RCWA BLOG POSTS (2026)

Recent blog posts are listed below. To locate any blog written since 2008, use the search box below by entering a key word or date.

INDEX TO RCWA BLOG POSTS:

TWS (TWS2026-02) 1-24-2026

We helding our second Toy Workshop for 2026 on Saturday Jan 24, 2026 starting at 9 am. This was in the “Wood Shop” in the basement of the annex to the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church at 910 Wood Ave in Rapid City, SD.

The attendees at today’s workshop (2 x) included : Bobbi Bares, Marty Bartholomew, Bill, Jim Burk, Darwin Buus, Lauree Buus, Maggie Brown, Grant Coffin, Roy Erickson, Lon Gose, Jerry Hood, Patsy Hood, Stu Kellogg, Ken Maron, Dave Maude, Don Roberts, Harley Schmadeke, Nick Spano, Tony Verchio, Rick Weisbeck, and John Wolf.

Results of Today’s Toymaking Efforts:

Patterns traced: 33

Toys traced: 746

Total Patterns traced to date: 56

Total toys traced to date: 1287

PHOTOS FROM THE WORKSHOP

TWS (TWS2026-01) 1-10-2026

All – just a note to remind you that we are holding our First Toy Workshop for 2026 on Saturday Jan 10, 2026 starting at 9 am. This will be in the “Wood Shop” in the basement of the annex to the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church at 910 Wood Ave in Rapid City, SD.

We will hold our January General Meeting about 11 am on Saturday after the Toy Workshop. The agenda for the meeting is found in the Newsletter. Please enjoy the Jan 2026 Newsletter – you can download it from our website: Newsletters – 2025/2026 – Rapid City Woodworkers Association

We are back to the “two workshops per month” schedule, so the second workshop in Jan will be Jan 24th.

We held our first Toy Workshop (TWS) for 2026 on Saturday January 10, 2026, from 9:00 to 11:00 am. This was held at the Wood Shop at 910 Wood Ave in Rapid City. The shop is in the basement of the annex to Our Redeemer Lutheran Church. The January General Meeting was held from 11:00 am to noon.

The attendees at today’s workshop (21) included : Bobbi Bares, Marty Bartholomew, Scott Bottolfson, Jim Burk, Darwin Buus, Lauree Buus, Grant Coffin, Roy Erickson, Lon Gose, Jerry Hood, Patsy Hood, Stu Kellogg, Ken Maron, Dave Maude, Don Roberts, Harley Schmadeke, Nick Spano, Tony Verchio, Cori Weisbeck, Rick Weisbeck, and John Wolf

THE TOY PROGRAM. The Toy Program effort consists of 5 major phases:

Phase 1: Tracing

Phase 2: Cutting toys to shape

Phase 3: Milling – routering, drilling, machine sanding

Phase 4: Finish – sealer coat – sanding – spray – sanding

Phase 5: Wheel installations

We are starting a new year of Toy Making today, and so began with Phase 1 – Tracing. Today we traced Toy Patterns onto 2″ thick wood, then cut the traced toys into individual pieces with the band saw and miter saw. Lastly, we put all toys of one kind into a box, attached an Assembly History Tag, and moved the boxes to the Work In Progress (WIP) store room. Next workshop, some of us can begin working on the next phases: Cutting and Milling.

Our goal for 2026 is to build about 3,500 toys to donate to organizations who work with kids in South Dakota.

Results of Today’s Toymaking Efforts:

Patterns traced: 23

Toys traced: 541

Total Patterns traced to date: 23

Total toys traced to date: 541

Total Traceable Toy Patterns left to trace: xx (plus Critters)

More to come: we will be tracing for the next three or four workshops, as well as starting the cutting and milling. That is, we will start phase 2 – 3 – 4 next time on the toys traced today.

Here are photos from today’s activities:

Screenshot

General Meeting 1-10-2026

Meeting Minutes January 10 2026 Download

Prep for Tracing (1-6-2026)

A “Prep for Tracing” Team met today to make ready all the Patterns to be traced for 2026 Toys. We will be tracing toys for at least the next four workshops. We prepared about 70 patterns for 2×4 stock and 35 patterns for 1 inch stock which covers the majority of the toys planned for 2026. We will start cutting as soon as a few patterns have been traced. Hope to see you this weekend!

CNC SIG – 1-3-2026

The CNC SIG meeting was held on Saturday, January 3 from 10:00-12:00 at Westhills Village Woodshop. The topic was toe clamps and clearance tools.

CNC projects at Westhill’s Village

2025 TOY LINE UP – 12.6.2025

TOYMAKING MILESTONE PASSED ON SATURDAY 12.6.2025

For the 18th year in a row, the Rapid City Woodworkers Association (RCWA) will be donating handmade wooden toys to local groups who work with children in South Dakota.

The Toymakers in the Rapid City Woodworking Association (RCWA) have been working all year to finish the toys in time for Christmas giving. This year, this group of more than 40 active toymakers finished 4,692 handcrafted wooden toys. Many toys were given to children at special events during the year, but 3,477 toys will be delivered to local charitable organizations who work with children in South Dakota and beyond, this week.

The toys for Christmas giving will be packed for delivery on Saturday morning Dec 6, 2025, in the Wood Shop in the basement of the annex to the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church at 910 Wood Ave in Rapid City, SD. They will be delivered (at no cost) to over 30 groups in South Dakota and beyond. Most of the toys will be delivered that same day.

Lebron James started his basketball career in 2006. In April 2025, he reached a milestone is his career by making his 50,000th point. The RCWA started making toys in 2008. We will be reaching a toymaking milestone this Saturday by giving away our 50,000th toy! So this Saturday, as we give away our toys for 2025, we will surpass the total number of 50,000 toys given to kids! Congratulations TOYMAKERS!!!

Earlier blog posts:

Here is a listing of some of the earlier posts. Posts in the RCWA BLOG prior to 1-16-2025 were imported from the previous website on 1-15-2025 and are available below. To locate any blog since 2008, type a key word such as a category or a date in the search box below:

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Rapid City Woodworkers Association