12 Jul 2022 – Hands on Night

Thankfully the recent heatwave had eased slightly making for a more comfortable temperature for this month’s Hands on Night.  With the holiday season upon us, we were pleased to still see 29 attendees coming through the doors.  Nice to see a few more old faces coming back to join us who we have not seen for a couple of years.  We also welcomed some new members who have decided to join, so we must be doing something right as our numbers edge ever closer to 70 members which has to be the most we have had for several years.

With the four lathes set up, we had the two ready for the one to one bookings introduced last month and John Liles and Chris Fisher manning the other two.  It was good to see several others having a go and we actively encourage you to do so, as remember its not a demonstration night, it is a Hands on Night.  Please take the opportunity to ask the guys on the lathes for help and to show you what you want to learn.  We hear it so much that no one seems to like or is confident in the use of a Skew Chisel.  Whether that is because they have had some catches with it or it just scares them and therefore its just for either sharpening pencils or opening polish tins, if that’s you… just ask John ‘The Skew Master’ Liles to help you learn.

This was the first night where we have introduced the means to book one hour slots on two of the lathes.  John Mitchell manned one and Darren Brown kindly stepping in at the last minute on the other lathe so thank you John and Darren.  Hopefully, those having a go enjoyed it and managed to learn something new.  It didn’t quite go to plan but it’s the first one so we will see how it goes.  We will be doing the same next month and currently have two slots left if anyone is interested.  This is on a first come, first served basis, so if you missed out this time please keep an eye out at future meetings for the booking sheet on the table on your way in.

Mick was kept busy out in the Shop, sporting it’s new enclosed covered area that gives more storage/display space.  Don’t forget the Shop can now take Card payments.  A big thank you to Mick, John Radford and Paul Tunmore for their time and effort in getting it built.  It just now all needs painting, so more on that in the ‘And Finally’ section below.  Another good night was had in trying to sell more tools and equipment on Alan’s behalf.  We still have some bits left of which I have annotated on the previous news post which have now sold.

For more photos of the evening please check out the Gallery.