The Gloucestershire Association of Woodturners (GAW) was formed in 1991 and today has over 100 members. We are a voluntary, non-profit making organisation which exists to promote woodturning in a friendly atmosphere. We meet on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at the Hucclecote Rugby Club in Gloucester (7pm for 7:30pm start). At most meetings we have a top class demonstrator and a chance to chat to fellow turners. If you are interested then please come along and join us.
Here’s what one of our newest members has to say about a training day with the GAW :
Thoroughly enjoyed the day and came home buzzing with enthusiasm. If the committee are in any doubt of the value of these training days, please don’t be. I, and I’m sure all that attend, increase their skills and are very grateful for the time the tutors give for free. Now, with the guidance I received, I have made my first box and learnt a lot.
Live Demonstrations at Hucclecote
Live demonstrations are now taking place and streaming over Zoom has stopped. There are no longer any restrictions on numbers attending at Hucclecote and refreshments are available. Visitors are welcome to join us. However, if you want a free tea or coffee, YOU MUST BRING YOUR OWN MUG.
The NEXT meeting is the 33rd AGM and it is on TUESDAY 9th April in Down Hatherley Village Hall. Please note the change of both day and venue from our normal meetings.
After the AGM we will have a talk on clock case repair by Will Cook. In his own words :
“I have worked on clock cases on and off for nearly fifty years. I also used to teach furniture restoration at Stroud Collage for a number of years and have given talks before – it is something I enjoy doing. I have done a lot of wood turning in the past involving my clocks so there should be some cross over.“
It sounds like it should be a fascinating talk and well worth attending. It will certainly be more wood related than last year’s talk!
The last club meeting saw Robert Till RPT join us from Staffordshire. Robert was last with us in May 2019 and is obviously in demand on the demonstration circuit – we were the second of seventeen bookings he has so far this year stretching from the Kennet to the Scottish borders. He demonstrated an invloute candlestick for us and overcame the dificulty of getting square stock to start with by buying it as four sides planed pine from Wickes. A lot cheaper and easier than trying to get a piece of Oak square with a thicknesser and, after a spray with ebonising laquer, no one would know what the base wood was anyway. The demonstration was well attended and enjoyed by all levels of turner.
It is essential that your EMAIL ADDRESS IS UP TO DATE for you to receive the latest details from the club. This will include the log on details for each zoom demonstration. The details are also posted on the ‘members only‘ web page. If you’re not receiving your monthly newsletters than please check your ‘junk’ folder and if you still can’t find them then contact membership@gaw.org.uk
Latest News
There will be several vacancies on the committee in the next year or two. If you would be interested in helping your club, then please talk to any committee member for more details – without sufficient volunteers there will be no club. Specifically the vacancies are :
- Programme Manager
- The programme for 2025 is almost complete (only one to arrange), so this would be a gentle introduction checking that the monthly demonstrators have all the info they need and making any final arrangements such as the subject of the demonstration, then towards the end of 2024 start organising the 2026 programme by identifying potential demonstrators and establishing their interest and availability (with help from the rest of the committee).
- Wood organiser (2025)
- We will need a new wood organiser from early 2025 and so we’re looking for someone who can start to learn what’s involved this year with a view to taking the lead in 2025. They would be responsible for sourcing, preparing and pricing all the wood we sell to members and looking after the new wood store.
- Secretary (2025)
- David intends to stand down as Secretary at the AGM in 2025 and so we will need someone to take over and continue this vital unseen role. Again, we’d like to identify someone early so that they can benefit from a long handover and be fully equipped in a year from now. Duties include minuting all the committee meetings, publishing the monthly newsletter and dealing with any correspondence sent to the club.
If you could help with any of these positions, or just want to find out more about them before deciding, then please talk to any committee member.
The password protecting ‘members only’ pages has changed. The new one is available in the newsletter sent to members on Friday 8th March or on the WhatsApp group.
The committee have taken the difficult decision to close the membership as there are currently more people in the club than we could accommodate if everyone turned up for a club night – as it is we are running out of chairs on busy nights. There will now be a waiting list in operation for new members, though there is a reasonable turn over so hopefully any wait won’t be too long.
Find previous news stories here
Tool Sharpening
As requested by members, here’s an introduction to Tool Sharpening with Bench Grinders from John. If you’ve any questions please ask him – either at a club meeting or by email : chairman@gaw.org.uk
Members Gallery
If you’d like your work included in the member’s gallery then please send some pictures and a description to Phil – web@gaw.org.uk.
Project Plans
There are now over 60 project plans available and you can search to find anything of particular interest or just to get inspiration. They are also free – even to non-members!
The GAW ‘WhatsApp group’ is a way of staying in contact with fellow members during the month and also a useful source of advice on anything to do with woodturning. If you’d like to be added to the group then please contact Mike (whatsapp@gaw.org.uk)
The members only page now has Chestnut finishing school information, not a complete list but pretty comprehensive.
Network Crafts
Are you interested in woodturning but don’t have access to a lathe or anywhere to put one?
Do you already turn but would like some company while you do so?
GAW are aware of a facility in Gloucester which may be able to help.
Network Crafts are located alongside Fairshares at the Chequers Bridge Community Centre off Barton St, Gloucester. They have a variety of woodworking equipment available for use, including several lathes. All use is on a self-supervised basis, and they are unable to provide training, so we would recommend that any member thinking of using this facility first attends at least one GAW training session to learn the basics of woodturning, including Health and Safety (of everyone, not just yourself !). While the GAW is not endorsing this facility, it does look like a good opportunity to access tooling which you may not otherwise be able to access, and several members already make use of it. If you are interested in learning more then please contact Network Craft’s membership co-ordinator David Walesby (or call him on 01452 713888) – or have a chat to him at a club meeting.
Beginnings in Turning
An Extract from the February 2020 Woodturning magazine.
“A Turning Journey”
When Mike was still working five years ago he asked his daughter for a woodturning lesson as a Christmas present but then changed his mind, deciding it wasn’t such a good idea while he was still working. So instead she brought him a year’s membership for the Gloucestershire Association of Woodturners (GAW) and he has never looked back.
Want to know more then read the full article, click here: A Turning Journey
Toolite of Mitcheldean are one of GAW’s sponsors. They offer all GAW members a discount of up to 10% on selected products. Please check prior to purchase. Take your membership badge as proof of GAW membership.