This one really hurts - RIP Braxton Wirthlin

You won't find a single person around here who isn't grieving the loss of our buddy - Braxton Wirthlin.  

Braxton entered the hospital a few days ago, and was diagnosed with Stage IV kidney cancer, which had, unfortunately spread to his lungs. Added to the mix was pneumonia, and well... we were so sorry to learn that he passed away just three days later.

Braxton's wife Melissa and their two children (Boyd and Olivia) are mourning him, but so are we.

Braxton grew up here in Las Vegas, and for a while - was better known as a BXM genius, both riding bikes, and also repairing them. 

Once he found woodworking, he was off to the races, building furniture at his shop in Boulder City, and working in local cabinet shops. He collaborated on some very cool projects here, and his work can be found in the Mob Museum, as well as many local restaurants and wine shops.

Timber Manufacturing was his baby... but YouTube was a passion - his channel was growing, with nearly 6000 followers.

His whimsical work and delicate turnings showed a side that most wouldn't expect - I mean, who makes a giant Jenga?

A few years ago, he hosted our Sin City Woodworking group at his studio in Boulder city, showing us his filming techniques, and speaking frankly about developing a YouTube presence. (It's hard work!)

A Go Fund Me page has been started, and if you'd like to donate - here's a link. Please donate what you can - we can't say it enough - he was an all around good guy - loved and respected. 

Let's help his family out.

RIP, Braxton

March 14, 1979 - September 23, 2021

 

Happy New Year, there’s light at the end of the tunnel

First off -  Happy New Year to all you woodworkers -  this is going to be a feel-good update, and I think all of us need that right about now!

The year 2020 will go down as one of the more challenging times in our lives, but let’s focus on a few bright spots. I know one group of woodworkers who will have a better year, and it’s the crew at Transition Services. Last month, I sent out a request for donations to purchase a planer for the woodworkers there. They have a small woodshop, with a lot of donated and hand-me-down tools.  

 

When they attended the last AWFS show a few summers ago, they were fascinated by all of the machinery, especially the SawStop saws.

But their big need was for a planer, so that they could make cutting boards to sell in their gift shop. EVERYONE loves cutting boards!

As donations started rolling in, pretty soon it was evident that we were going to surpass our planer goal. And here’s the outstanding news - not only were we able to afford a planer but we raised enough to buy them a SawStop tablesaw, too.

 

Well - I take that back - we were just a bit short,  so Jeri and Christian at Woodworker’s Emporium covered the amount that we were short. Truly, this was a community effort that exceeded all expectations.

I want to thank everyone who generously gave to this cause… from near and far. These people are our heroes:

Angela B

Mark L

Jim C

Adam G

Nicola M

Elizabeth J

Ama N

David & Heidi S

Kareem M

Martin B

Paul Y

Leo D

Shauna O

Chip L

Alvin M

John S

Boz B

Loida C

Gail and George T

Dave F

Dereck C

Jeff S

Freya R

John and Melanie F

Rich M

Kean B

Kate P

Jamie Y 

Jeri and Christian B

Transition Services used their bus to pick up the saw - and brought a crew to help move it. 

 

 

A week later, I held a safety class with them, showing them how to properly make some rips and crosscuts.

 

 

 

They caught on quickly,

and I’ve heard through the grapevine that they’re loving this new addition. 

Let’s hope 2021 is a year filled with better times for all of us. I don’t know when we’ll resume our meetings, but I hope everyone stays healthy and sane during this trying time. We’ll meet again some soon…keep creating!

 

Thanks again, everyone, this woodworking community rocks!

No November meeting - but Happy Thanksgiving to you!

 Hey fellow woodworkers!

It’s been 9 long months since we met back in February, and little did we know that so many things would change in our lives. I hope this finds you (and your family) staying healthy and safe.  I’ve received so many messages of good will and support during our break, and we’ve even had quite a few new members join our MeetUp group. (I’m trying to make lemonade out of the lemons we’ve all received!)

Our annual Holiday party is obviously canceled, and truthfully - I’m not sure when we’ll meet again - hopefully in the Spring, but based on some new public health predictions - it might not be for a while. 

