In December we have scheduled Robert Sorby turning demonstrations with a number of turning clubs in Scotland - Elgin, Broxburn, Galloway and Borders. These offer club members a great chance to see and discuss many of the specialist Robert Sorby turning tools with an expert user. Any clubs who have not had a visit from a Robert Sorby person in the last few years and who is interested in hosting a demonstration - for which we make no charge - is welcome to contact us.

Turners Retreat is on the move. During October it will move to a new location just a few hundred yards from its current premises. Please contact them for your copy of their 2009 mail order catalogue containing a host of new products. Also on the move is Classic Hand Tools who are taking over new premises in Ipswich. Both companies will retain existing phone numbers. The latter will shortly have the first, long awaited rasps out of the new Auriou company in France.

As an optional extra Robert Sorby have now made a narrower tool rest available for the ProEdge Sharpening System. This will allow sharpening of micro or heavily worn tools.

Colin was one of life's great enthusiasts. His family was his number one priority but very close behind that was his passion for cricket. No conversation with Colin ever lasted more than a couple of minutes before the subject of cricket cropped up. Colin did more than support cricket he willingly gave up his time to serve on the management committee of Lancashire County Cricket Club where he was the longest serving committee member.

Colin had many friends amongst the woodworking trade. He was known as a man of the highest integrity with a unique sense of humour whom everyone recognised as a true gentleman.

September sees the beginning of a series of in-house woodworking shows across Europe and North America. These will involve Robert Sorby demonstrators being seen in Germany, Belgium, Austria and Ireland. In October we will also be visiting 20 cities across the USA.

In the UK the most prominent of these shows will be held at the National Agricultural Centre in Stoneleigh (close to Coventry and Warwick) October 10-12. A list of exhibitors and demonstrators is to be found on www.skpromotions.co.uk

The Irish Guild of Woodturners is celebrating is 25th national symposium at Enniscrone, Co Sligo October 3-5. This is always a 'not to be missed' event. Details can be found here. Lead demonstrators include Ray Key and David Springett.

In the USA special fall in-house events have been organised in Seattle, Nashville, Knoxville, and Milwaukee. And Klingspor are again holding their annual Extravaganza in Hickory, NC in late October - http://klingsporextra.blogspot.com/2008_09_14_archive.html

Looking further ahead the AWGB has announced details of the line-up for its 2009 Symposium. Mike Mahoney and Al Stirt from the USA are amongst the key demonstrators.

Robert Sorby are one of the sponsors of the 2008 Student Woodworking competition aimed at introducing school pupils to high-end woodworking. Details of the competition and how to enter can be found on www.fitchetts.co.uk/woodworking-competition2008

Following the demise of MIK International in Adelaide, Australia Robert Sorby tools are now available from Old Adelaide Restoration which, like MIK, is on Magill Street in Adelaide.

Details will shortly be posted on Robert Sorby demonstration tours across the USA in October 2008.

Ray Walker was for a time production manager at Robert Sorby during a period of change. A born and bred Sheffielder Ray had spent a life-time in tool manufacture, primarily with Steadfast, a producer of high-end and specialist screwdrivers, when he transferred to Robert Sorby to whom he brought a wealth of knowledge and experience.

Having spent much of his life in the newspaper print industry, Jim Stuckey derived a lot of satisfaction from being at the lathe during his retirement years. He produced unique turned pieces which he sold through craft fairs and local galleries in Oklahoma. One of his pieces was to be found at the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. For a while Jim also worked with Farris Machinery demonstrating Robert Sorby tools at the Woodworking Shows.

Another Oklahoma resident who worked with Farris Machinery was Joe Millsap. Formerly a police officer Joe was a driving force behind the Central Oklahoma Woodturners Association of which he was for a time president. Many an aspiring woodturner has been infected over the years by Joe's enthusiasm for turning and his willingness to pass on his vast experience.

Despite it being the summer season there is still plenty of activity in the woodworking world and Robert Sorby will be represented at a number of events. The first of these is the Working with Wood Show at the Horden Pavillion in Sydney, Australia June 13-15. There is always a fascinating array of woodworking skills ranging from traditional country woodworking to high-end cabinet-making, turning and carving. Work by internationally acclaimed woodworkers is showcased and there are free demonstrations from well known woodworkers.

