Butch Davis provided the program for Turners SIG February meeting.  Butch explained the advantages of creating you own custom tool handles.  Most of the tools come with handle that are too small grip well as you grow older.  With the insert that Butch purchased from Mark Sillay, you can adjust the length of your tool to meet the current situation.  Butch demonstrated how to drill the handle blank to accept the insert and the tool shaft.

Butch donated two tool handles for our special drawing.  Thanks Butch.

Butch referenced three documents on the web and two AAW American Woodturner articles that provide more information on tools handles.

http://www.bayouwoodturner.org/uploads/2/7/0/8/2708946/turning_tool_handles.pdf

http://woodturninglearn.net/articles/forgottenhandle.htm

http://www.woodturningonline.com/assets/Projects/screwdriver_handle_turning_artic le.pdf

Feb 2012, Vol 27, No. 1 "Tool Handles" by Bill Neddow Apr 2011, Vol 26, No. 2 "Fancy Ferrules from Everyday Objects" by Tim Heil

We all know that Butch's real passion in Segmented Turnings, but he is now getting interested in laminated turnings.  Butch finished off the evening with a slide show of some laminated items and explained easily they are made.  For further information see AAW American Woodturner article:

Summer 2008, Vol 23, No. 2 "The New Masters"

Thank you Butch for all of the material and tips.

These American Woodturner articles are available online to AAW members.

Jimmy Rocker provided the contents of the Come-Back box, of which I was the winner.  It is a nice Box Elder platter, which Jean quickly moved one of my pieces aside to make room for it.  Thanks Jimmy

Jack Morse started our 2012 Turning SIG year with a hollow form demonstration.  The piece was made from Ambrosia Maple with a bark upper surface.  Jack started with a blank between centers and the bark surface (top) at the head stock.  He trued the blank and then removed most of the waste to get the basic rough exterior shape.  A tenon was formed on the bottom and reverse mounted in a scroll chuck with tail stock support.  The form was trued and the upper portion of the form was turned to the desired final shape.  Starting with the hollowing, Jack drilled a hole just larger enough to allow the hollowing bar to be inserted.  Jack wanted the keep the hole as small as possible and less apparent in the finished piece.  The hole was drilled to the desired depth of the hollowing.   Jack used the Carted Products Hollow Roller Vessel Turning System and Laser Guide to perform the hollowing.  The 1.5 hours for the demonstration was not sufficient to complete the hollowing, but Jack had several completed pieces in the Show-an-Tell so that we could see how it will look when finished. 

Jack donated one of the Show-an-Tell items for our surprise drawing.  He also presented the camera operator with a small turned bowl as a thank you for his services.  Thanks Jack.

Dan