Kitchener-Waterloo Woodworking and Craft Centre Inc. (K-W WCC) kwwcc

Kitchener-Waterloo Woodworking and Craft Centre Inc.(K-W WCC)www.kwwcc.org Orientation of New Members

Purpose of the Presentation • The purpose of the presentation is to familiarize members with their responsibilities and the day to day operation of the workshop. • It is hoped that this presentation will answer many of your questions.

MISSION STATEMENT • KITCHENER-WATERLOO WOODWORKING AND CRAFT CENTRE • MISSION STATEMENT • The Centre is a safe, affordable, and socially inclusive environment where individuals interested in woodworking and other craft activities can gather and pursue meaningful activities. • The Centre is an intergenerational facility that provides opportunities for its members to use and not only improve existing skills but also learn new skills and enhance their sense of well being through access to a high quality facility

MISSION STATEMENT CONTINUED • Although the Centre is not geared towards seniors only, our senior members pass on their experience and skills by mentoring younger members as well as the wider community to help keep those skills alive. • The volunteers group is the ‘glue’ that holds the Centre together. Their mentoring ensures the success of the Centre. Supporting an active volunteer program is key to maintaining a vital organization. • Recruiting volunteers and supporting an active volunteer program is the key to maintaining a vital organization.

Housekeeping Rules • Since it is our intention to provide a “hobby type” environment, commercial or production type work cannot be accommodated. • Due to space limitations, members are asked to only work on ONE LARGE project at a time. • Drills, bits, etc. are to be placed in containers and returned to their proper storage place as soon as you’re finished with them. Please specifically report any breakages.

Housekeeping Rules Continued • Drills, bits, etc. are to be placed in containers and returned to their proper storage place as soon as you’re finished with them. Please specifically report any breakages. • Clean work areas and machine surfaces of debris, and neutralize machine settings after each use. • We operate on an honour system! Please pay for your screws, sandpaper, coffee, etc. • When leaving for the day, please be sure your work bench has been cleared for the next person.

Housekeeping Rules Continued • It is the responsibility of all members to assist the volunteers with the cleanup of all the facilities before they leave and/or 20 minutes before closing. • Should you have any wood, unfinished projects, etc. lying around the premises, kindly take them home. We are very short of space. • YOUR CO-OPERATION IS APPRECIATED

K-W WCC is a “Not for Profit” Workshop: • “Not for profit” means that members do not use the shop to build personal items for sale to the public. • K-W WCC is supported by the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo. • is operated by a Board of Directors and financed, based on an annual membership fee. • Volunteers manage day to day operations. • Volunteers are recognized by a badge with volunteer badge tag and/or a yellow cap. • Volunteers monitor the use of equipment and will advise proper use.

Safety • Operation of a safe shop is our goal. • The acceptance of responsibility for personal safety, the safety of others, and the care of the Centre’s equipment is a fundamental condition of membership • Members must declare to the volunteer(s) any illness or medication that would affect the ability to operate machines • Personal information should include, for an emergency, the family doctor, his/her telephone number as well as a contact phone number. • Members will also be asked to sign a safety statement that they understand, and to which they will abide.

SHOP OPERATION • The shop is officially open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm • Some volunteers arrive before 9:00 am, and may work after 3:00 pm. There must be at least 2 people in the shop to operate equipment. • We have begun evening operation from 6:00 to 9:00 on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and will continue as demand requires. • We have recently begun a Saturday morning session from 9:00am to 1:00pm. It too will continue as long as there is a demand. • Members sign in on arrival and sign out on departure. • Volunteers supervise the operation of the shop. • New members are expected to request assistance for use of equipment with which they are not familiar. • “Blast Gates”, on the dust collection system, should be opened while operating a machine. Blast gates should then be closed after use, for better suction.

EQUIPMENT • K-W WCC has “state of the art” woodworking machinery with used back-up for most machines. • The ‘SawStop’, is a cabinet saw, equipped with a brake that will stop the blade in an instant. • Anything that will conduct electricity will fire the brake, skin, wet lumber, metal. The cartridge has been fired recently when the blade was in the final stage of slowdown. The “stop” feature is still in effect until the blade stops completely • There is a moisture meter and metal detector available in the shop • We encourage use of the “SawStop” and it is hoped that this SawStop feature will prevent serious member injury.

OTHER NEW EQUIPMENT • 20” Helical Planer, cutters are on a rotating drum • 8” Jointer • 6” Belt Sander with 120 grit. Do not force wood into belt. • 14” “DeWalt” compound mitre saw • 10” Scoring Saw for cutting large sheets of plywood (prevents rip out on the underside) • Oneway Lathe for large turnings. • Delta Lathe for smaller turnings.

NEW EQUIPMENT CONTINUED • Mortiser • Delta Drill Press • 2 Jes-sem Routers • Re-saw Band saw 14” throat • CnC machine (computer numerical control) • Thickness planer

OTHER EQUIPMENT • Pin router • 2 Band saws for fine work, and 1 for resaw. • 2 Scroll saws • 2 Commercial Sewing Machines (upholstery) • 6” Jointer • Hitachi compound mitre saw • Most power hand tools (electric drills, sanders) • Most hand tools (hammer, screwdrivers, etc.) • The pegboards for hand tools are colour coded so tools can be returned to the proper place . Currently there are Red, Blue and Green Boards

CLUB SUPPLIED CONSUMABLE ITEMS • Drill bits • Glue • Some grits of sandpaper • Varsol

Wood available for purchase • Pieces of wood are available for use by members. It is expected that a donation will be made for the use of this wood. • See a volunteer to suggest an appropriate amount

LUNCHROOM • Is also used for Board and Volunteer meetings • Is well equipped with fridge, microwave, toaster oven, coffee maker • Coffee is .50 a cup and pop is .75 cents a can.

WOOD FINISHING • There is no finishing room, finishing is usually done in a designated area between the office and the washrooms. We are unable to provide a dust free area. • Many members are using “wipe on poly” for finishing and this seems to work and produces a good surface.

Wood and Project Storage • We have limited storage space • Members are expected to work on and complete their projects in reasonable time and not use the shop for storage. If materials are left for a long period of time the individual will be called to remove them. All materials should be identified.

RULES Rule # 1. Always check with a volunteer if you have not used the machine before. Rule # 2. Raise the saw-blade on the table saw only enough to cut the piece. Rule # 3. Be aware of others working around you. Rule # 4. Clean off your workspace when you are done so others may use it. Rule # 5 Clean up the sawdust at the machine and return all drills, cutters, router bits etc. to their proper place immediately after use.

RULES CONTINUED: • Rule # 6. Assist with the clean-up at the end of the day. • Rule # 7. If a machine begins to make a strange noise, shut it off and check with a volunteer. • Rule #8 Absolutely no alcohol or drugs permitted on the premises.

Member Expectations • Each member is expected to make something for the annual sale at the open house, or assist in assembling or sanding items being made for the sale. The annual sale is held in late September each year.

End of Presentation • Revised March 2010

Kitchener-Waterloo Woodworking and Craft Centre Inc. (K-W WCC) kwwcc