November 2025 Newsletter

Leesburg Workday: 11/29/2025 9am - 2pm

Purcellville Workday: 11/06/2025 9am - 12pm

(There's something for everyone -get those volunteer hours in!)

Monthly Membership Meeting

Meetings are the first Wednesday of every month at 7:30 PM. Log to:

http://meet.google.com/ubz-ykxr-kiu

or

Dial-in: (US) +1 304-609-2532

PIN: 114 333 983#

Announcements

President's Message

Diane Bollinger

Loudoun Hunger Relief

Thanksgiving dinner drive

We are collecting donations to create Thanksgiving dinner bags for Loudoun hunger relief. What is a Thanksgiving dinner bag? It is a reusable bag with the following non-perishable items:

One to two bags or boxes of stuffing mix

Boxed potatoes

At least four cans of vegetables

Gravy in cans or packets that we mix with water

Cranberry sauce

Dry dessert mix/ingredients (no ready-made pie crusts, please)

Please bring any items on the list above, including reusable grocery bags to Makersmiths Leesburg and leave them in the donation table in the lobby. The collection will be running until Monday, November 10.

Purcellville Artisan Tour

Makersmiths, Tour Stop 7

Diane Painter

On November 1 and 2, Makersmiths Purcellville was tour stop #7. Makersmiths members that created items in ceramics, blacksmithing, laser cutter, fiber laser, Cricut, and glass-cutting workshops or own their own at home had their artistic work on display in the lower building. This event brought about 200 visitors to our location on the very first day. We estimate about 100 people stopped by on Sunday! Never in our history have we had so many people come to Makersmiths in one weekend! People came from Winchester, Arlington, Fairfax County, Loudoun County and Stafford County.  One family brought friends who are visiting from Peru!

We encouraged people to write on a visitor’s log what classes they might want to take. Here are some highlights of that log that give us information about what classes people want to take: Eight people want to take stain glass classes; five people want to take ceramics/pottery classes; two people want to take welding; one person wants to take the Cricut card-making class; one person mentioned a fused glass class; and several people mentioned wanting to take a “variety” of classes. 

It was clear to me that if we had items for sale that day, we would have had customers! For example, Dawn Martin’s fiber art mushroom was mentioned many times as something people really liked! 

Speaking to Diane Bollinger and several stewards, we decided we should ask the town of Purcellville to put us on the artisan tour again next year. We would like to encourage Makersmiths members who make items that can be construed as artwork (paintings, ceramics, metal art, paper art, glass art, etc.) to save pieces that can be shown. Let’s also consider having our Makers Market part of this event. Questions about this event, please contact me, Diane.Painter@makersmiths.org.

Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) 2025 Workforce Summit

Diane Painter

On October 24, Diane Painter represented Makersmiths at the Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) 2025 Workforce Summit. This half-day event was designed to form partnerships between education and industry to support the development of a skilled and prepared workforce. Bringing together 315 business leaders, educators, students, and community stakeholders, the summit explored innovative strategies and real-world commitments that strengthen career pathways for Loudoun’s future talent. There were student-led panels to interactive breakout sessions, all filled with authentic conversations that addressed lasting partnerships geared to bridge classroom experiences to careers for our Northern Virginia youth.
Read more about the event and learn more about how LCPS and its partners are investing in the now for tomorrow: https://lcps.pub/4obItnh

Job for a Day

Diane Bollinger

Makersmiths is partnering with Loudoun County Public Schools for Job for the Day on November 19. The LCPS Job for a Day (JFD) program is a career exploration activity for 10th-11th grade students. They will shadow an individual(s) or business/organization. The experience allows the student to learn/observe the tasks and responsibilities necessary in a particular career cluster, field, or specific job.  Our Makersmiths members will share how they use our space and equipment to design and make items for business purposes. Diane Bollinger is taking the lead on this initiative at the Makersmiths Leesburg location.  Questions? Contact diane.bollinger@makersmiths.org 

