The wood workshop leadership group has conducted a review of shop operations with the following outcomes:-
To minimize the risk of personal injury and financial loss arising from improper procedures or use of defective equipment, it has been agreed to implement a woodshed Incident Reporting System. Modern businesses have found that managing incidents is key to accident prevention. Incidents are simply events that in less favorable circumstances, may have resulted in injury or damage. Starting this month, a book will be available in the workshop for members who are involved in or just witness, an incident to record the event. If patterns become evident remedial action will follow. Please support this initiative.
One already identified risk is the use of defective tools. Major items of equipment are already inspected weekly. In future, all portable power tools will be subject of a formal quarterly inspection. When an inspection is scheduled members will be requested to place all power tools on the bench tops at close of work on the last session of the week. Leaders will inspect tools for defects before the next session.
Participation in clean-ups has been improving. Just remember, 'clean as you go' if your activity is making a mess, clean your work area if you are departing early, do not leave off cuts on benches, either bin them or if they are a useful size, place them back with the free wood stock, help empty waste bins at the end of sessions and keep an eye on levels of waste in the dust room. Last, put tools back in the correct place after use.
One matter that raises its head from time to time is members leaving work in progress on bench tops. If you plan to be present at the commencement of the next session and your large job is glued and clamped leaving it may be ok. Small jobs should be moved to temporary storage or taken home. Keep leaders in the picture as they are trying to provide bench space for all participants. Also, consider using the outside bench.
Shortly, our large end section pine stocks will be increased by a new purchase ex mill. The container storage is being reorganized in preparation. This reorganization will include construction of storage bays for our furniture grade species. It is intended to attempt a clearer distinction between wood that is free issue and wood that has to be purchased ( including turning blocks). To this end, there will be some new signage and payment arrangements.
Timber payments will no longer be made to the treasurer. Instead, the leader of the day will agree a price and write each sale up in a book kept at the shed. Members will be given an envelope to mark with their name and amount of the sale. When they have the correct money, they can place cash in the envelope, seal it and drop it in the locked box located near the main workshop entry door. Each month, the sales book and the envelopes will be reconciled and the money given to the treasurer for issue of receipts. This change is an important mechanism allowing us to justify our requests to Management Committee for new stock funding.
Tuesday morning continues to be our most popular session. Sometimes overcrowding happens. We do not want to discriminate between members over access. The long term solution is more sessions. The Monday experiment with Stephen and Geoff is still underway but may well become permanent. The leaders group has no 'in principle' objection to opening even more sessions. The issue is availability of leaders. We have just welcomed Ian Dell and Phil Gibson to our ranks. Both are experienced and have skills they are willing to share. We are keen to have other leaders join our group. High level timber skills are not as important as an eye for safety, a willingness to help others and commonsense in personal dealings. If you feel you can help please see Ian or Tony.
The thanks department. Sincere thanks are due to David Hekendorf for his initiative in designing a system for sharpening our planer blades. This system will save us quite bit of money and inconvenience. John Berghauser and his merry band have almost completed our steam bending apparatus. Good job! We are gradually getting on top of turning training with help from John Gygar on most Thursdays and Les at other times. Remember, try your hand at each lathe as each has different characteristics. Last, the red gum coffee table made by Les now has pride of place in the library. Check it out.
New contracts. Tony has a community service project to build some possum boxes and we have the opportunity to make 60 trophys for the Noosa Classic Car Club so there are things you can help with if you are at a loose end.
Cheers
Ian Broadfoot
In order to provide additional opportunities for wood workers it has been decided to trial Monday afternoon opening. The initial leader in charge will be Stephen Carruth. The trial will run for six weeks commencing on Monday 24th April. The gate will open at 12.30 pm but the session will be cancelled at 1pm if there are insufficient attendees to guarantee safe operation. The trial will be considered a success if there is an average of five attendees, including the workshop leader. The trial will be reviewed in its final week and may become permanent if qualified leaders remain available.
Please consider participating in this opportunity to extend the opening hours of the shed.
Thanks are due to members who made items for the open day sale, gave their time to show visitors around the workshop and helped with marketing. Our net contribution to the financial success of the open day was about $450. Well done.
The first craft activity facility built by NMS was the wood workshop. The popularity of woodwork was underscored by the first survey of members that revealed that more than half wanted to try their hand at some form of working with wood. It was fortunate that the site, generously provided by Unitywater, featured a small unused brick building that was formerly a Noosa Council water treatment facility. This building was tripled in size with construction being done by members, assisted on occasions by local tradesmen.
The 85 square metre workshop was completed in 2015 at a total cash cost of about $25,000 including contributions from several members, Noosa Council and AMSA. Bunnings BBQ’s and working bees, run by members, were important in bridging financial gaps. By opening day in August, the workshop was well equipped with modern machinery, dust extraction, benches and portable equipment thanks to the generosity of members and several local businesses.
Today, ninety three members of the shed have completed the accreditation needed to become active participants in wood work. The focus of accreditation is about safe machine operation and personal safety. Woodwork skills are passed on ”shoulder to shoulder". Workshop supervision is provided through a leader's program.
The priorities adopted in the workshop are items for the improvement of the NMS, private projects by shed members and conduct of small outside contracts. The shed does not undertake work that is significantly commercial in scope. Nor is it attempting to be a manufacturing facility. As far as practical, work is restricted to ‘on site’ operations.
Currently, the workshop is open from 8 am to noon on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. There are no additional fees for workshop access and efforts are made to ensure all members can afford to participate.
For further information, contact the workshop co-ordinator Ian Broadfoot on 54743986.
Our thanks go to Bob and his building crew for great work on our outdoor area. Soon Michele will install external power points to enable us to perform tasks outside of the main shop. It is intended to use some of the covered space for the dry storage of wood turning timber stocks.
A number of members have been active making items for sale at the open day. In the last week of this month we need to bring these items to the workshop for temporary storage, sorting and pricing. If you have not made anything yet but would like to contribute please speak to Tony or me.
The plan for the open day is to have a gazebo in front of the workshop from which sales can be conducted. We will also be looking for volunteers to show visitors our workshop and provide security for any non sale items on display.
Last week, we received an interesting gift from our resident plumber, John Pritchard. It is a small steam cleaner which we plan to attach to a chamber to facilitate steam bending of wood. Being able to bend wood beyond normal limits opens a world of opportunity for exciting projects. We hope to have a trial soon.
Good progress is being made by John Gygar and Les Arthur in getting more people active at the lathes. The metal shed recently reconfigured our small lathe and it would be good to see it in regular use.
As we progress, there is a need for additional leaders to assist supervise workshop activities. It is not necessary to be an expert wood worker to lead. What is more important is to have a modest knowledge of most equipment, an eye for safety and a willingness to commit to accepting responsibility on some fairly regular basis. To help potential leaders, we are willing to put together a small training program dealing with things such as accreditation, safety, maintenance of equipment and how to quote and deliver small contracts for external parties. If you are willing to assist through leadership please have a chat to me.
Happy wood working.
Ian Broadfoot
