Blue Mountains Get Together Mark II....early May....all welcome

[orraloon]

Good to see the photos even if I was not at my best angle. It was a great day and thanks Brett and Lola for the hospitality and cake. It is the first woodies get together I've been to and was good to put faces to some of the members on here. A great day looking at tools, nice and unusual bits of wood, chatting about things in general and a look about Brett's shed. We were all impressed with Fletty's box. He sets the bar high. Came home with some blackwood too.
Regards
John

[FenceFurniture]

Total attendance was 32 and 26 of these were forum members (not including Jensen FF). This means of course that 's record of 26 has been equalled. However, Markkr was only very briefly present (<30 minutes) so I suppose that one could say that still holds the record.

OTOH, people who came extraordinary distances could add extra weight to the claim of equalling the record in lieu of Mark's unfortunately short stay (Gruñón Juan from Melbourne, DaveTTC from Jerilderie, and 'Shmiller from Millmerran in Qld). An exceptional effort from these three, although (as forecast) Gruñón did indeed give the roof bearers a very testing workout on Friday & Saturday nights, and Sat arvo (as I learnt to my cost). Nursie's chosen sleeping partner was Dave, and I think I can see her logic (which is pretty damn rare for her) in not choosing Gruñón.

I've not mentioned it to date, but at one point she came in to see me and starting batting the packet of silicon putty earplugs about (in the emergency position on my bedside table). I took this as a hint that she wanted them fitted, so I gently explained that they were not suitable for a cat's ears, and that if she could be patient she would become accustomed to the noise, as it was a constant - only recurring intermittent noise would keep her awake. Suffice to say that when she has a kip in the Barn even the drop saw doesn't disturb her. A comparitive Buzz Saw is a different story it seems.

Many thanks to all who attended for making it a great day - it doesn't work without you. An excellent day of horsetrading and BBQed BS.

Thanks also to Fletty for picking up and delivering my clamps, and putting up with the not-so-good organisation from Masters (it was easier and quicker to get a delivery from Lee Valley than to get a clamp sent from one store to another within Sydney).

Oh, Gruñón, I was giving Paul and Dave a shop tour this morning, and your handiwork was finally noticed. Now I know the real reason why you skipped out the door to Skew's place for the Sunday night - fear of early discovery (the excuse he cited was to give the other two some privacy, aka peace and quiet).

Attendees (forum members):

Bushmiller

crowie

DaveTTC

fletty

Greg Ward

Gruñón Juan

heavensabove

I_Wanna_shed

markkr

NCArcher

nz_carver

ochaye

Orraloon

Ozhunter

Pac Man

Pat

Ross

RossM

Rusel

Sawdust Maker

shanesmith80

Skew ChiDAMN!!

Skew's_Girl

Steve Townsend

wheelinround

and that includes 12 people not present in February.

[FenceFurniture]

We were all impressed with Fletty's box. He sets the bar high.

Dammit! I saw what had to be a very special looking box with saliva drops on it out of the corner of my eye, and was then distracted.

But hey! I remembered the cake!

[FenceFurniture]

A separate post to mention Mutawintji's timber and "Creek Holed Post" that was brought down by Bushmiller for distribution.

Skew ChiDAMN!! is now the custodian of the stick, on the condition the he does something sexy with it, and posts pics. He's thinking of some kind of light, and it certainly lends itself to this idea. Consensus was that the stick remain virgo intacta, and not be cut up for pen blanks. Get those creative juices running Skew!

In due course (a few months) it will be revealed what went on with the rest of the timber, and what the outcome was - LLSS . All I shall say atm is that what goes around comes around.

In the meantime, a big thanks to Greg for sending it all down, going to the trouble of delivering it to Bushmiller, and copping that bitter parking ticket ().

[FenceFurniture]

Just to add a couple of other names:

1st photo Bushmiller/Paul and Steve Townsend
3rd orraloon John (Townsend?) & Ochaye. The two Scotties together with Haggis eatin' grins
4th FF/Brett & Dave TTC
5th FF timber
6th 7th 8th Greg Wards boot sale
9th eating orange Russel, behind NC Archer/Tony, behind him Pac man/Paul, Grumpy John Pat , Dave TTC. RossM looking wanly into the Barn
10th same to right Ross back to camera FF/Brett and Steve Townsend
11th Skews Girl/Anne Fletty showing Elka's box
12th Lola Anne & Fletty
13th 14th 15th the box
16th Russel, Nc Archer, I Wanna Shed/Nathan, Myself bright orange top, Pat Bushmiller front and centre, RossM behind him.
17th Caught nice one I thought he'd was still preping the shot. Skew & SGJ, RossM behind them, heavensabove (back to camera)
18th right at edge Pac man and Nc again FF (red jacket) talking to Franklin (neighbour)
19th Fletty, Bushmiller/Paul, DaveTTC behind Paul Skews girl/Anne, Skew with shoes/boots on, Grumpy John

[Sawdust Maker]

I enjoyed my brief visit even though someone [] wouldn't give me the address!

