Hi

It’s been another hectic week. We have several projects on the go at once, which is sort of situation normal for us, but one of them is the Weekender and there’s a very definite deadline for that. I made the mistake of putting a countdown timer on the Woodturning Weekender website – and when I look at it, it’s now telling me there are only two weeks to go! We’ve still got to load our sales stand up, get the programmes printed, and prepare the goodie bags! Will we make it? Of course we will! Tickets are still available (although we’ll soon be calling time on the Saturday evening), we’re still hoping you might join us if you haven’t already booked!

A question we get quite regularly goes along the lines of ‘are you still sending Newsletters? We haven’t had one for a few weeks; have I been unsubscribed?’
In the same way that we never put anyone on our mailing list without specific permission, we never take anyone off either, unless asked. What does happen, though, is that despite our best attempts, email companies suddenly brand our emails as spam and send them straight to the junk/spam folder. For no apparent reason. One week all is good, the next it isn’t.
There’s not much we can do about it, but if you suddenly stop getting the Newsletter, dig around in your spam/junk folder.
There is one thing you could try, which is supposed to improve deliverability…just reply to this email. Yep, clicking reply tells the email company that you’ve engaged with it, which is seen as a good thing.
Don’t feel you have to write anything, just replying is enough!

Car renovation is a very popular hobby with many of our customers – or, in this case, a customer’s friend building a car kit. Our correspondent had been given the task of turning a wooden gear knob, and asked the best way to finish it. Maybe Melamine Lacquer or Hard Wax Oil? Those are good choices, hard wearing and water-resistant, but I’d opt for the Acrylic Gloss Lacquer. As well as being tough, it has UV filters in it. This protects the colour of the timber beneath, and also stops the lacquer from cracking. Whilst the gear knob might not get too much direct sun (especially in the UK!), it’s still best to use the finish with the most protection.

This one sort of stumped us. We were asked whether some knotty softwood needed sealing before applying Hard Wax Oil? And, if so, what with? I’m not really sure. Traditionally, knots are sealed with knotting, of course, but this isn’t terribly attractive; not a problem if it’s being painted over, but not great to apply a clear finish on top. My best guess is that the Hard Wax Oil can be applied straight onto the wood. I think this would hold the resin from the knot in, without spoiling the look of the item. I’m waiting to hear the results!

That’s everything from me for this week, but I’ll be back again as ever with more questions, and more answers, in seven days time. Hopefully my nerves won’t be a total wreck by then.

Have a good week

Terry