The largest gathering of woodturners in the world takes place at the Convention Center in Richmond, VA when the American Association of Woodturners holds its annual symposium June 20 - 22. There will be demonstrations of both the Robert Sorby ProEdge sharpening system and many other specialist tools like the spiralling system and hollowing tools. Full details of the event including rotations, gallery and trade show are available on http://www.woodturner.org/sym/sym2008/

Arrangements are already in hand for the 2009 AAW symposium which is scheduled to be held in Albuquerque, NM June 26-28.

There will also be ongoing Robert Sorby turning demonstration on board MS Gann which is the host ship for the famous Norwegian woodturning cruise. More information on this unique event for woodworkers can be found on www.woodturningcruise.com

This is a unique opportunity to view an amazing selection of turned work both antique and modern. For anyone interested in the art or craft this is a 'must-see'. The exhibition is held at the historic Carpenters' Hall in London from June 4 to June 6. The hall itself is located within five minutes walk of three underground stations. Whilst admission is free tickets should be obtained in advance.

Further information is available on www.wizardryinwood.com

May and June see continued activity from the Robert Sorby team. In May we will attend Woodfest Wales at St Asaph in north Wales - a wonderful day out for the family - and then we will be demonstrating our product line at the Utah Symposium. That is followed by the Sydney Woodworking Show in Australia and then the AAW symposium in Richmond, VA.

Also during the summer months there will be a series of Robert Sorby free tool sharpening demonstrations across the UK. These will focus on how to obtain a keen edge on your tools quickly, safely and consistently.

The MIK International store in Adelaide, Australia has closed down but the concept will be resurrected in a new guise still on Magill Street in the near future. The other MIK businesses - in Mildura, Sydney, Coffs Harbour and Townsville - will continue to operate in their own right. See the Australian dealers list for changes.

Details of those exhibiting at the new Midlands Woodworking Show in the UK in October can be found on www.skpromotions.co.uk

For an independent review of the ProEdge Sharpening System please visit http://lumberjocks.com/reviews/290
The ProEdge is available in the USA from Klingspor's Woodworking Shop in Hickory. There will also be an ongoing demonstration of the ProEdge on the Klingspor booth at the forthcoming AAW Symposium in Richmond, VA.

The organisers of the Midlands Woodworking Show in Leamington Spa (April 18-20 2008) are promising the best show yet with a host of woodworking demonstrators. However, the free admission remains probably the greatest attraction with many first-class trade stands displaying their wares.

Robert Sorby will also be represented at the wood fairs taking place in St Asaph and at Westonbirt Arboretum this summer. These events are a great chance for the whole family to enjoy the fun of working with wood.

The show offers a number of trade stands from the more prominent manufacturers as well as twelve experienced demonstrators covering various woodworking disciplines - carving, turning, pyrography, project finishing.

There are also displays of work from individuals and various woodworking clubs in the area. In addition there will be master classes held in the lecture theatre. So there is ample opportunity for visitors to pick up tips and learn from the experts.

Further information can be found on www.meridienneexhibitions.co.uk/html/woodex.html

Dates and venues have been finalised for one of our popular demonstration tours of Ireland. These events are always well supported as they are a great opportunity for woodworkers to meet and learn….as well as pick up a bargain. Further information is available on www.robert-sorby.co.uk/demonstrations.

Robert Sorby woodturning demonstrations are also being held in the near future at Neureiter Holzbearbeitungsmaschinen at Soeding bei Graz in Austria (March 29-30) and Plektra Trading in Helsinki, Finland (April 4-5).

The International Woodworking Exhibition at Alexandra Palace, London has now been and gone. The highlight for many turners was the appearance of master turners John Jordan and Bill Jones who both thrilled their audiences with their command at the lathe.

Details of the latest Robert Sorby demonstration tour of the USA are to be found on www.robert-sorby.co.uk/demonstrations. The demonstrator will come direct from the Robert Sorby factory and will show how to use many of those specialist Robert Sorby turning tools - whether hollowing, spiralling, texturing and even basic off-center work.

