory at Rick’s shop.  Then we dropped off four boxes of wheels (2400 x 4 = 9600) to the RV Barn at Danny and Mary’s.  Bob picked up ¾” stock for basketball games from Danny’s. 

Boxes on hand for cutting, etc, include Sharks, Love Bugs, Wreckers, and Delivery Trucks.

April 24, 2020:

We picked up two boxes hand-sanded by Bel and dropped off 3 more boxes to hand-sand.

Jim B dropped off two boxes here, and picked up two more boxes to work on in his shop. 

April 25, 2020:

Lon picked up two more boxes to process at his shop.  Ken and Carol dropped by with three boxes of toys ready to seal.  Refrigerator is not cooling, move everything to compact frigs in shop and basement.

April 26, 2020

Research common refrigerator failure modes.  Rearrange all boxes in garage to prepare for sealing on Monday.

April 27, 2020:

Call refrigerator repair center; on calendar for Wednesday.  Ed returns to work.

Kathie sealed 258 toys:  91 love bugs, 30 ATVs, 20 sedans, 31 tater cars, 27 small oldies, 22 turtles, 17 rabbits, 20 whales.

April 28, 2020:  (Very windy today)

Al dropped off two boxes, after edge routering, all ready to seal, to the rough wood chair.  

Flash: some business/restaurants may soon be opening.

April 29, 2020

Zoom with kids in CA.  Prepare garage for spraying.  Refrigerator is repaired – YAY!

April 30, 2020:  (almost 80 degrees today!)

Spray boxes (and more boxes) of toys in PM:  258 toys plus ring toss sticks. 

Heart Boxes (43 single, 10 double) are ready for felt inserts.

Email sent out today:  MAY EVENTS are cancelled until further notice:

Greetings:  Just to let you know that at this time, all events for May for RCWA are cancelled until further notice.  Updates will be announced if they occur.  We will need to have access to the church for our meeting place and the Club for Boys for our workshops, so until access to those sites is available, we will remain at home.  Everyone keep up the good work.  Toys are continuing to be worked.  I have a stack to the ceiling needing sanding, and another smaller stack needing to be routered.  I even have one box yet to be cut.  Stay safe.  Bob and Rick

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Wow, this just seems like one continuous workshop!

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May 1, 2020:  Saw pair of B1's fly over on edge of Rapid City - saluting health workers - as we were coming back from Hot Springs auction pickup.

May 2, 2020:

Paul Douglas picked up three boxes of toys for hand-sanding.

Bob packed up toys that were dry after spraying, so that:  Several boxes of toys are ready for wheels, the heart boxes are ready for felt, and the ring toss sticks are ready for ring/string install.  Rick is planning to spray more wheels.

May 3, 2020:  Build double fan holder #2.

May 4, 2020:  (Cool and windy)

Jim brought two boxes of toys (Wreckers with jig to cut slots, and love bugs) ready to seal.  Jim sent a video of his mini-wood working show at his home.

May 5, 2020:  Escape day – resupply

Lon dropped off two boxes completed and ready to seal.

We dropped off 3 boxes at Mary Jo’s for hand-sanding, and picked up four boxes from her, ready to spray finish.

We dropped off 3 boxes at Bel’s parking lot for hand-sanding, and picked up three boxes from Bel, ready to spray finish. 

We visited McDonald’s, Sam’s and the gas station, Menard's, Hobby Lobby, Millstone, and Mary Jo’s and Bel’s.

May 6-7-8, 2020:  Blustery day

Finish double fan assembly, with 2.5” wheels on the double thick base.  Built movable base for two-drawer pattern file cabinet. Add cleats, and wheels.

Errands in town, mail package for birthday, get propane, get gas for mower.  Pick up rocks.  Grass is growing.

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Everyone keep up the good work.  Toys are continuing to be worked.  Stay safe.



For more information about the Woodworkers, click here:   RCWA




Thursday, April 16, 2020

Mini-Woodworking Show April 2020 - "Anything that Flies"

RCWA Members - regarding the previously planned April 18,2020 Woodworking Show

The Weisbeck household is quite sad to not be able to share in the regularly scheduled wood show with the crew. So, we made a mini-wood show and video to share with everyone!

