📰 May 2026 Lee’s Summit Woodworkers Guild Meeting Highlights
📣 News & Updates
The May meeting included a visit from a special guest and important updates regarding a local partner:
Metro Hardwoods Update: Seth, the new manager from Metro Hardwoods, spoke to the membership and officially reinstated the 10% discount for all guild members.
Store Changes: Metro Hardwoods is shifting its focus more heavily toward offering hardwoods and will no longer be selling tools.
Summer Hours: The store is currently evaluating extending summer hours to include Sundays, though this has not yet been implemented.
Open House: A Metro Hardwoods open house is being planned for August. Further details on the date and time will be sent to the membership via email.
Tools for Teens
Bob Pressley informed the guild that he and Ted Stanfield met with the Industrial Arts department at Lee’s Summit West High School. On behalf of the Guild, they presented a $1,000 check to students and faculty to fund the purchase of essential hand tools for the school shop.
🗓️ Looking Ahead
June: Annual Guild Picnic in the Park. This is a family event, so please remember to bring your spouses to help us “break bread” and share stories. The Guild will be providing all the meat and bottled water. Bring a side dish or desert for all to share. NO alcohol is allowed.
July: American Pride. Bring in those patriotic projects for show and tell.
💰 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
| Month | Theme / Event |
| June | Annual Picnic in the Park |
| July | American pride. |
| September | Scrap Savvy |
| October | Frightfully Fun |
| December | Gifts, Gadgets, and Gizmos |
🧠 Program: Microjig and the MATCHFIT System
Our guest speaker for May was Ralph Bagnall, the Product Development Manager at Microjig. Ralph has had a 40-year woodworking career and has authored four books on the craft.
Background: Ralph started as a Microjig user before joining the company full-time five years ago.
Presentation: While Microjig began with the GRR-RIPPER, Ralph focused the evening on the MATCHFIT system.
System Details: The MATCHFIT system was designed around the common dovetail bit. Microjig has even developed their own specific bit with a radius to ensure a smoother cut for use with their system.
Demonstration: Ralph demonstrated several jigs based on the MATCHFIT system that add significant functionality to shop equipment, specifically the table saw. This image shows the new Pop Stop jig that fits into the Matchfit dovetail groove and will let your stock pass in one direction and prevent it from backing or moving in the other once your work piece has passed it. More info can be found by going to the Microjig website HERE.
✨ Show and Tell: Jigs & Fixtures
This month’s Show and Tell focused on “Jigs & Fixtures,” where members brought in their own shop-made solutions to share with the group. Rex Brown 3D printed a palm handle that snaps onto his shooting plane and allows him to better control the plane when using his 45-degree shotting board he built for truing up box joints.
All the other items brought in for show and tell can be viewed in the gallery at this LINK.