For many years 'Traditional Woodworking' was a source of help and information for many woodworkers throughout the UK. This magazine has now been given a face-lift and has been re-launched as 'British Woodworking'. See www.britishwoodworking.com

Shelter Institute in Vermont has long been established as timber framers and educators in the design and build of timber framed homes. Their web site - www.shelterinstitute.com - detail their 2008 class schedule based at their facility in Woolwich, ME. On the site there is also a brief video presentation of their students might expect. Useful links for timber framers are Timber Framers Guild of North America - www.tfguild.org - and The Carpenters Fellowship - www.carpentersfellowship.co.uk The latter will be holding their annual get-together - Frame 2008 - at the historically important Cressing Temple in Essex in September.

This year the annual Utah Symposium for turners has been brought forward to May 22-24 to avoid a clash with the AAW annual symposium. This will be the 28th anniversary of this stimulating event. Details are available from www.utahwoodturning.com

The following link - http://forums.ukworkshop.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=20615 - relates to a very interesting discussion on the new Robert Sorby Patriot chuck. It is encouraging that so many users are of the same mind as ourselves that it is counter-productive to sacrifice your manufacturing base for short term profit gain.

The new Robert Sorby ProEdge Sharpening System is now available in the USA from Klingspor's Woodworking Show in Hickory, NC - www.woodworkingshop.com

Turners Retreat is to host a couple of master classes and a couple of two-day classes from American master turner, John Jordan in February 2008. Advance booking is required on www.turners-retreat.co.uk.
John Jordan will also be one of the featured artists at the International Woodworking Exhibition to be held February 8-10 at London's Alexandra Palace. Tickets for this show are available on-line -https://www.ticketline.co.uk/onsale/order/step1.php?id=13220843

Unfortunately there will be no Scottish Woodworking Show in 2008. However, Burhouse 2.0 are planning a woodworking week-end over the Easter holiday period.

American master turner John Jordan will be one of the attractions at the International Woodworking Show at Alexandra Palace, London in February 2008. He will also e giving a series of masterclasses and classes at Turners Retreat - final details will shortly be posted on www.turners-retreat.co.uk

Turners Retreat's Christmas Open Days are scheduled for December 7 & 8. This year the featured demonstrators are Bill Care, David Springett and Margaret Garrard along with a host of trade stands.

The Robert Sorby ProEdge Sharpening System is now available in the USA from Klingspor's Woodworking Shop in Hickory, NC. Further information is available by calling 800-228-0000 x 218.

Details of the new Patriot lathe chuck from Robert Sorby are to be found on the Latest products page of www.robert-sorby.co.uk

With no Midlands show this autumn in the UK the major focus of attention for British woodworkers in the near future is the annual North of England show to be held in Harrogate November 23-25. See www.skpromotions.co.uk for details. This is now generally regarded as the premier woodworking show in the country and is supported by the public and manufacturers alike.

The organisers of this show are in the preliminary stages of putting together an event at Stoneleigh in the West Midlands next October. Given the continued success of the Harrogate show this initiative is likely to have the full support of the woodworking trade.

The Alexandra Palace, London woodworking show is now scheduled for February 8-10 2008.

We will shortly be posting details of a Robert Sorby woodworking tour of Ireland. This is always a popular event and very much worth attending. We will also be in attendance at the forthcoming Burhouse 2.0 show - in Dunkeld, near Perth November 30 and December 1 and at Turners Retreat - December 7-8 2007.

Robert Sorby tools are now available in Italy through www.la-truciolara.eu

Anyone unsure about whether to attend any of these events should heed the words of Hank Merkle who met one of the Robert Sorby demonstrators at Mann Tool in Columbia, SC.