We would love if you would share the below video link with the RCWA members and impart our best wishes that everyone is safe and healthy during this tough time. We miss you all!  

Cori, Rick, and Mary Weisbeck


Click on this Link for the Weisbeck Mini-Woodworking  Wood Show 2020:

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Toy Program Update - 4-13-2020 - No Monthly Meeting in April 2020

In lieu of the April General Meeting:  Last update was Mar 31, 2020.  Since then, we have been having virtual Toy Workshops, that is, everybody working remotely in their own shops.

We started “Phase 1 – Tracing” on Jan 11, 2020, our first workshop (TWS01) in 2020.  We did “tracing” at this workshop, and continued this effort in Toy Workshops 2 thru 4 (TWS02 thru 04).  At the end of Toy Workshop 4, we had traced 2,260 of our traceable toys which is 93%.  Our goal for 2020 is 2,800 toys.  During the first four workshops, some folks were able to move onto the other activities in phases 2 thru 5, but the majority of the efforts was “Tracing”.  Toy Workshops 01 thru 04:  we completed the tracing effort for 93% of traceable toys.

March 11, 2020 Pandemic Declared

There have been no schedule changes since the last update;  ie there are no activities planned for April 2020.  Updates will be issued as time goes on.

April 2, 2020 – ten inches of snowfall overnight.  Shovel Snow.


April 2, 2020:  Pack up sealed and sprayed toys for sanding and for wheels, respectively.
 




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April 3, 2020:  Bob cut basketball parts to 3" width for bases and backboards.
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April 4, 2020:  Bob cut basketball bases and backboards to length; 76 bases (3x10) and 28 backboards (3x4).

April 4, 2020:  Paul will be staying here for the foreseeable future, he has volunteered to do the peg spraying again.  Thanks Paul.

April 4, 2020:  Ken dropped off two boxes of toys ready to be sealed (Dachshunds and Puppy Dogs).  Ken picked up two boxes of toys to make from scratch.


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April 5, 2020:  Ralph went to Bob’s and picked up three boxes of toys that are ready for installing wheels.  Some of these toys use Finished Truck Wheels, which Ralph also picked up from Bob.  Earlier that day, Ralph picked up Finished Standard wheels and axle pegs (blue) from Rick.

April 5, 2020:  Shovel path to shed.
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April 6, 2020:  Lon dropped off two boxes of toys ready for sealing.  Lon picked up two boxes to work on at home from scratch.  Then he went fishing.

April 6, 2020:  Ken and Carol shopped at Menards for Lacquer Thinner and Zinsser’s Clear Shellac for Kathie for sealing.  They delivered them also.

April 6, 2020:  Bob power sanded one box of toys.  Kathie sealed 6 boxes of toys.  Toys sealed were:  Jeeps, Ducks, Puppy Dogs, Dachshunds, Helicopters, and Small McQueen Racers (total of 165).  Ten boxes are ready for sanding, and four boxes ready for wheels.




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April 7, 2020:  I ordered wheels and pegs for 2020 Toys from Smith Wood Products in Texas.  They have only a small number of employees and live in a large 50, 000 sq ft ware house, and are still working.  They had my order on their dock by 4 pm.

April 7, 2020:  We dropped off two boxes of Toys for hand sanding to Mary Jo, and dropped off two boxes of Toys for hand sanding to Bel.  Cleaned out 3 bird houses – spring is here.  Had a fine dining experience from Wendy’s with an outside picnic at Canyon Lake Park.
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April 8, 2020:  Ralph sent email, he has 3 boxes of toys ready for inventory.  Will pick up on next trip to town.
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April 9, 2020:  Jim dropped off three boxes of critters, only need Routering, and one box of toys that needs Routering.
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April 10, 2020:  Received wheels and pegs from Smith WOOD PRODUCTS in Fort Worth, TX, via Fed Ex before 10 am.  Total order:  six boxes of wheels (2400 x 6 = 14,400 wheels) and one box of pegs (15,000).


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April 11, 2020:  Met Ralph at his place, picked up toys ready for inventory (Pickups – 16, Oldies -31, Busses -30:  total 77).  We then delivered these toys to Ricks, where we bagged and tagged them and put them upstairs in the Inventory.  Delivered two full boxes of wheels to Rick (4800).  Also delivered three boxes of critters to Rick for Routering with the Dremel routers.  Rick is working on assembling and spraying airplanes.  (As of this morning at 8 am, Rick has 163 planes ready for wheels.)


