Calendar

The regular monthly meeting of OPCAAW will feature a demonstration and discussion by Jim Echter on how to sharpen your tools.

You cannot turn well and learn to use your turning tools unless they are set up with a proper angles and tip profiles and honed razor sharp. Jim Echter says that after demonstrating at many symposiums and for many turning clubs across the country he discovered that most turners don’t know the proper profiles for their turning tools or how to sharpen them properly. He believes this is the main reason people have issues learning to turn.

Jim's demonstration will show how to take a factory new or an old tool, put on a proper profile, grind the bevel to the correct angle, profile the top and bottom surfaces and how to hone for a razor sharp edge. Once that is done, you will be able to easily maintain that razor edge.

Topics for this demo include:

• Sharpening Spindle Tools
• Sharpening Bowl Gouges
• Sharpening Scrapers
• A Discussion of Grinding Wheels
• Review Grinders vs Belt Systems
• Discuss Slip Stones and Honing Systems
• Review Jigs – Wolverine, Tru-Grind and Homemade
• Learn a Tip to Easily Achieve a Perfect Fingernail Profile
• Modifying Calipers so they are Safe to Use When Turning Wood

Please have a few of your tools with you so you can compare your profiles and grinds with Jim’s.

OPCAAW members can start signing on for our Zoom meeting as early as 5:30 to socialize. President Brad Stave will make club announcements starting at 6:15.

A virtual Show & Tell presentation will start immediately thereafter, with the demonstration following. Members wishing to show their work in Show & Tell should email up to four photos, two each of two different projects, to Jeff Brody by 5 p.m. Monday, April 26. For details about photo files, check our monthly newsletter.

All members in good standing will receive an email announcement with the link to enter the Zoom meeting prior to April 28.