Brett, thanks for organising it and allowing us to put faces to handles and it was good to meet up with the familiar and unfamiliar

NCArcher and Bushmiller thanks for the delivery of my stash. Ross I owe you some money.


(for those who care, my son's team [Sydney 2nds] made the semi final only to draw the game and get knocked out. They went through undefeated, but no cigar)

[wheelinround]

But hey! I remembered the cake!

Ah Bret I am glad you mentioned BBQ & BS I think I counted 4 times said cake was called for last time 26 people all chimed together to which another call by yourself was given Lola than brought out a very large Fruit cake.

By thats stage Nathan's cake made by the lovely Rachael had all but been devoured https://www.facebook.com/rachcakes1?fref=ts

[I_wanna_Shed]

Brett and Lola: thank you very much for opening your house, shed, and bbq for the hordes.

It was great to meet new faces and catch up with the old ones. Greg Ward had a boot full of timber which didn't take long to be reduced.

I'll add the comments about Fletty's box - a great amount of effort has gone into the great piece of work. The thought that has gone into the secret compartments is awesome.

While speaking with Heavansabove (Peter) I didn't get around to asking about 'how I enter the hand tool world'. Just starting with the basics, what intro chisels and planes to get. And importantly, if the Traditional Toold Group still do their 'sharpening school' days.

It did get chilli towards the end of the day in the shade once the sun started to go down. I stopped off at Bullaburra to see a mate and he had the fire going. Softie.

Till next time!

Nathan.

[wheelinround]

I enjoyed my brief visit even though someone [] wouldn't give me the address!

Brett, thanks for organising it and allowing us to put faces to handles and it was good to meet up with the familiar and unfamiliar

NCArcher and Bushmiller thanks for the delivery of my stash. Ross I owe you some money.


(for those who care, my son's team [Sydney 2nds] made the semi final only to draw the game and get knocked out. They went through undefeated, but no cigar)

What no Monica there

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

Some good food, some good chats. some good bargains...

I've had a contented morning-after, sitting in the shed and sorting through my li'l treasure trove. (Thanks again to all involved in the Mapleman deal! And to NZ_Carver for his contribution to my "Future Masterpieces" collection. )

A separate post to mention Mutawintji's timber and "Creek Holed Post" that was brought down by Bushmiller for distribution.

Skew ChiDAMN!! is now the custodian of the stick, on the condition the he does something sexy with it, and posts pics. He's thinking of some kind of light, and it certainly lends itself to this idea. Consensus was that the stick remain virgo intacta, and not be cut up for pen blanks. Get those creative juices running Skew!

It's pretty much a sculpture in it's own right, just looking for an appropriate mount.

However, I can't leave it at that. I'm a woodworker, not a sculptor. And I have a few ideas. I want to leave it as intact as possible, but I'm undecided whether to scrape it back to enhance the shape or try to leave it au naturel.



I wonder if I can get away with threading some hi-intensity strip LEDs through it's length and hanging it over the lathe?

[Sawdust Maker]

I think what hasn't been mentioned is that Skew has the most amazing wife - She buys him timber, even outbidding some of the woodies in attendance!

It was nice to meet you both after so long

[wheelinround]

I think what hasn't been mentioned is that Skew has the most amazing wife - She buys him timber, even outbidding some of the woodies in attendance!

It was nice to meet you both after so long

I agree great to meet you both and that hug I got from Skews girl I hope he wasn't looking

[wheelinround]

Of course Bret did the right thing for me he brought out a thermometer and showed me it was 14C .............he did have it clasped in his hands well tho and it smelled like coffee so he could have dipped it in there as well.

[FenceFurniture]

Of course Bret did the right thing for me he brought out a thermometer and showed me it was 14C .............he did have it clasped in his hands well tho and it smelled like coffee so he could have dipped it in there as well.

Nearly. I saw it when it was a genuine 16. and I may have added a touch to it to bring it up to 17. The forecast was pretty much on par with the actuality of the previous 3 days - 2 or 3 warmer than the forecast.

Mind you, if there had been any breeze to speak of.....you'd have heard the distinctive dull clink of brass on bricks.

At about 4pm or so it cooled right down to become a very chilly evening. Doing the personalised barn tour this morning at around 8am for Shmiller and Dave I could still smell freshly snapped brass.

And Ray, the next time you want me to touch your knee can you please pre-inform me that when the guy behind me says "higher" that he's referring to the temperature?

[DaveTTC]

For me it was a great weekend. Being newish to this forum (joined in 2010 I think but only got active in the last month or so) it was a real pleasure meeting you all. I have experienced a real community sense on a couple of other forums and it is here too. The hospitality of Brett and Lola was great. Staying a couple of nights added to the occasion.

As a family man with so much going on in my life I rarely get to do something for me. The last time was the Melbourne wood show in 2011. This thing was so good I'd love to see the level of interest if I were to arrange something in Jerilderie for Feb. I'll start a thread on this later and ask and a few others for advise etc.

My weekend has all bit finished. I'm still in Sydney but start the drive home later this morning.

Thx again