Woodworking Guild – South Hampsire UK
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- This topic has 14 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 12 months ago by Kevin Bowkett.
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13 March 2016 at 7:04 pm #135597
Today, I had the chance to meet Paul, Joseph and Phil at Paul’s book signing among a number of other folks interested in woodworking or helping Paul and the team. One question that was discussed came up was the concept of a guild or a club for like minded indivduals to share. It was clear that this would need to come from the local communities rather than someone like Paul.
Given that I live between Southampton and Winchester(UK) and have yet to find such a club or guild in the area, I thouht I’d see if anyone in this community lives in the area snd would be interested in meeting up/starting such a club.
Congratulations to Paul and team on their book launch.
13 March 2016 at 10:16 pm #135605I live in Southampton and would be up for something like this. Only thing is I don’t really know what that is – what’s the idea behind it? Just an information sharing thing, or more formal like meeting up regularly, or even as far as sharing workshop space?
Matt
14 March 2016 at 11:30 am #135614I was also at the signing and the topic of woodworking clubs/guilds came up following a question during the Q&A. A gentleman mentioned that he has been cutting dovetails for a while but still can’t get close to the standard Paul produced in around 3 minutes during his demonstration. He asked if there was anything he could do to improve.
Paul said that, in the US, there are a woodworking clubs/guilds who meet up every so often and discuss problems exactly like the one mentioned. Other members can offer advice, do a demo, discuss technique, and generally help each other out in becoming better woodworkers. There’s normally a bucket of doughnuts (each?) at the event as well, which I interpret as a requirement!
It’s a really great concept but I’m not sure how to get it off the ground. Venue in particular is a tricky one to figure out. Certainly do-able though, if a member had a suitable size workshop or somewhere could be hired.
Does anyone in the US have any input on setting one up, or have any experience as a member of something like this?
Sorry that I can’t help you with how to get such a club off the ground but I can say that if you do, it will be a worthwhile enterprise. I just recently joined our local club, Central Jersey Woodworkers Association CJWA
The club meets monthly and usually has 1 or 2 guest speakers, coffee and a bucket of cookies.
They also:
– have a library of wood working books
– tools for member to borrow
– yearly tool sale
– group builds, where someone with experience will lead group of members through a project
– participate in charitable events
– field tripsHope it helps,
Jim- This reply was modified 8 years ago by Jim Braun.
14 March 2016 at 3:03 pm #135628hi all I don’t know where Kevin is in south Hampshire but there are two men’s sheds in Hampshire one in Romsey and one in Colden common I’m sure there will be like minded guys there, check out if there is one near where you live on the UK men’s shed association website http://menssheds.org.uk/find-a-shed/
14 March 2016 at 6:38 pm #135633Hi all, Thanks for your comments and encouragement.
I’m not too far from Colden Common, so checking out the mens shed might be a useful experience. However, I was really interested in establishing a Woodworking Hand Tool Guild and I believe the Sheds cover much more.
@jimb’s post captures the thoughts brilliantly but also @chemical_cake idea about ‘co-oping’ a workshop sounds great. My partner also has experience of being a member of the Hampshire Spinners and Weavers Guild. They have a regular monthly meeting which captures the essence of jimb’s note.When I posted I was wondering if there’s anyone in the area that would be interested in exploring, with me, how to go about establishing a guild/club or finding out if some existed. The beauty of starting from scratch is that we can learn what works for the community in the local area. I’d also like to think that @joseph and @paul-sellers would be able to help share their thoughts on structure, topics and events – possibly even attending if we could get it up and running.
@chemical_cake if you’re interested in discussing further then perhaps we can arrange meet, one evening or at a weekend.
@george I’m not sure where you are based but if you’re local or within acceptable distance of Winchester/Southampton then perhaps you’d like to join us if we meet.Kevin
16 March 2016 at 12:04 am #135662Sounds good, I’m in Bitterne, perhaps we could find a pub somewhere between the two of us?
I can see us sharing wood and clubbing together to bulk buy as well. I produce quite a lot of thin stuff 1/4 – 3/8 where I think “that could be a box”, so it gets kept; but I never seem to get the time and I’d love to share it with someone perhaps just starting out or who’s more into box making.
Matt
16 March 2016 at 8:18 am #135664@chemical_cake – Matt, it would be great to meet up and discuss ideas for taking this forward. Looks like the Master Builder on Church Hill, The Two Brothers on Townhill Rd, The big Cheese on West End Road or the Southampton Arms on Burnetts Lane look like possible meet points.
Perhaps, one evening next week?
16 March 2016 at 8:00 pm #135682Any would do except the Big Cheese, I’m never setting foot in there again. The Master Builders’s quite nice. How does Weds eve sound, around 7? If you can tear yourself away from the weekly update?
Matt
16 March 2016 at 10:34 pm #135701Lets try the master builders at 7:30 on Wed – 7s a little too early for me.
17 March 2016 at 9:44 pm #135738Sounds good, and of course anyone else in the area reading this is welcome to come along…
Matt
28 March 2016 at 10:42 pm #136047Sounds like a great idea and really I hope it gets off the ground but unfortunately for me just a bit too far since moving from southern Hampshire some 250 miles to here in North Yorkshire. Mind you, I guess if you noticed my username, you might think twice about inviting me anyway…..Ahem!
For those of you non-Brits bewildered by that comment, Southampton and Portsmouth are deadly football (soccer) rivals.
2 April 2016 at 8:40 am #136127Hi @Bengibbs
Matt and I meet last week, and decided that there’s certainly something in have a social regular get together to share knowledge, skills etc. As I’m travelling for work and vacation during April, we decided to get back to gather early May – probably around 4th or 11th. Going forward, I think we’ll set up some social group on something like facebaok and establish a regular meeting schedule. We’re doing a bit of research into what exists in the local area already as well as how other guilds or clubs are done.
We’ll post to the community nearer the time when the date and location is confirmed. It would be great to have more folks join us. If you want to be notified directly – send me a private message via this site with your email address, and I’ll email you directly when we know the time.
Kevin
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