But I know many of you are still working in your woodshops, and you’ve building some amazing pieces. So - here’s a way that we can still have a bit of woodworking camaraderie during these isolated times… 

One of our members (Boz) is an amazing computer guy, a VERY talented photographer, and kick-ass woodworker, to boot - and he’s issued the following offer:

Why not take a some photos of what you’ve been building in your shop during this pandemic, and Boz will put together a slide show so that we can share it with each other? Please feel free to give some additional info about the photos, if you feel like they need it. We may have to edit some of the info, based on how many we receive, but we’d like to see what you’re doing to stay sane and creative!

Please send your photos and info to me at the following email:  wooditis@aol.com  If you send them, please put “SCWW Photos” in the subject line, so the don’t accidentally end up in my SPAM folder. 

With a little luck (and some hard work by Boz) - we’ll be able to post the slide show next month, in place of Holiday meeting.

One last thing - many of you are familiar with Transition Services - a nonprofit dedicated to serving the developmentally disabled community. 

Our member  (Emily) works there and has introduced many of us to the woodworking they do there, to stay productive, raise funds, and work with wood. I recently toured their facility, and was blown away by what they create - everything from handmade soaps to greeting cards, sculptures, quilts, woodworking crafts and SO MUCH more. It’s truly inspiring.

But one glaring need that they have is for a small planer.  

As woodworkers - we know how valuable a planer can be in our shop. So - I’d like to throw this out there - since we’re not having a Christmas party this year, I propose that we use our 2020 funds to buy them a planer.

But - we’re a little short  in our bank account - so I’d like to ask for a small donation from anyone who can possibly help them out. Even $5 or $10 will help! If you’d like to contribute - contact me! 

Meanwhile - have a safe and memorable Thanksgiving, however you choose to celebrate it! Send those photos!

Don't forget about our Tool Sale this Sunday, October 18 - 10:00

  If you're looking to add some tools to your woodshop, you'll want to swing by this Sunday morning! The sale starts at 10:00 - please don't show up too early!

There are some terrific items for sale! This is just a partial list - there is too much stuff to list!

_____________

Grizzly 14" Bandsaw with riser kit

14" Jet Bandsaw with Carter Guides

Delta Scroll saw

Workbench tops

Live Edge slabs and misc. wood (some amazing pieces here!)

Delta Midi Lathe

Clamps (you can never have enough!)

Rockwell Lathe (ancient, but a perfect starter tool!)

Senco Nail guns (brand new, never opened!)

Router bits galore

Jet 10/20 drum sander

Bosch router with fixed and plunge base

Tons of hand tools

Hardware

Finishes

The address is 2267 West Gowan, in North Las Vegas. We'll be set up in the parking lot - feel free to bring a table and sell your own stuff, too!

Finally! An October meeting we hope you can attend!

Have you missed our monthly meetings?

Sin City Woodworkers, a Vegas valley social and networking group committed to serious (and not so serious!) woodworking discussions, usually meets on the third Wednesday of each month. But we haven’t met since February, due to the Covid 19 gathering restrictions. Hopefully, we will resume meetings in 2021, we’ll have to wait and see how things play out in our state.

BUT - we’re holding an outdoor swap meet on Sunday, October18 - and this will be our last meeting of the year. We’ll get started at 10:00 AM.

This will be your chance to buy - sell - or - barter tools with like-minded woodworkers, so clean out your woodshop and join us!

Everyone is welcome to bring a table or cart to our next meeting and set up a booth in our parking lot. The parking lot at Studio:Wood It Is is mostly empty on Sunday mornings, so everyone will have a chance to spread out and sell their wares. 

Masks are required!

Some of the goodies up for grabs include many hand tools, small power tools like routers, drills, drivers, nail guns, and MUCH more. Some of the stationary power tools up for sale will be a couple of bandsaws, a small drum sander, a lathe or two, and more. There will also be a ton to wood for sale - including live edge slabs, exotics, dimensional lumber, and too much to mention. You’re going to find some great bargains here, just in time for your winter projects!

This swap meet will be held at Studio: Wood It Is!, 2267 West Gowan, unit 106 in North Las Vegas.  The public is welcome to attend the meeting, so members - please feel free to bring a guest along. If you have questions or need directions, call the studio at 702-631-1870.

We hope to see you at the swap meet!!

June meeting canceled - we'll see how it goes for next month!

Hopefully next month?

May meeting canceled, too

Due to the current health issues in our community (and our country!) - the May Sin City Woodworkers meeting is canceled. Stay healthy, and we’ll hopefully see you next month!