"I was at the Mann Tool open house / tool sale (www.manntools.com) yesterday and Nigel Maddocks was there representing Robert Sorby.
There is only one way to describe him - AWESOME!
I specifically wanted to understand the texturing and spiraling tools.
Not only did he take the time to go through each of them with me he spent time showing both the do's and the don'ts. (Why the speed matters, tool angle and how to set-up the different cutters into the holder.)
I was thrilled once again, as I am every time with a product or personal dealing with someone from Robert Sorby!
Thank you for supporting woodturning and your customers in this way. I think the knowledge of the craft and the support of people trying to learn the mechanics of it it what sets Robert Sorby apart in a class of their own. "

Turners Retreat are holding their Christmas show on December 7-8. This is always a popular event. The headline turning demonstrators this year are:

Bill Care from Suffolk
This is Bill's first visit to Turners Retreat. He is a long established and well respected woodturning demonstrator and teacher. In the recent past he has contributed a number of articles on woodturning and edited the AWGB's journal 'Revolutions'.
Dave Springett from Warwickshire
Dave is world renowned for his book 'Woodturning Wizardry', which is a compendium of intricate designs that appear at first sight to be impossible to make on a lathe.
Margaret Garrard
A favourite visitor to Turners Retreat, Margaret brings her own brand of wit and skill.
Colin Hickman
Colin ill once more introduce the skills and tools needed to produce his fine walking sticks.

As ever there will be a host of trade stands with the latest tools and equipment for sale.
This is a free vent and is one not to miss.

The latest mail order catalogue from Turners Retreat can be ordered on www.turners-retreat.co.uk

We have been advised that the Scottish Woodworking Show which has traditionally been held in Glasgow each March will not take place in 2008. This news will come as a blow to the Scottish woodworking community for whom the show is a focal point of the year.

Robert Sorby are now making available a free of charge CD on the ProEdge Sharpening System, The CD shows how this unit will make sharpening not only quicker and easier, but also more accurate and repeatable. A copy can be ordered from sales@robert-sorby.co.uk

A number of Robert Sorby woodturning demonstrations will be held throughout North America during October. Please visit the Demos section of this site for further information on venues and dates.

It is equally important that today's woodworker is also vigilant about the source of his tools and equipment especially as more and more manufacturers prostitute their brand names by sourcing from overseas.

Two examples are worthy of note. In one case an importer ordered a range of HSS turning tools. However, when these were received it was found that the tools were in fact made of inferior and cheaper carbon steel. Another importer found that the turning tools he had purchased from China had been hardened the wrong way round. In other words, the cutting edges were soft and the tangs which fitted into the handles were hardened. Not only were these tools absolutely useless they were potential lethal. Tools are traditionally softer at the tang so that if there is a catch or dig in the tool actually bents rather than snaps. A tool that snaps can easily damage someone's eyesight for life.

So our recommendation is always to check the country of origin before purchase as there are still some reputable brands making tools in their original factories. These may be a little more expensive, but they give peace of mind, they give the appropriate after-sales service - in fact, you can actually talk to the manufacturer at the end of a phone or at one of the many woodworking shows - and they put their name to high quality standards.

Demonstrators include:

John Berkeley - master of thread cutting, wooden puzzles and chess pieces, author of 'All Screwed Up', an authoritative book on producing threads in wood.
Abigail Woodward - specialist in turning thin walled vessels and working in green wood, part of a family tradition in woodturning
Chris Barker - the leading young turner in the country showing skills and techniques beyond his years
Chris Pouncy - focusing on spiralling, texturing, hollowing and off-centre work on the lathe
Clive Brooks - tool sharpening

There will be more woodworking trade stands this time round representing a broad cross-section of woodworking. This makes the show attractive to the cabinet maker, the carver, the turner and the general woodworker. Those who have confirmed their attendance are:

Robert Sorby tools - Microclene air filters - Chestnut polishes - Charnwood machinery - Trend routers - Kreg woodworkers jig system - Ashley Iles carving - Clifton planes - Camvac dust extraction - Leigh dovetail jig - General polishes and finishes - GMC books and magazines.

There's something for everyone whether novice or experienced woodworker. It is also a great meeting place to meet fellow woodworkers.

Special unrepeatable offers will be available on the day.

Free parking - free admission - free refreshments - free help & advice

From 10am to 4pm each day.

Hellard then sold these products on Ebay, the online auction house. It is only through the eagle eye of one Robert Sorby employee and the persistence of the Robert Sorby management that Hellard was traced and eventually brought to court. Hellard now awaits sentencing by the Crown Court.