Celebrate Purcellville 2025

John Carter

From October 11 through Oct 18, Purcellville held its annual Celebrate Purcellville festivities and Makersmiths was very involved, beginning with our Makers’ Market and auction at Makersmiths’ Purcellville location on October 11. Twenty-three adults and several children stopped by after hearing about us at our Makersmiths’ downtown booth during the Purcellville Town Tag Sale.  Our booth at the Purcellville Tag Sale garnered consistent interest throughout the 10-hour day. Volunteer staffers report that while it was hard to put a number on it, they had attendees at the downtown booth all day long. The administrator of the Purcellville Tag Sale says that although it’s difficult to gauge the actual number of attendees, it is possible that 12-15K people came through Purcellville that day to visit Tag Sale booths.  

The Celebrate Purcellville Passport program also contributed to bringing interest to the organization. People who picked up a passport at the Town Hall or a Tag Sale booth received stamps at each business or booth that they visited on October 11. This carried over to the following week on October 18, when Makersmiths again staffed a booth at the Celebrate Purcellville Fall Festival held in Dillon’s Woods located by Purcellville’s Baseball stadium. Many adults and children stopped by our booth to get their passports stamped and to inquire about programs we host at both Makersmiths locations. One of the passport winners won a free soap-making class at Makersmiths Purcellville!

Many thanks to those who contributed to this success, both in preparation and at the events. It means a lot to have Makersmiths members volunteer their talents in making items to auction and volunteer their time to staff the events. 

I recommend we participate in forthcoming town events, especially those that have a gamified component like the Passport program. The Fall Festival also had quite a few interactive booths that attracted families with children. We should consider integrating more kid-friendly activities into our booth at events since children were attracted to our booths to get a free 3D printed “adopt a frog” and parents followed behind and stayed to chat with our booth staff. 

Many thanks to those Makersmiths members who contributed to the success at both the October 11 and October 18 events, giving us exposure to our Loudoun community that is likely to bring some new membership and at least shed some light on our organization’s mission. I encountered at least three neighbors that live very close to the Purcellville location that had never come to a previous Open House but took the opportunity on the day to come see demonstrations and chat with different Members at our Makers’ Market. I would recommend that we put energy toward coordinating two dates next year to have extended Open House events where demos and drop-in make & take activities are scheduled concurrently. 

The fundraising component of the Market, while fruitful, was nearly entirely due to purchases made by our members. I believe more extensive social media marketing and other outlets would, of course, be ideal.  Auction items or other fundraising items need to be in front of the most eyes and made available so people can touch or ask questions about them. In addition, we are more likely to garner attention by having a focused goal for future fundraisers, rather than just broadly stating that proceeds are ‘for Makersmiths.’   In addition, we had few Makersmiths vendors participate in the Makers’ Market. In the future, it may be more fortuitous for interested members to have a consignment arrangement and attain a booth or adjoining booths downtown at the Tag Sale proper.

Overall, while the organization’s income comes away with a surplus of revenue from this endeavor, the experience and the knowledge gained by doing it may be more valuable. A good bit of information on holding a special event in Loudoun County and the town of Purcellville was attained. Scheduling our involvement under the umbrella of the town-wide Celebrate Purcellville event was a valuable opportunity and should be considered worthwhile when it comes around again next year.

The Stuff the Sun is made of…

Jim Waldron

Big Black is on-line !

If you have taken most any of our basic welding workshops, you have been introduced to the plasma cutter.  It is a great tool for cutting metal up to about 1/4 inch thick.  It uses air and a hot electrical arc to turn the air into plasma.  Essentially a cloud of elemental particles at about 24,000 degrees!   (Hotter than the surface of the Sun - not hotter than the interior of the sun - but hotter than the surface.)

If you take that cloud of super hot particles and point them at a metal surface, the metal surface is literally vaporized.

If you have a metal project to cut out, you could use a hack saw, a saber saw, a jig saw, a band saw, a cutting disc, or a metal chop saw, but if you have an intricate design in 1/8 inch steel, you will be working for a long time.  The plasma cutter makes for quick work, has a very thin kerf, and the slag (if any) is usually quite easy to remove (vs. an Oxy/Acetylene cutting torch which pretty much guarantees a trip to the grinder to touch up the cut).

