Welcome to the Kansas City Woodturners Website
Baton Turning March 9th 2025
Eight KC Woodturners got together on a Sunday afternoon finish turn and sand 50 batons for the Kansas City Kansas Police Department. These batons were for KCKS police officers that had graduated from the KCKS Police Academy over the last couple years that had not yet received their graduation batons. The KCKS Police Department contracted with the KC Woodturners to make their backlog of batons. Our club Vice President Mike Thomas was the contact guy that made this job happen. KC Woodturners member Gary Mundhenke did a great job programming the CNC code for cutting the batons and then cut all the batons on his personal CNC machine. The finish turning and sanding took all day Sunday by KC Woodturners members David Alexander, Don Frank, Anthony Harris, Ed Jaszczak, Kris Coyan (who took the photos), Mike McReynolds, Kevin Neelley, Bill Paullo, and Mike Thomas. The batons were finished with Osmo Wood Wax Finish. After the finish dries, Kevin Neelley will laser engrave each baton with the KCKS Department and the officer’s personal badge number. Mike Thomas will then present the batons to the KCKS police Department.
Bowl-A-Palooza February 23rd 2025
Eight KC Woodturners got together on a Sunday afternoon to rough turn 60 very wet maple bowl blanks. Don Frank used his sawmill, helped by Kris Coyan, to prepare 60 maple bowl blanks 10″ and 12″ diameters 4″ and 5″ thick. The bowl blanks were each turned round with a tenon by David Alexander, Kris Coyan, Anthony Harris, Jerry Lehane, Kevin Neelley and Mike Thomas. Don used his OneWay bowl coring jig to core all the blanks. Coring saved a lot of turning time. Most of the bowl blanks needed a bit of extra hollowing by the crew after coring. Kevin Neelley sealed all the blanks end grain with Anchorseal. Don Frank took all the sealed blanks back home and stuffed all he could into his two kilns. His two kilns held 39 blanks and will take about a month to bring the moisture content down to second turning level. So, in a month we will get together again to second turn bowls. This time we will invite club members to watch the second turning process.
You may ask why we wanted to make 60 bowls. Your club is going to sell the bowls to make money. We will sell the bowls at the normal venues like Irish Fest, Spinach Festival, First Fridays and new venues.
Full Lathe Room December 21st 2024
All eight KC Woodturners lathes were in use on this Saturday morning, December 21st 2024. Also, a couple people came by just to sit and talk.
Santa’s Workshop November 23 2024
This was a free kids event. Over four hundred children watched as the KC Woodworkers Guild constructed toy trucks for them. Afterwards, the KC Woodturners placed a new top in the truck bed. This event was great fun for all.
Skill Building – Tool Sharpening August 16th 2024
This lathe tool sharpening skill building event was held Saturday afternoon 8/16/24 at the KC Woodturners clubhouse. We had five grinders set up and had several instructors available to guide members on how to sharpen their various lathe tools.
Sawmill Outing with Don Frank July 27th 2024
KC Woodturners member Don Frank invited the membership to view his sawmill on a beautiful Saturday morning. 22 KC Woodturners members attended. Don showed how he set up the log, centering the pith. He sawed the log into nice thick slabs. Don was a great host and provided coffee and doughnuts.
The KC Woodturners members had a wide variety of turnings to sell at the June 7th First Fridays event. Shown in the photos are Bill Paullo and Mike McReynolds.
Our Annual Picnic on June 15th 2024. Held at Shawnee Mission Park Shelter House #6. We had hamburgers, hot dogs, chili poppers and great conversation.
The KC Woodturners members had a good showing at the May 5th First Fridays event. A number of our woodturners sold some of their woodturnings. Our club also signed up a couple of new members.
Kansas City MO Woodneath Library Exhibit May 2024
The KC Woodturners were asked to display a selection of the member’s turnings at the Kansas City MO’s flagship library, the Woodneath Library, for three months starting in May 2024. Woodturnings displayed were made by: David Alexander, Sue Bergstrand, Kris Coyan, Bob Davis, Don Frank, Anthony Harris, Ed Jaszczak, Shaun McMahon, Kevin Neelley, Bill Paullo, David Stalling, and Mike Thomas.
Clubhouse Lathe Room May 2024
A BIG KCWT was designed and painted on the lathe room wall by our club president Kris Coyan. The letters reflect more light toward the lathes. The lathe room is being tidied up prior to the May 5th First Fridays event.
The KC Woodturners members had a wide variety of turnings to sell at the June 7th First Fridays event. Shown in the photos are Bill Paullo and Mike McReynolds.
Our Annual Picnic on June 15th 2024. Held at Shawnee Mission Park Shelter House #6. We had hamburgers, hot dogs, chili poppers and great conversation.
The KC Woodturners members had a good showing at the May 5th First Fridays event. A number of our woodturners sold some of their woodturnings. Our club also signed up a couple of new members.
The KC Woodturners were asked to display a selection of the member’s turnings at the Kansas City MO’s flagship library, the Woodneath Library, for three months starting in May 2024. Woodturnings displayed were made by: David Alexander, Sue Bergstrand, Kris Coyan, Bob Davis, Don Frank, Anthony Harris, Ed Jaszczak, Shaun McMahon, Kevin Neelley, Bill Paullo, David Stalling, and Mike Thomas.
A BIG KCWT was designed and painted on the lathe room wall by our club president Kris Coyan. The letters reflect more light toward the lathes. The lathe room is being tidied up prior to the May 5th First Fridays event.
First Fridays at the Crossroads April 5 2024. Bill Paullo (l) and Ed Jaszczak (r) selling their woodturnings at the first First Fridays. Also shown at far left is Anthony Harris’ woodturnings for sale. The First Fridays sale took place at the new clubhouse at 1717 Washington St.
