The guild is fortunate to have amongst its membership, several competent turner/demonstrators, and their input, combined with the resources that our committee call upon, provide members with a varied and continually challenging programme.
In a country blessed with a variety of timbers, it is no small wonder that crafts abound in New Zealand, and that working with wood is so popular. Just think of the work we see done in our homes by handymen who have grown up in the ‘do it yourself’ tradition.
South Auckland Woodturners Guild was formed in 1988, with an initial membership of 43 persons. In just a few short years it has grown to be the largest woodturners guild in New Zealand with a membership exceeding 110, and ages ranging from juniors to early 80s.
Our full club meeting is in our clubrooms in the Papatoetoe Stadium Community Centre, Tavern Lane, Papatoetoe, every Wednesday evening of the school term between 5:00pm and 8:30pm (meeting starts at 7:00). Rain or shine, you will find a group of at least fifty of our members enjoying a programme which includes demonstrations of woodturning skills, lectures, slide evenings on topics allied to turning, ‘hands on’ sessions where newcomers to the craft are given help and advice on their problems, and all this within a great social atmosphere.
The clubrooms are equipped with 12 full size lathes each equipped with chucks and chisels ready for use. Three mini lathes are also available for use or for borrowing to take home or outside demonstrations.
Many weekends the clubrooms are used for the National Certificate in Woodturning. Working Bee to tidy and clean the clubrooms are monthly, alternately on a Wednesday afternoon or Saturday morning.
From time-to-time the guild also organises a full day demonstration session for members with a visiting woodturner, weekend-long tutorials for beginner and more experienced woodturners, weekend-long participation events, and there is a pre-Christmas sale of work.
Add to this the fun we have on timber recovery operations, where all can do their bit to gain valuable materials for the use of guild members, at realistic prices. We also have a small in-house shop which sells at very affordable prices, many of the consumable items which you would need to pursue a hobby in woodturning, such as chisels, sandpapers, oils, and polishes.
Sound information can be gained from our busy library of periodicals, books and DVDs which are available to members at no charge, to help them achieve the prime aim of the guild – to improve our skills as woodturners, and to pool the knowledge of members to further assist in this quest.
Various one or two day woodturner training sessions are held throughout the year either in our clubrooms or, by special request, at other locations. To see the shine in the eyes of children and adults alike, who have never turned anything from timber, as they proudly hold a bowl they have been helped make, is a great experience for all involved.
If you want to join in these activities, come along to a meeting. If you would like more information, please feel free to phone or email our President, or a Committee Member
Where we meet & When
We meet at our club rooms in the Papatoetoe Stadium Community Centre, Tavern Lane, Papatoetoe at 7:00 pm. We meet every Wednesday of the New Zealand High School term. For those who wish to make use of the machinery, do some shopping, or get a little extra advice, the doors open at 5:00 pm