April 11-12, 2020 – ten inches of snowfall overnight.  Shovel Snow.

April 12, 2020:  Toy Blanks remaining at Bob's:  two boxes.

April 13, 2020:  Darwin reported that he has finished cutting four boxes of critters,  and Lauree drilled holes for eyes in the critters and other toys.  Darwin has two more boxes of 2" toys to cut.

I know that lots of other work is being done in personal shops.  I will add updates, and photos  with captions to this blog as I receive them from you.

For more information about the Woodworkers, click here:   RCWA


Tuesday, March 31, 2020

Toy Program Status 3-31-2020


Toy Program Status 3-31-2020 – A look back less than 3 weeks ago

THE TOY PROGRAM.    The Toy Program effort consists of 5 major phases:
Phase 1:  Tracing
Phase 2:  Cutting toys to shape
Phase 3:  Milling - routering, drilling, and machine sanding
Phase 4:  Finish - sealer coat - sanding - final spray coat - final sanding
Phase 5:  Wheel installations

We started “Phase 1 – Tracing” on Jan 11, 2020, our first workshop (TWS01) in 2020.  We did “tracing” at this workshop, and continued this effort in Toy Workshops 2 thru 4 (TWS02 thru 04).  At the end of Toy Workshop 4, we had traced 2,260 of our traceable toys which is 93%.  Our goal for 2020 is 2,800 toys.  During the first four workshops, some folks were able to move onto the other activities in phases 2 thru 5, but the majority of the efforts was “Tracing”.
Toy Workshops 01 Jan 11, 2020
Toy Workshops 02 Jan 25, 2020
Toy Workshops 03 Feb 8, 2020
Toy Workshops 04 Feb 22, 2020
Toy Workshops 01 thru 04:  we completed the tracing effort for 93% of traceable toys.

March 11, 2020 Pandemic Declared

Toy Workshop 05 – March 21, 2020:  The exchange – no toymaking today, just distributed boxes of blank toys, toys ready for sealing, and cleared the storage room at the Club for Boys.



It snowed March 25, 2020

Toy Moveout – March 26, 2020 – moved all remaining boxes of blank toys, some tools, wheel jigs and presses, and the pattern file cabinet out of the Club for Boys into several member’s possession, as the Club for Boys is now closed to all outside groups.




March 28 – Rick brought turtle banks to Bobs for sealing; Bob gave Rick airplane wings to install on toy program airplane fuselages, Bob gave Rick the wheels remaining from 2019 (approx. 1800), plus almost 6000 pegs for painting.

March 24 – Darwin and Lauree pink slips – until further notice.

March 27 – Ed pink slip – until further notice.

March 30, 2020 – Bob picked up boxes of sanded toys from Mary Jo’s, from Ed and Gloria’s, and Bel’s.  Rick spraying wheels, and painting pegs.

March 31 – Ed brought a box of toys ready for sealing; and chalkboards with handles cut out;  he picked up 4 more boxes to cut and two more to sand (after seal).


March 31 – Kathie sealed 6 boxes of toys (bears, ameba cars, comic helicopters, Slimline rabbits, turtle banks, and paddles); Bob finish sprayed three boxes of toys (busses, oldies, and pickup trucks).  One box needs truck wheels; the rest need standard wheels.



 

March 31, 2020 - New Horizon Band concert schedule and practices are now cancelled until June, with no makeup concerts planned.

Wowsa – don’t fall asleep too long, things are happening fast.

It’s almost like we need to cross-train everyone to be able to do everyone’s jobs, like Costco or Sam’s Club.  We have lots of people who are respecting a “Stay at Home” order and have a lot more home time on their hands.  Because of this, we are progressing at an amazing rate. 

Wheel Assembly is the last operation for most toys.  If you are a Wheel Guy (only), just be patient and let the system work its way out.  Or get crosstraining.  But soon, and very soon, there will be no vacations permitted for the Wheel Guys!


For more information about the Woodworkers, click here:   RCWA



Thursday, March 26, 2020

Load Out Remaining Toy Blanks 3-26-2020

"The Club for Boys (CFB) is sending their staff home and closing their building to outside groups after Friday."  (See yesterday's Post.)