Painting the New Clubhouse Floor in December 2023. The left photo shows member David Alexander and president Kris Coyan rolling paint on the new clubhouse floor at 1717 Washington St. The right photo shows vice president Mike Thomas putting up caution tape to keep people from walking on the wet floor.
The KC Woodturners members got together on December 11, 2023 for a holiday party. The club supplied sandwiches and the members brought delicious salads and desserts. Club vice president Mike Thomas is describing the club events of the past year. Then we had a hand-turned gift exchange followed by a timed turning event (tree shaped tree ornament) performed by four brave turners. A very good time was had by all.
KC Irish Fest 2023. The left photo shows Jerry Darter and Bill Paullo behind the table with many of Ed Jaszczak’s woodturnings for sale. The right photo shows Jerry Lehane watching Jerry Darter turning tops.
KC Irish Fest 2023. The left photo shows Ed Jaszczak behind his table talking to customers. The right photo shows KCWT President Kris Coyan turning something. Jeff Bollman in red shirt to right.
Kansas City’s Nelson-Atkins Museum Giftshop purchased six woodturnings from three KC Woodturners artists: 3 turnings from Kris Coyan, 2 turnings from Anthony Harris, and 1 turning from Mike Erickson.
This is our club’s tent at the 2021 KC Irish Fest. Shaun McMahon did a lot of the legwork setting up this event. Many people demonstrated turning for the Fair goers as well as helped sell the woodturnings. The left photo shows Bill Paullo and Wendy Lythgoe. The right photo shows Anthony Harris and Ed Jaszczak.
This is Kevin’s iPhone case. Kevin also made one for Shaun using a $100 laser engraver. Yes…Take a walk on the ROUND SIDE.
The KC Woodturners meeting on July 12th 2021 was the first Face-to-Face meeting we have had, due to Covid-19, in over a year. 30 members were in physical attendance and several more attended by Zoom. Jack Karstens ran the AV system. Kevin Neelley ran the Zoom meeting. KC Woodturner member Rick Bywater gave a great demo on using resins in woodturning. Everything worked out great.
The KC Woodturners are again displaying their woodturnings at the new KCMO Mid-Continent Public Libary. This the second three-month display that the KC woodturners has done at this library. We have heard there were many good comments on the display. The KCWT artists displaying their work are E. David Burks, Rick Bywater, Jerry Darter, Ed Jaszczak, Kevin Neelley, and David Stallings.
The Annual KC Woodturners Picnic was at Shawnee Mission Park in Shelter House #6 on 6-19-2021. It was a beautiful warm day for a picnic and we, as usual, has a nice breeze off the lake. Kevin Neelley took care of the picnic logistics. Kris Coyan and Mike Thomas cooked burgers and hot dogs to perfection. A great time was had by all.
The KC Woodturners participated in the May Fair event at the Northland Theraputic Riding Center at 13608 Henson Rd, Holt, MO 64048 on 5-8-2021. This event was a sales success for both the KC Woodturners and the NTRC. The KC Woodturner volunteers for this evant were Mark Inmon, Sue Bergstrand, Ed Jaszczak, Anthony Harris, and Mike Thomas.
Five KC Woodturners are displaying their work at a three-month long exhibit at the Mid-Continent Public Library, located at 8900 NE Flintlock Road, KCMO. This library is the crown jewel of all the libraries in the KCMO system. The Artists whose work is displayed are: Kris Coyan, Bob Davis, Don Frank, Jerry McMaster and Kevin Neelley.
This is our first lathe room cleanup of the year. It really needed it. A lot of volunteers came to clean and they did a really great job. Thanks to everybody involved, Saturday 3/6/2021. Here are some of the members that volunteered: Darrell Agee, David Alexander, Sue Bergstrom, Kris Coyan, Aron Crittendon, Anthony Harris, Chuck Levenson, Don Martin, Phil Royer, and I’m sure I left a couple people out.
Flute wood sale crew at the Clubhouse, Saturday 2/27/2021. There were more members that helped. Mike Thomas is taking the photo. L to R: Ed Jaszczak, Anthony Harris, Ann Mellina, Chuck Levenson, Kevin Neelley, Mark Inmon, David Alexander, Sue Bergstrand, Kris Coyan. A big thanks to all that helped.
Anthony Harris demonstrating a technique for the students at his Basic Spindle class in 2020.
The KC Woodturners made and donated 220 Freedom Pens to our troops overseas in 2020. Mark Inmon (smiling) was the goto guy for the effort. Thanks to all the members who contributed their time and efforts for this great cause.
Our booth at Artisans at the Garden 2020. Jack Karstens, Ann Mellina, and Mike Thomas smiling for the camera.
Tom Boley Hands-On Class 2019. The class displays their platters.
Irish Fest 2019. Left: Mike Thomas selling our turned products. Note Ed Jaszczak’s great display stands. Right: Anthony Harris turning for several interested onlookers.
Eli Avisera Hands-On Class 2019. All his student had a great time and learned a lot.
The Maker Faire was at KC Union Station. We demonstrated woodturning (Anthony Harris is turning), sold woodturned items (Efi Kamara and David Blair), and signed up new members.
One of our three tables at the March 2019 Excellence in Wood Show and Sale at the John Knox Village Pavillion. Kevin Neelley won Grand Master category at the show.
Our booth at the January 2019 Artisans in the Gardens at the Overland Park Arboretum. KCWT President Mike Thomas explaining some finer points of woodturning. Ann Mellina is taking the photo.[/caption]
Our members are more than happy to answer any questions you may have about the organization, about woodturning and about how you can join.
