16/17^th September Kent group meeting at White Chimney Wood Benenden.

 

This lot are well organised and have geared up for visitors – 4 sets of pole lathe / bodging tools.

Colour coded and bit of H&S. They also have spare lathes.

 

Carol and Keith were experimenting with a hobbit house in fresh willow.

They are never short of an interesting idea or two.

 

Pete was making some bench legs from chestnut that had ‘character’

 

Yet another new recruit? The Kent group have been meeting every other Monday and they continue to grow and grow.

 

Another John was making chair spindles.

Phil was also making chair bits. During their tree to chair day recently it became apparent the basic lathe skills were in short supply when they needed them most, so maybe they are going back to basics.

Carol was in good baking form as usual.

Harry was also making chair components using some of his latest EBAY acquisitions. A Harris plane and a traditional rounder. Does beg the question why no picture.

Did get this – another adjustable rounder that cut at 90 degrees across the grain with the action of a router.

Harry was sporting the new Kent group badges (aftermath of chair day gone mad?).

Pete mading good progress with his bench.

I was invited to test the chair in a day – it looked good and was very comfortable. They are putting it in the auction at the ball 2019 which is not so far away.

The chair in all its glory (note the very nice campervan in the background).

Damien was tooling a knee for the new dining shelter.

    

Pete’s bench was nearly there, now for the leg levelling and minor adjustments.

This was their last meeting at White Chimney Woods this year but they have a winter program held at John’s house and probably at the hall at Iden Green. In the past this has included shrink pot making, blacksmithing, leather working, spooning….  The moral of the story is to keep the group active during the colder months.

A BIG REMEINDER TO EVERYONE ABOUT THE WORSHIPFUL COMPANY OF TURNERS COMPETITION.

I collected some entries this week and others are being posted to me. If you have an entry you can also post it to me and I can personally deliver it on time. Details are on their website and in the gazette. 26/27^th November Carpenters Hall City of London.

Feltmaking in Kyrgyzstan.

 

Phill is beating the raw wool with two metal whips, we saw others at the games using wooden sticks. They use winter and summer cut wool mixed.

The beaten wool is torn into 75-80mm long handfuls and laid out onto the cane mat in two layers at right angles. The coloured pattern in wool is then laid on top. We all contributed to the pattern.

Traditionally they did not dye the wool so any pattern would be from another sheep!

 

The whole thing is rolled up tight. Hot water as then poured liberally over the roll.

It was also rolled up in sacking and then tied up as well

 The music was put on and after our guide Christina had her turn we all danced on it.

Phill with the felt maker!

It is then unrolled.

It is then soaped at least twice – it looks to help flatten the felt but also cleans.

 

I guess the subsequent rolling and washing is about experience.

The posh patterns in multi colour felt are made in bits and hand sewed. It all takes a long time and we skipped the sheep shearing!

Kyrgzstan trip to Nomad games August / September.

On the way to the games we arranged to meet a Kyrgyz Yurt maker – the real thing!

 

Roof poles are steamed and then straightened.

 

He makes all his own tools – note the toothed drawknife for the tradition pattern.

 

The brake has a heavy metal vertical tube and a lever.

 

They are then put into a clamp to harden up.

 

The side poles are also steamed and bent by eye and the bark is removed whilst soft.

The former for the tunduk – brickwork and metal poles. The material is pretty thick and steamed for a long time before it is pulled round the curve using a ratchet winch. We did see a single round pole about 80mm dia, that had been used for this. Must of steamed it for a week!

 

  

Made in two halves and then jointed. After that it is drilled and the square holes are burnt in using a heavy bar.

The quarters represent the seasons and the three bars months.

The assembled side (1/4). Traditionally rubbed with local reddish brown clay but now painted red.

The slats are drilled and held together using rawhide that is knotted, pulled through with a wire loop then knotted again. The knife makes a longitudinal slit it is cut to length and the end pulled through to make a knot each side.









The completed side sections for a standard 6m yurt. Note that the curve flips out at the top. The long woven band sits in this and ties to the door frame.


















The roll down door is made from very strong grass and the pattern is wool that is wrapped around each individual stalk in a traditional pattern.

This frame assembles the stalks into a mat used for doors and yurt linings. Note the stone weights to maintain tension.

The guy we met makes 4 yurts a year – I think this is largely due to other commitments during the summer. Probably looking after livestock and growing their feed and well as his own food.

4^th Berkhampsted Beer and music festival and comedy night 27-28^th April

Stumbled into this event after an event washout. 

What a great atmosphere and some excellent ales and ciders.

 

Great entertainment – have never worked out how the finances work out, are the groups doing it for nothing?

Molly and the beekeepers.

 

  Tinlin

   

 And their main man on his own.

Great fun and would go again, easy parking in the street.

Monday 6^th August at White Chimney Wood Benenden.

 

The planning committee for the chair in a day event due to be held on the 20^th. The plan is to fell the tree first! If you want get involved then contact the usual suspects.

 

Damien was making a bowl making / general purpose big wood bench from chestnut with 2” legs. His axe was German – very similar to a Roman axe.

 

Keith was using the steaming equipment to form some fresh willow.

Carol’s spinning wheel – made by Keith of course!

Some practice pieces for the big chair day.

  More skills being tested.

Thanks go again to John Burbage for the use of his resources.

 Etchingham Makers Fair  22^nd July

On the Alpacafest weekend I visited John Burbage at this event held at a garden centre near Lewis. It was a roasting hot day but business was good.

 

Amy was busy with some new products for sale.

I have forgotten this guy's name - he had some really bowls and lots more.

  

This lady (who knows Marion and Carol) had a travelling loom – great kit but it was £1000

 

This folding spinning wheel was amazing.