Wooden wonders

Master carvers mass produce joy for others

Ellen Sussman

Special to the Green Valley News

Pinocchio’s master carver, the fictional Geppetto, would be very much at home in Green Valley Recreation’s 6,000-square-foot woodshop at the West Center.

Creative carvers who like working with their hands, tools and woodworking machines fill the spacious wood shop turning out toys, rocking horses, model cars, furniture, bowls and other wooden wonders.

Every Christmas the 500-member group mass produces toy buses, airplanes, trucks plus beds with dolls and blankets that are distributed at St. Andrews Children’s Clinic in Nogales, Ariz., and to Green Valley Assistance Services for distribution to families in need.

Colorfully hand-painted by a group of women GVR members, the toys are smooth, bright and playful, but vice president Mel Shilling said the demand is lessening due to kids’ desires for electronic toys and games.

Originally carving and cutting about 750 each holiday season he said the latest count was between 400 and 500.

“It’s strictly a hobby shop. There are some pros, but people are from all walks of life... a former surgeon, lawyer and football coach plus engineers and teachers,” Shilling said.

Then there’s Ron Stockdale, a former tool and dye maker who, as a precision machinist, is a master and makes things with an infinite number of wooden parts, many of which are made to move.

“I built a truck but it didn’t have a flatbed. I built the flatbed, but it didn’t have anything on it so I built a tractor to put on it,” he said while casually looking at the 32-inch masterpiece as if it was the most natural thing to make.

He’s also made a kid-size glider with an upholstered seat and back.

“I made it for my great-grandkids, but they haven’t seen it yet. My wife won’t let it out of the house; the kids will probably get to use it when they visit us,” he said.

Shilling, who made a .05 scale model of a D-11 Caterpillar bulldozer, is now working on an oak and walnut blanket chest. One man patiently fine tunes the details of a wooden horse. Another is framing two window-size pieces of stained glass. A woman whittles away at a wood project.

“We make whatever we want... there are no classes. We have beginners to masters. Anyone here will help, you just have to ask,” Shilling said.

The large membership has about $100,000 worth of equipment paid for by members over the past 20 years. Members pay for all supplies.

Safety is a primary concern in the workshop. There’s a computer monitor with four screens so all parts of the large workspace can be seen.

One safety rule is strictly adhered to. Shilling said there must be two persons present to turn on a machine.

Standing at a lathe and carefully turning a mesquite bowl with worm holes that gives it character is craftsman and comedian Walt Lingo, who said, “I make sawdust. That’s my specialty.”

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.