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
