January 14, 2014

Rick, Paul, Jim Hiltz, Jimmy MacLean, Chris, Lawrence, Miles

We discussed the time of the meeting and decided to stick with Tuesdays at 7 pm.
Miles has taken over as treasurer.

Leo discussed how to use a plumb bob to measure distances, for example when a bowl blank is mounted on a lathe and you want to measure the distance from the face to the back of the bowl. Calipers are too awkward for this job.


The lads continued to work on various projects:

Rick--a birch burl

Leo discussed various ways to mount an irregularly shaped piece so as not to mar it. Rick plans on making three legs on the bark side of his burl.

Miles--a vase

Miles turned out the central part of the vase so as it would collapse inward as it dries.

Paul--Plumb Bob

Leo decided to start the metal lathe workshop.
Paul began the session by setting up to turn a plumb bob.
Leo discussed the physics and astronomical aspects of a plumb bob

A plumb bob does not point directly to the earths center because the earth is rotating always and the bob lags behind  just a smidgen due to air friction.
Also the earth gyrates (wobbles) on its axis over time and so if a plumb bob is hung for a long time it will begin to slowly swing in a circle because of the earths wobble.