Woodworkers Guild of Delaware
Highlights of February 2007 Meeting
At show-and-tell, Hans Francke presented a small carving of a largemouth bass. Carved appropriately in basswood, the piece is a candle holder done in a Danish oil finish. Brian Reed presented a handsome round cheese tray with segmented veneer work surrounding a round corian center; this triggered a substantial discussion of veneering techniques with special guest Mario Rodriguez taking part. David Webber presented components of a pendulum clock he is building, and described improvements that he expects will achieve unusual accuracy. Our thanks to them all for interesting and helpful presentations.This meeting's main event was a presentation by Mario Rodriguez, artist in residence at Philadelphia Furniture Workshop -- an exceptional and nationally prominent furniture designer, craftsman and teacher, and a prolific author on woodworking topics. After a short introduction by Guild Vice President Jim Stevens, he presented a small and elegant hand made victorian dressing mirror, taking us through many of the subtleties of its design and construction. The mirror is adjustable, being center mounted between two upright spindles, and the top of its frame is arched. Beneath the mirror the piece has a single small drawer, with a mildly curved front surrounded by pale mahogany cockbeading.
Built mainly of a pine substrate clad in crotch mahogany veneer and finished
with French polish, the piece is a triumph of veneerwork, and the presentation
developed the step by step processes of choosing, preparing, cutting and applying
the veneer. Mario also took us through the joinery - the half lap dovetails and how
to cut them, the mortise and tenon joints (a 5/8" mechanic's wrench makes an unchanging
caliper to size the tenons precisely) and the delicate cockbeading on the drawer front,
and much else.
Marion Rodriguez and Victorian Dressing Mirror
For more about Mario Rodriguez and his work visit philadelphiafurnitureworkshop.com, where detailed plans and drawings of the victorian dressing mirror can be purchased. In token of our appreciation the Guild presented to him a Lie Nielsen rabbett block plane.
George Waddell won the raffle prize, a 14.4 volt Craftsman drill/driver set.