Blackhawk Chipper
 

Meeting Times

There are two evening meetings per month, which are held at the Ken-Rock Community Center at 3218-11^th Street, Rockford, IL.

The first meeting is on the first Tuesday and is an open carving meeting from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Join the gang and bring your friends

The second meeting is on the third Tuesday, January 18th and is the business meeting, starting at 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM.

Every Wednesday is open carving from 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM. Come and join the gang, bring a friend! Enjoy a taco.

All our meetings are aimed at enjoying one another passion for woodcarving. Always there is a lot of carving information traded back and forth, and of course the life interest stories, "three for a dollar" are worth the gas mileage and time.

Clearing off the bench

Here is something that no one would have predicted, I now own a Fordom. But mind you, only for sanding as I explore stylized carvings.

What if you were marooned on an island and had a choice of your five favorite survival carving tools? From an article in Power Carving Manual by Joe Rizzo, he had this thought while watching those TV "survival" shows. He prioritized his survival tool needs while on an island as follows:

1. A gas or electric powered chain saw to block out or rough out materials to fit into his band saw. Or rough out a giant log.

2. A Fordom TX series for its diversity as drilling, de-burring, polishing, buffing, routing, and sanding.

3. A Rotozip to rip though anything that a bandsaw, potable circular saw, handsaw, or jigsaw will do.

4. Mixed warp of gouges and chisels to achieve the old school of carving.

5. A variety pack of adhesive-backed sandpaper that can be fitted to any sanding block or stick. This to achieve a high level of polish; uses 60 to 2000-grit

So now you have your opportunity of fantasizing your list. Give this some thought and bring your comments and/or favorite tools to the January meeting.

Keep your tools sharp

Roger Benedict

December meeting notes

Meeting called to order by Elaine Terrell.  Dolores repeated her concern about the location of the quilt at Klehm Arboretum. The show rules need to be handed out. Those nominated and approved for offices were:

President Elaine Terrell

VP Ron Million

Treasurer Dolores Cascio

Secretary Roger Benedict

Not much was available for the swap night, but food and beverages made up for it. Great Marshall Field chili, great home made cookies, and great John’s pizza.

Show & Tell

John Bibby---Chipped carved corners for chest having a size of 32 x 18 x 18-inches.

Gary Meyer---Walnut stylized fish, that he was seeking advice to remove scratches. Several good recommendations were available.

Don Stansfield---"Kol Rosing from a long ago class. Used a special knife and watered down coffee grounds for coloring, then finished with 20 coats of water based poly.

Roger Ward---Corner post from an old barn with a carved spirit man. This was carved at a farm show in WI.

Carl Hicks---A walking cane carved from Colorado juniper wood. All of which was done by a pocketknife, and superbly painted. Carl has a very unique niche from the use of pocket knives.

Misc. Schedule

January 18---Let’s have a lively discussion about the favorite survival tools on a maroon island. Bring them to show and tell.

When----- Saturday, August 13, 2005

Time------10:00 am to 4:00 pm.

Where-----Klehm Arboretum in Rockford, IL

As we head into the New Year join me in being mindful of those who are experiencing health issues at this time. May all of us be thankful for our carving friends and to greet them with the best thoughts and prayers for their speedy recovery.

Ron Flam continues to recover from chemo treatments. Obviously there are ups and downs, but according to Cheryl he is good spirits and is doing fine.

Hank Osinski recently underwent surgery to remove a third of one lung. The removed section was cancerous. While in the hospital he was in good spirits and his old self. He now is home and recovering from surgery with the knowledge of not needing any follow-on treatments for cancer..

Dave Hoffman recently undergone surgery for a stomach cyst and is now awaiting treatment procedures for the discovered cancer.

Ron Million in home recovering from a head injury due to a fall from a ladder. A few weeks are required to regain his strength and balance.

Reference an article by Delmar Lohr in Chip Chats, who owns Cedar Ridge Hardwoods in Forreston, IL.

Hardness and softness of woods is always a question for carvers. There is a standard to compare the different woods by a laboratory method. The hardness is measured by the pounds of force required to embed a .444 inch steel ball to one-half its depth in the wood. Two readings are taken and averaged; radial penetration (across the grain) and tangential penetration (with the grain.) Wood samples of the same species vary a great deal and probably in hardness. Usually final hardness readings represent a wide range of locations, growing patterns, moisture content and sample sizes. The following table shows the comparative hardness of familiar woods (12 % moisture content, higher readings means higher hardness):

For those who have an e-mail address the newsletter will be sent via the Internet. To date nine members have forwarded their address. It would be appreciated to have a larger list, thus please forward your address to RJ Benedict.

Some worthwhile acronyms for retired folks

LEO Let’s eat out

ROMEO Retired old men eating out

PIP Previously important people

Do not forget to pay your membership dues of $18.00. Send checks to Dolores Cascio at:

2940 Carefree Drive

Rockford, IL 61114

http://www.carving.moscinski.net/
 

"You know your are getting older when it is more fun at a party when cookies are served", circa 2004

---------Bob Hallstrom

The Blackhawk Woodcarvers was founded in 1993 and has a goal of preserving and encouraging the art of woodcarving. Membership is open to anyone having any skill of carving, including those who have never carved and want to learn about carving.