Woodturning group seeks members

Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
TURNING WOOD — Matt Cowan explains how a toy train was made by members of a local “woodturning” group. Woodturning is a form of woodworking that uses a lathe to create items.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
    Matt Cowan, physician assistant at Houlton Internal Medicine, and several others are looking for individuals to join their woodturning group.
    “I woodwork as a hobby,” Cowan said. “We have teachers, electricians, engineers, carpenters and business people.”
    The diverse group started with about five original members and began building their club through word-of-mouth. A couple of guys did woodturning demonstrations and others joined by connecting with someone else who turns wood.
    “We are looking for new members,” said Cowan. “We are looking for people who think they want to do woodturning or who would like to try turning wood, but may not have a lathe. Some of the guys like to educate as they teach in their own shops. We are looking to expand.”
    The Up There Woodturners of Aroostook County meet the first Wednesday of every month.
    “We typically alternate between the Hodgdon industrial arts building or one of our own shops,” said Cowan.
    Recently, through the American Association of Woodturners, the local club received a development grant to purchase a couple of small lathes worth $1,000.
    “The grant is a not-for-profit, educational one,” said Cowan. “The proposal was fairly lengthy and we worked on that for months. We [Up There Woodturners] leave at least one lathe in the Hodgdon shop so they can use it and we can teach them. We also take the lathes to do demonstrations elsewhere.”
    The local club began in the fall of 2009. They became a chapter of the AAW, which is a national, not-for-profit organization. Currently, Dee Cote is the chapter president.
    “We have 10 to 12 members actively,” said Cowan. “We have four or five who are coming to see if they want to join. So, it’s growing.”
    At each meeting, the woodturning participants decide upon a project to complete.
    “We did a top night and everyone brought tops,” said Cowan, showing a variety of designs. “One time, we even did wooden goblets.”
    But, the Up There Woodturners are involved in their first charitable project — wooden toys.
    “Try to find something like that now,” Cowan said with a smile. “We will be making and bringing toys every month to give to the Battered Women’s Shelter. The project is geared toward kids. We want to build up the [supply] to help keep the project ongoing. This is something we like doing, it’s fun and we might as well enjoy ourselves and give stuff away, too.”
    Cowan held up a wooden 18-wheeler and explained that the woodturning was on the wheels as well as the horn and other circular items. But woodworking was a huge component of the toy.
    “The turning of the wheels probably took three minutes,” he explained. “But, the wooden toys are so rugged.”
    Each member of the group has their own style for woodturning.
    “We have some guys who are super technical and draw out plans with measurements and depths to have a plan before it comes to the wood,” said Cowan. “I am the kind, who throws a block on the lathe and sees what happens. We all learn from each other.”
    The Up There Woodturners’ mission is to educate and share woodworking experiences.
    “There isn’t a huge amount of people who turn wood, but we are surprisingly finding more people,” Cowan said. “It’s something we want to do for fun and it is great to have a direction to go.”
    The Up There Woodturners are looking into getting into more community activities such as auctions, fundraisers, non-profit events to demonstrations, art and craft shows to educational activities.
    “There is no age limit,” said Cowan. “But minors must come with an adult. The club is open to both men and women who are also interested. It’s nice to find other people who are turning wood to have someone else to talk to about this with.”
    For more information, visit the Up There Woodturning of Aroostook County chapter on Facebook or call Dee Cote, chapter president at 538-1870.