Robert Sorby have the right to have those tools sold by Hellard returned to them. However, given the fact that they were bought in all innocence no further action is being taken.

The National Arboretum - Westonbirt, Tetbury, Gloucestershire

EXHIBITREE WEEKEND
24 -27th August 2007
Now the UK's Premier Hand Tools Event
Tools from Lie-Nielsen, Veritas, Clifton, Konrad Sauer, Robert Sorby Woodturning, Tormek, Magma Lathes, Gransfors Bruks, Auriou, Kirjes, Moviluty, Flexcut, Brusso, Adria, Blue Spruce, Norton, General Finishes, & much more...

Demonstrations by Rob Cosman, Chris Pye, John Lloyd, Konrad Sauer, Michel Auriou, Chris Pouncy, Mark Hancock, Jacques Colange, Peter Berry, Richard Reimers, Martin Kellermaier, James Mursell, Martin Brown, Peter Boman, Mick Hudson

This year the gallery of Japanese pieces seemed to be on everyone's itinerary. However, all the rotations seemed to be well attended and well received.

Attendance looked to be greater than had originally been expected. The world map in the lobby showed the wide international exposure of the symposium with visitors from each continent. The busy trade show attracted all the leading manufacturers of woodturning tools and equipment - Robert Sorby and Henry Taylor from the UK, Oneway from Canada and Vicmarc from Australia. The new Robert Sorby ProEdge Sharpening System was given its first public airing in the USA at the trade show.

As ever the Instant Gallery was a wonder to behold. Every year it has to be by far the greatest collection of the woodturner's craft in the world.

Next year the event is to be held in June in Richmond, VA. Anyone with an interest in woodturning should make a special effort to attend - you will not regret it. And the 2009 symposium breaks new ground as it is scheduled to be held in Albuquerque, NM.

As everyone knows, a blunt tool is not only frustrating and uncomfortable to use, it is also potentially unsafe. During the sessions we will show how to return your tools to the same keen edge as when they left the factory gates.

For details of your nearest venue, visit www.robert-sorby.co.uk/demonstrations

The long established British magazine, Traditional Woodworking, has changed hands and is due to be re-launched shortly as British Woodworking. The editor is Nick Gibbs who was previously with 'The Woodworker' and also was responsible for the introduction of 'Good Woodworking'.

There will be a special Robert Sorby tool presentation at the Woodcraft store in Loveland, CO on Wednesday June 27. The main emphasis will be on the specialist Robert Sorby tools including spiralling, texturing and hollowing. Other demonstration in the fall are being posted on this site.

The summer 2007 supplement to the Turners Retreat mail order catalogue is available for download on www.turners-retreat.co.uk

The National Arboretum at Westonbirt in Gloucestershire is always a pleasure to visit. At the end of August it will host Exhibitree, a show designed for a wide spectrum of woodworkers. Professional and amateur woodworkers will be on hand to demonstrate and explain their skills.

There will be no similar show in 2007. Instead the organisers are putting together a new woodworking show - ProWoodex 07 - to be held at Earls Court in London October 12-14 2007.

Unlike most woodworking shows, ProWoodex will be aimed primarily at the professional woodworker - the joiner, cabinet maker, joinery business - with greater emphasis on woodworking machinery. Further details will be posted when available.

Robert Sorby will be hosting a series of free tool sharpening classes throughout the UK during the summer months. Dates and venues have yet to be finalised.

The Robert Sorby video 'Focus on Starting Out Woodturning' is now available in multi regional DVD format (ref. VDRS05).

Those owning the Robert Sorby Deluxe Universal Sharpening System (ref. 447 or 446) can now up-grade their unit with the addition of extra jigs. An adjustable table (ref. 447JAT) can now be screwed into the platform. The table comes complete with a slot into which can be fitted any of three small jigs for holding those difficult tools in a consistent position. The three jigs in question are a turner's skew jig (ref. PESKEW), a turner's gouge jig (ref. PEVB) and a bench chisel or turner's scraper jig (ref. PESQ).

Look out for a demonstration of the new Robert Sorby ProEdge Sharpening System in the trade show at the AAW in Portland, Oregon.