Bill Schulz, recently retired as Director of Research and Development from the Nestlé Corporation, resides in Bloomington.At Nestlé, he helped to develop new chocolate confections. His research took him to many different countries, where he amassed a collection of various Coke bottles as well as other interesting items. The shelves displaying his collectibles were designed and crafted by himself. The shelves have been inverted in order to be easily removed and line the entire family room.
After Mr. Schulz retired, his wife gave him a lathe as a gift, kind of as a joke. However, it has become a much loved hobby. He has made several items, utilizing many different types of woods. Typically, a design is drawn out on paper, a pattern created, and then the wood is cut out and pieced together. The time involved from start to finish can take months.
With the time and dedication involved in creating furniture pieces, as well as different bowls and vases, Mr. Schulz decided it would be a good idea to join the Central Illinois Wood Turners. The Central Illinois Wood Turners, a group of 60 members, have monthly meetings in Peoria or Bloomington, alternating between the two cities. Each meeting features a “Show and Tell”, where members have the opportunity to show their work. Some pieces are crafted using several different types of woods and have intricately detailed designs with interesting shapes and carvings.
One of the very first pieces Mr. Schulz made was a tall bowl involving a variety of cuts and hollowing, and accompanied by a stand made from the chuck of the wood. When creating such complex pieces, the expertise from other members becomes invaluable. Each Central Illinois Wood Turners member pays a $20 fee to become a local member and a $45 fee for national membership, which covers insurance and liability.
Mr. Schulz is particularly proud of a vase that he designed which he named Wind and Fire. The piece is made from mulberry, hulled out as an art piece, hollowed, sanded then indirectly cut by the lathe following the natural flow of the wood grain. Finally, the piece is finished off with a heavy coat of polyurethane for protection and shine.
His next project are baseball bats for his grandchildren. Not only will the bats be used by his grandchildren, but they are sure to become timeless treasures for generations to come. He has the wood split ready and is set to go as soon as he learns the baseball bat dimensions regulated by the park district his grandchildren belong to.
I am sure the special bats will not only be a pleasure to give, but will be received with delight as well.
Stephanie Holderfield
www.DiscoverPlaces.com
For more information about the Central Illinois Wood Turners, visit www.IllinoisWoodturners.com. The website includes: photo galleries, tips & techniques, upcoming events, and meeting locations.