January 2025 Meeting

The January meeting of the CraobhEo 2024/25 year took place on Thursday the 16th January in the CraobhEo Centre in Aghamore.
Our demonstrator for the evening was Frank Fitzpatrick from the Shannonside Chapter and Journal Editor.
Frank’s project was a sugar bowl with lid.
Bowl
Mount a 100 mm square by 150 mm beech blank for base and turn to a round of 90 mm diameter. Note, Yew and Laburnum are poisonous woods and not suitable for tableware. Frank as usual gave plenty of practical tips as he went along. Turn a spigot and remount in chuck with tailstock for support. Mark out 70 mm from top and part off. Start shaping the outside of the base to your preferred design. Drill out the bowl using Forstner bits, starting by making pilot holes for bigger bits, larger first and then removing stock in opposite sequence, using smaller bits to larger. Make a finishing cut with the skew on the outside of the bowl. Trim up the top as well. Turn the inside wall to a finish using bowl gouge and negative rake scraper on short tool rest pointing into the bowl. Sand using liquid paraffin through the grits. Paste generated will fill the pores and avoid dust. This can be a suitable finish in itself for food contact.
Lid
Mount a beech blank for the lid between centres, round up to suit base, turn tenon and remount in chuck. Mark out and turn jam chuck to attach bowl (this will also be the lid fitting). Turn and finish the bottom of the bowl. Ease the jam chuck fitting now to become the lid fitting. Turn and shape the lid with knob if preferred and finish as above.
Sugar bowl and lid completed. Well done Frank.
Thank you Frank for a lovely demo, well delivered and with so many practical tips right throughout to take back to our workshops to help us.
We were also privileged to welcome Frank’s wife Theresa and Pat Courtney from Shannonside who made the journey with Frank. Hope to see you back in Mayo very soon. Well done.
Chapter Competition
Competition for January was a sugar bowl with lid.
There was an advanced competition and an intermediate competition for turners up to three years experience.
Frank Fitzpatrick and Pat Courtney judged both competitions. Frank gave a critique on each piece afterwards and gave feedback to the gathering. Thanks to Frank and Pat and to all who took part in our January competitions.
Competition for February is a rolling pin. Note this is a change to our published list.
Monthly Chapter Competition Winners
Advanced
Winner – Padraig Grealis
Second – Liam Horan
Third – Ian McDougall
Intermediate
Winner – Brendan Calvey
Second – Jarlath Cunnane
CraobhEo January 2025 Meeting
Advanced competition winners (L-R); Padraig Grealis (1st), Frank Fitzpatrick, Liam Horan (2nd), Ian McDougall (3rd).
CraobhEo January 2025 Meeting
Intermediate competition winners (L-R); Brendan Calvey (1st), Frank Fitzpatrick, Jarlath Cunnane (2nd).