A plasma cutter can also 'pierce’ or start cutting in the middle of a piece of steel.  Oxy/Acetylene torches usually require starting your cut at an edge.  Also, Oxy/Acetylene only works on steel.  Plasma works on any conductive metal.

Using any one of several tools, you can draw your design in CAD (Fusion 360, Corel, InkScape, or one of many others including some on-line versions) and use that design in a CAM program to spit out some Gcode.  That Gcode can be run on our Plasma CNC table to cut the same pattern over and over again, while you just stand and watch.

Applications include signs, decorative markers, knife blanks, project parts, bench components, fire rings, and a host of other fun stuff.

We inherited a CNC Plasma table from Nova labs late last year when they got a new (used) table.  It was supposedly ‘working the last time they used it’.  I have learned over my years with Makersmiths that this is code for ‘it doesn’t work’.  Anyway, after a lot of work, it is back in service, and it’s a beast.  It just walks through ½ inch steel like there was nothing there.

It can cut metal between 1mm and 35mm thick (so, up to about 1 ¼ inch).  It uses Mach4 as a controller (the same software as on Big Red).  It’s in the back bay at MS-P. Red Tool workshops will be on the calendar the weekend of November 8 and 9.

There’s a pretty extensive build log if you are interested in the gory details and blow by blow frustrations of getting this back on-line.  A great team effort.

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/3l583lx45parory6f1b14/Build-Log.txt?rlkey=h4mz29fikirx4djclrv44nne3&dl=0

If you want to look at the Red Tool materials and a video walk-through, go to the wiki.  Look under Purcellville, Welding, CNC Plasma Table.

You can also contact me at James.Waldron@makersmiths.org

New Basic Woodworking Red Tool with a Make and Take Project

Makersmiths- Purcellville is now offering a two-session workshop for beginning woodworkers wanting to learn how to use Makersmiths Purcellville woodworking tools safely. The schedule is designed to allow sufficient time for reviewing proper tool usage and completing a beginner’s woodworking project. No prior woodworking experience necessary. If you are an experienced woodworker and only need red tool training to use the tools at the Purcellville woodshop safely, the one-session red tool class would be the appropriate red tool class for you.

Participants in this make and learn red tool basic woodworking workshop will be signed off on these tools (Table Saw, Miter Saw, Band Saw, Drill Press, 12” Disk Sander, Router Table, 16” Drum Sander, Downdraft Sanding Table, Dust Collector) and be approved for taking the MSP wood shop advanced class that covers other tools in the woodshop.

Secret Santa!

On December 13 at 5 PM, Makersmiths will have a MSP-MSL members social in MS-Purcellville’s Green room. We will also have a Secret Santa gift swap. Please bring something you made with materials costing $20 or less. You are also encouraged to bring a refreshment to share. Please fill out the free registration so we know how many plan to attend: https://makersmiths.org/event-6397995. The event is co-hosted by Diane Painter and Jennifer Chu.

How will this gift swap work? Folks coming to this social would pre-make an item (keeping the construction cost under $20). They put their wrapped gifts on a center table and pick a folded piece of paper from a bowl that gives them a selection number.  The person with number 1 goes first and chooses a gift and unwraps it. The person has to guess who made it. Person #2 picks a gift, but before unwrapping it, the person will choose to keep it or choose to take person #1's gift. If person #2 does that, then person #1 gets person #2's unwrapped picked gift. When doing so, person #1 unwraps the picked #2 gift and has to guess who made that gift. Now person #3 gets to pick a gift, and before unwrapping it, can choose to swap the picked gift for gift #1 or #2. We keep going like this until all gifts are chosen and swapped. 

