đź“Ł News & Updates

The April meeting opened with a fantastic turnout of over 60 members. President Ted Stanfield began the session by welcoming Nathan Warder of Kansas City to the guild meeting.

Key Announcements:

  • Metro Hardwoods Discount: Ted reported that after meeting with the new manager at Metro Hardwoods, the guild discount has been fully restored. The manager will attend our May meeting to introduce himself. In the meantime, please consider which items you would like to see Metro stock—similar to our previous feedback for Paxton.
  • Annual Picnic: A reminder that our June Picnic is open to members and their spouses. Ted emphasized that our guild is a family, and this is a wonderful opportunity to “break bread” and share stories beyond woodworking.

🗓️ Looking Ahead

  • May: Guest Speaker Phil announced a presentation from Micro-Jig. They will demonstrate how to create various custom jigs using their system.
  • June: Annual Guild Picnic in the Park.

đź’° 2026 Dues Collection

A friendly reminder: 2026 Guild Dues are still being collected. At only $20 per year, membership offers incredible value and helps support our monthly programs.

🛠️ Upcoming Events & Presentations

  • May — “Jigs & Fixtures”: Bring in your shop-made solutions and jigs to show them off and help others improve their workflow.
  • June — Annual Picnic in the Park. Be sure to bring your spouse!

🔍 Phil’s Finds: Wood River Rubber Band Clamp Kit

This month, Phil highlighted a Woodcraft exclusive. These rubber bands are extra thick and wide, providing superior clamping pressure and better distribution across larger areas. They are perfect for boxes, chairs, or odd-shaped glue-ups.

  • The Kit Includes: Four each of 7″ and 9″ bands, and two each of 12″ and 14″ bands (all 3/4″ wide).
  • Price: $9.99 at Woodcraft stores or online. View them here.

🧠 Program

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the presentation from Brian Killen of Dust Dog has been postponed to a later date.

✨ Show and Tell: Buddy Build Edition

This month’s Show and Tell focused on the results of our Buddy Build initiative, showcasing the impressive collaborative art created by our members:

Michael Chapman & Ben Simmons: Brought in two projects each. Michael mentored Ben on chair construction, while Ben taught Michael how to turn a vessel on the lathe.

Rex Brown & Son: Presented a stunning handcrafted telescope based on Sir Isaac Newton’s original design.

Jim Barb & Mike Engler: Showcased unique plates featuring herringbone patterns and epoxy resin.

Phil Morgan & Russell Gould: Displayed several iterations of stave-barrel-style pencil holders, each created using a different technical approach.

You can see the other outstanding projects brought in for show and Tell at this LINK.

Be sure to join us in May for the Jigs and Fixtures show and tell.

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