In response to the notice above, a group of members met at the CFB Shop at 10 am today to remove all remaining boxes of toy blanks.

Attending:  Ralph, Harley P, Al, Rick, Bob, Danny, Ken, Jim, Jerry, Tony and Lon.

All remaining boxes were taken from the shelf above the power tools.  Many boxes were picked up by members to work on in home shops.  The remaining boxes (8 boxes) were  moved to Bob's Shop.   We loaded the small file cabinet with all our toy patterns and moved it to Bob's Shop as well.  Several members borrowed tools/jigs to work in home shops during the shutdown.  Al took the disk sander.  Ralph and Harley P took wheel presses, glue injectors, the wheel tool box, plus some wheels and pegs, in preparation for toys that will soon be ready for wheels.  Lon, Ken, and Jim returned boxes of toys ready for sealing, sanding, and finishing.  These were also moved to Bob's Shop.

Thanks to all who helped load, and thanks to Rick, Jim, and Danny, who helped me unload at my shop!

For more information about the Woodworkers, click here:   RCWA



Wednesday, March 25, 2020

UPDATES FOR RCWA (3-25-2020)

The Club for Boys (CFB) is sending their staff home and closing their building to outside groups after Friday.  A small group of us are meeting tomorrow morning (Thursday) at 10 am at the CFB to load out the remaining boxes of "in-work toys" and other tools that we may need in the coming months.  If you want to pick up some more toys to work on, please drop by the Club for Boys tomorrow at 10 am.  If you need to borrow a tool, or sandpaper, or anything else, please come by tomorrow as well, or call Rick or me.  Rick has a Rigid Belt Sander (and other items) that can be loaned.  

All organized APRIL Events are cancelled for April 2020 including the WT SIG, Toy Workshops, the General Meeting, and the SS SIG.

Official Toy Exchanges will probably not happen in April.  If you have a group/box of toys sanded, drilled, routered, etc. that is ready to be sealed and finished, you can bring them to Bob's Shop pretty much anytime.  If no one is home, leave them in the breezeway in the big rough-wood chair.

As we noted last week, the 12th annual Woodworking Show originally scheduled for Saturday 18 April 2020 from 8 am to 4 pm at the Knecht Home Center is postponed.  A new date has not been set.  So if you haven't quite finished your "Anything that Flies" projects, you still have a little more time.

I will try to keep you updated as things change.

Bob Buchanan  605 348-2865
Rick Weisbeck 605 431-4708

For more information about the Woodworkers, click here:   RCWA


Saturday, March 21, 2020

The Exchange 3-21-2020 (TWS2020-05)

Location:  Parking Lot of Club for Boys/Club for Boys SHOP

Attendees(15):
Rick, Danny, Mary, Lon, Ken, Jim, John W, Mary Jo, Ed, Grant, Bel, Bob and Kathie, Tony, Darwin

Homework:
Tugboat hulls:  Tony
Tugboat cabins:  Grant
Chalkboards:  Ed
Caravans:  Ed
Busses (handsand):  Ed / Gloria
Oldies (handsand):  Bel
Pickups (handsand):  Mary Jo
Trace Sea Creatures (2):  Mary Jo
Trace Delivery Trucks (30) and Tow Trucks (30):  Rick
Love Bugs (80) - spray for WW Show:  Rick
Blocks (sanding):  moved to CFB Shop shelf.
WW Show Duck:  To Danny to test on race track.
Paddle Games:  Lon brought paddles all cut to shaped, drilled, routered and sanded, ready to seal/finish.
Bears:  Ken brought back a box cut to shape, sanded, routered, ready to be sealed.
Thin Animal Toys - John Wolf  cut, drilled, sanded, routered, and returned to Rick for wheels and finish.
A large number of toy blanks and critters were taken home for working in individual shops.

All Toy Program boxes were moved from Storage area in back of CFB including routers and carts.  The pinewood derby blank race cars were left in the Storage Room (about 5 boxes).

Progress report on the Remodel of the Lobby of the Club for Boys:



Photos from the Exchange - Social Distancing:




For more information about the Woodworkers, click here:   RCWA