News - February 2019

Workshop activities

Despite the unseasonably fine weather, there was lots of activity down at the shed in February!

Jeff Perkins has been working with Brian Vaughn to turn new handles for a billhook and Jeff has also started turning a table lamp. Len, our resident carver, has just about completed a stoat in spalted wood - what's next Len? With up to 10 members coming to the workshop on some days, we found we needed additional work stations. Jerry headed up a vice squad to remount the wood workers vice and install a second woodworking vice. The heavy duty (red) engineers vice is also back on the workbench by popular request.

Having been unable to get the blade to stay on the band saw for any length of time, we replaced it with a Burgess saw of a similar size. This one seems to work okay and at least we will not have to listen to the bad language when the blade comes off at a critical moment. We will persevere with the Titan band saw to see if we can solve the problem - don't like to be beaten by a dumb machine!

I sharpened and set up another of our spoke shaves (only a couple more to do) and made some slow progress on my two shed fish.

Having taken on board all of the constructive criticism comments and suggestions from my fellow shedders, I fear that they may have to be re-classified as camel fish, a sub-species hitherto unknown to science!

New Members

Welcome to several new members who joined us in the past few weeks including: John Fisher, who has just moved to the area and was previously a member of the Hemel Hempstead Men's Shed. Peter Turner, who is into model engineering - I finally have someone who at least pretends to be interested when I bang on about hot air engines. John Smith, has unfortunately (temporarily we hope) had to give up driving but continues to come to the shed on his mobility scooter from the top end of Fairmile - good on you John! Ron Ames-Lines, is now a regular at our meetings.

Social Secretary

It was mentioned at our last General Meeting that we could do with a social secretary to get some events and visits organised this year.

With the Somerford Shed taking up a lot of our time, the committee feel this would be a good idea - so any volunteers please step forward.

It would be good to get someone started on this at our next Room 1 meeting in March.

Yandles Woodworking Show

Date for the Autumn show this year are Friday 6th - Saturday 7th September. The show is definitely worth a visit with craft displays, wood working / wood turning demonstrations / discounts on tools plus Yandles own self selection wood yard and tool store with discounts on the day. Yandles are based at Martok in Somerset. Details of the show can be found at www.yandles.co.uk

ASDA Grant

We were approached by ASDA at Castlepoint to see if we would like to receive a grant of (up to) £1k for equipment for our shed. Our application has to fit certain criteria but it looks promising and Les & Bob have put together a justification for a small milling machine to increase our metal working capabilities.

Local Community Projects:

Brian Vaughn has been in contact with the Highcliffe Action Group (HAT) who have asked us if we can help with re-furbishing some of the raised planters in Highcliffe. We have been offered the use of the yard at the back of the library to work on the planters, so no problems with having to get them down the stairs to the workshop.

Please contact Brian if you would like to be involved with this project - it will be a good opportunity for us to raise our profile a bit in the local area.

Somerford Shed

I won't say too much about this right now as Les Mercer will bring everyone up to date at our next Room 1 meeting at Greystone's House. Suffice to say that having started discussions with our solicitors regarding the lease and setting up a preliminary meeting with our architect, things are moving on. We have also arranged to have the existing roofing material checked for asbestos - scheduled for later this week.

Next Room 1 General Meeting and EGM at Greystone's House

Our next meeting will be on Tuesday 5th March starting at the usual time of 2.00 pm For the benefit of new members, Room #1 is on the ground floor, immediately behind reception.

We will be voting on the Membership fees for 2019 so don't miss out on your chance to have your say as it will impact on your pocket money!

Mudeford Club Lunch

Unfortunately I had to miss the last lunch (and my pint of Doombar) but I understand it was well attended again. The table layout was apparently better with rectangular tables replacing the rather awkward circular arrangement and hopefully this will become permanent.

There were three guests from the Avon Reach care home at Mudeford sitting in with us - the care home staff had been looking for somewhere for their men to go occasionally and had been into Greystone's House who said "Men's Shed!"...... Avon Reach then approached the Mudeford Club who said "Men's Shed!"

If anyone has any thoughts about this (negative or positive) please let me have your feedback.

Our next lunch will be on Friday 22nd March.

Axminster Tools 5% Discount

Just a reminder that we can get 5% discount on a range of tools and equipment at Axminster Tools through our Men's Shed account. Let me know if there is anything you want to order - there is an Axminster Catalogue in the workshop or you can look on line at www.axminster.co.uk We will try to group any orders together to take advantage of free delivery on orders over £30.

That's all for now folks!

Oh, just one last thing:

February's ice and sleet

Freeze the toes right off your feet

Hardly lived up to its fearsome billing did it?

And finally, finally, if anyone wants to be taken off the mailing list / stop receiving Men's Shed emails, please let me know.

See you all soon,

John Pegram

Christchurch Men's Shed