Carving SIG

The Carving SIG holds its meetings from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, on the fourth Thursday of the month, September - June. For location and information contact Chuck Rinehart (585-385-3058 or carvingSIG@rochesterwoodworkers.org).

This is a working SIG, each member is working on a carving project, either a relief design or a letter carving project. The SIG is open to beginners as well as those with some carving experience. Those beginning will find help with acquiring carving tools, sharpening and developing carving skills related to classical relief designs and lettering.

Chair and Period Furniture SIG

The Chair and Period Furniture SIG meetings are at 7:00pm on the 1st Monday of each month. We discuss different aspects of period furniture and do different demos each month. Even if you do not plan to build period furniture the topics we cover can be applied to forms of woodworking, and all members are invited.

The January meeting will be held at Jim Altemus' house on January 9, 2012 (note change of date). The topic of discussion will be arm chairs. This is a follow up to last years meeting where Jim discussed his new dinning room chairs. Jim will talk about modifying thoses chairs to make an armchair.

For information on upcoming meetings or joining this SIG, contact Tim Talma via email at periodSIG@rochesterwoodworkers.org.

Furniture SIG

The Furniture SIG meets at  CP Rochester (unless otherwise noted), from 7:00 to 9:00 pm on the first Thursday of the month, September - June.  The group discusses all aspects of furniture related projects.  Topics include joinery, finishing, inlays, tools, design, and many others.  For more information, contact Rick Diehl by email at: furnitureSIG@rochesterwoodworkers.org.

Schedule for the 2011-2012 season:

November 3, 2011:  Tom Ruflin will discuss two of the pieces he displayed at the RWS Showcase earlier this year.  Tom will talk about the processes he applied when building the dining chair, from developing the prototype through final finishing.  He will also describe the joinery and fixtures used to construct his side table.

December 1, 2011:  Brent Templar will talk about dust collection systems.  Greg Miller will recap his April 2011 visit to Steve Latta's program at Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology in Lancaster, PA. His presentation will highlight the history behind the institution's namesake and the great woodworking program being offered to Pennsylvania's college students.

January 5, 2012:  Jerry Ronanowski will update his woodworking experiences at Camp Good Days.

February 2, 2012:  Mike Heiler will describe how to build a chess board using the Kreg jig. The meeting will be held at Mike's shop located at 1734 Harris Road, Penfield, NY 14526.

March 1, 2012: Dave Peschell will present a discussion on strategies for shop layout.

April 5, 2012:  Dave Schafer will talk about workbench design.

May 3, 2012:  Bruce Alles - topic TBA.  The meeting will be held at Bruce's shop located at 1939 Bennett Rd, Mendon, NY 14564.

June 7, 2012:  Mark Rakestraw - topic TBA.  The meeting will be held at Mark's shop located at 215 Whittier Road, Rochester, NY 14624.

The Furniture SIG has set up an e-mail group service at Yahoo! Groups. To learn more and/or join the group, visit http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RWSFurnitureSIGProjects.

Turning SIG

The Turning SIG meets at members' shops or at CP Rochester from 7:00 to 9:00 PM, the 2nd Thursday of the month, September - June. Contact Dave Gilbert for more information at turningSIG@rochesterwoodworkers.org.

• The September meeting was at Dave Gilbert's house where he discussed using vacuum jigs.
• At our October 13th meeting Ralph Mosher demonstrated how to make Christmas Ornaments.
• Mike Brawley talked about his tops and how to make them at our November 10th meeting.
• Our December 8th meeting was hosted by Frank Corrado and Dave Gilbert who talked about making your own turning tools.

The January 12^th meeting will be at Gregg Miller's house where he will demonstrate the tools and jigs that are needed to turn pens. We will be meeting at 7:00 PM at Gregg's house at 56 Chesapeake Landing, West Henrietta, NY 14586.

Chesapeake Landing is off East River Road south of RIT and runs opposite Bailey Road.

We are planning the February 9^th meeting for CP Rochester when Ralph Mosher will demo making a natural edge bowl. The only thing that we will need for this to be successful is some green wood to use for the demo. If you have of a piece of wood that is 8" in diameter and about 12" long and has its bark intact, please send Dave Gilbert or Ralph Mosher a note.