Questions: Contact Diane.Painter@makersmiths.org

Making for the Holidays

November and December Classes

Makersmiths Leesburg 

ACL-T117: Crochet Dish Scrubby Workshop
Nov/08/2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Event URL https://makersmiths.org/event-6393385

WTL-T101: Pen Turning
Nov/13/2025, 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM
Event URL https://makersmiths.org/event-6407426

ACL-T107: Cricut Holiday Card Making Workshop
Nov/21/2025, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Event URL https://makersmiths.org/event-6375484

ACL-T118: Crochet Snowflakes Workshop
Nov/22/2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Event URL https://makersmiths.org/event-6393791

ACL-T115: Create a Photo Ornament for the Holidays
Dec/05/2025, 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Event URL https://makersmiths.org/event-6375582

Makersmiths Purcellville

ACP-T117: Crochet Dish Scrubby Workshop
Nov/16/2025, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Event URL https://makersmiths.org/event-6393847 

ACP-T118: Crochet Snowflakes Workshop
Nov/29/2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Event URL https://makersmiths.org/event-6393351

WWP-T105: Wooden Snowflake Workshop
Dec/06/2025, 2:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Event URL https://makersmiths.org/event-6375479

ACP-T105: Holiday Gift Soap Making Workshop
Dec/13/2025, 1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Event URL https://makersmiths.org/event-6387809

Red Tool Classes are an important step in your Maker journey!

MS-L

WTL-R100 : Wood Lathe Red Tool -

11/07/2025 11:00am - 2:00pm

DSL-R100: Sublimation Printer Red Tool - 11/17/2025 6:00pm -8:00pm

BNL-R100 : BN2-20 Print Vinyl Stickers Red Tool - 11/24/2025 6:00pm-9:00pm

MS-P

WPP-R103: CNC Plasma Table Red Tool -  11/08/2025 10:00am - 12:00pm

FLP - R100: Fiber Laser Red Tool - 11/09/2025 10:00am - 12:00pm

WPP-R103: CNC Plasma Table Red Tool - 11/09/2025 10:00am - 12:00pm

WWP-R100: Woodworking Basics Red Tool - 11/13/2025 6:30pm-9:30pm

MWP-R100: Metal Working Basics Red Tool - 11/19/2025 6:00pm-8:30pm

Makersmiths runs on volunteers!

Consider teaching a class or holding a workshop! check out the #class_planning_and_requests channel on Slack and join a meeting to get some help with your idea!

Tool Authorization Groups

Dean Williamson

Makersmiths has lots of cool and useful tools, machines, and equipment.  Many of them require training or authorization before you can use the equipment.  The training can be as simple as an orientation, to a more formal “red tool” class, to demonstrating proficiency to the tool steward. Such mandatory training helps ensure that all users understand how to use the equipment properly and safely, thus helping to keep the equipment running smoothly and minimize maintenance downtime as well as ensuring the safety of our members.

Below is a link to the list of tools which require training and authorization from a Steward. Please contact the steward for more information about each tool. This list is not exhaustive of the tools available at Makersmiths and is updated regularly as we get new equipment or as needed:

By clicking above, you can view the most current list posted on the Makersmiths wiki. Consider checking it out, you might discover a new tool that you didn’t realize Makersmiths had.

Makersmith Board Officers

Board Name/Officer | Position | Term

Brad Hess | Board Member | 2022 - 2025

Bo Wernick | Board Member| 2024 - 2027

Scott Silvers | Board Member | 2023 - 2026

Evin Grano | Board Member/Chairperson | 2023 - 2026

Jennifer Chu | Board Member | 2024 - 2027

Diane Bollinger | President | 2025 - 2026

Mary Waldron | Treasurer | 2025 - 2026

Jim Waldron | Board Member/Secretary | 2025 - 2026

Mike Brady | Webmaster | 2025

Rob Donahue | IT Steward | 2025

Did You Know...

You can find the newsletters from the last several years archived on our website?

Makersmiths also has a Blog, Instagram, and YouTube!

The Newsletter could always use some new blood - share your projects, pitch some article ideas, tell us about something cool you've seen in your Maker travels!

Makersmiths Leesburg: 106 Royal St SW, Leesburg, VA 20175

Makersmiths Purcellville: 785 S. 20th St, Purcellville, VA 20132