June 2024 Meeting

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The June meeting of the CraobhEo 2023/24 year took place on Thursday the 20th June in the CraobhEo Centre in Aghamore.

Our demonstrator for the evening was Wille Creighton.

Willie’s project was a two piece candlestick using the minimum number of tools.

Starting with a 250 mm by 70  mm square spalted beech blank, mount between centres and drill recess of 25 mm wide and 10 mm deep for candle insert. Remount and turn the blank to a cylinder using a roughing gouge. Willie took the opportunity to explain in detail the cuts he was making as he went along. Turn a tenon at one end for chucking and start shaping the other end to become the top of the candlestick. Always use the opportunity to practice as you go along before making the final cut. Work your way down the blank using the spindle turning cuts of coves, fillets and beads. These detail cuts are generally made with the spindle gouge and roughing gouge used to remove stock. Willie explained how to use your body to support making the cuts. Finish the tenon to fit into the base. Sand through the grits before applying EEE Ultra Shine and buffing with 220 grit and then applying Shellawax to finish.

Next mount a 135 diameter by 32 mm thick ash blank on a screw chuck for the base. Turn to a cylinder and dish the bottom. Mark centre point of bottom and turn a 3 mm recess for chuck using skew to dovetail it. Trim up the sides. Sand through the grits. Turn a detail bead as decoration on bottom and finish as above. Remount the base in the chuck and clean up the face. Drill appropriate recess for top to fit into. Turn the top of the  base to your preferred design. Fit the top into the base at this point. You can apply any finishing cuts at this point. Sand and apply finish as above.

See photos for detailed design of the candlestick which was very elegant.

Thank you Willie for a very comprehensive demo that everyone enjoyed going through all the cuts and giving so many useful tips throughout the evening. Another nice project to work on during the summer.

The meeting expressed sympathy to the family of Seamus Parsons, one of our founder CraobhEo members who passed away during the week. May he rest in peace.

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