Curls of sawdust flutter through the air. Machines whirl and buzz, slicing through conversations. In the din of this two-story 1,800-square-foot shop, crafters are transforming wood into works of art. When the dust settles, intricate bowls and boxes, realistic looking birds, detailed birdhouses and other remarkable objects emerge.
The Chislers, an inspired group of Briny Breezes woodworkers, are preparing for their annual show, set for March 17 at the community center (the 150 to 200 items for sale can be previewed from 4 to 5 p.m., March 16.)
This year, the 12-year-old event, held from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will be open to the public. “It gives our neighbors a chance to see what we do with woodcraft,” said Linc Musto, who specializes in carving decoys and shore birds.
Lunch and a raffle with a twist are also on tap. The $1 raffle tickets allow would-be winners to designate their ticket for the item of their choice.
Fun and ingenuity are cornerstones of this 200-member group, which formed in 1958. There are few hard and fast rules here — but admittance to the club does come with strings: prospective members must attend two consecutive 45-minute meetings — and clean up the shop four times between meetings. Cleanup, which includes sweeping, putting things outside for recycling and emptying shop vacs, takes about 20 minutes each time, says Musto, who quips: “We are always looking for new members because we don’t like to clean.”
Membership is limited to residents of Briny and there’s a $25 initiation fee and dues are $5 a year, but when members turn 80, dues are free.
Membership has perks: Not only can members use the equipment whenever they want, (the shop rivals Home Depot), they can borrow it for three days for home projects — a real boon since Briny residences have little storage space.
It’s also a place to learn, make friends, and be creative — members make everything from picture frames to chairs.
“These people don’t want to sit in front of a TV. They have to be doing something and this is a perfect outlet for them,” explains Musto, who says woodworking relieves his stress.
“We take a big piece of wood, cut it into pieces and then put it back into a big piece again,” quipped Ernie Propp, as he pieced together a walnut/ambrosia maple wood bowl. “I spend three to four hours a day here. It’s a good group of people.”
In another workspace, Paul Stewart was industriously building birdhouses. He’s made about 100 and is aiming for 200 — some for the Chislers show, others for shows in North Carolina. “It’s my first year in the club,” says Stewart. “I’m here about 20 hours a week. The guys are fun and you learn a lot of stuff.”
Members also pitch in to build or repair ramps for handicapped Briny Breezes residents.
The group’s leader, Don Eschler, also the go-to guy when equipment breaks, infuses a southwestern style in his projects, which are often made of hundreds of pieces of wood. “This (12-inch) bowl has 355 pieces of wood in it,” he says.
Says member Curt Mosher: “There’s a lot of satisfaction in seeing what you can make.”
Eschler agrees. “The people here come up with classy, quality items.”
If you go: Briny Breezes woodcrafters show When: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., March 17 Where: Briny Breezes Community Center, 5000 N. Ocean Blvd. Lunch offered: 11:30 to 1 p.m. Raffle: 1 p.m. Preview: 4 to 5 p.m., March 16 .
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