The organiser has confirmed that there is unlikely to be a woodworking show in
Glasgow in 2011. This makes the inaugural Scottish Woodcraft show in Edinburgh
on September 24 and 25 even more significant. The show will include a number of
different woodworking demonstrations as well as trade stands from some of the
best known names in woodworking. At the same time there will be a quilting show
in the adjacent hall. Tickets can be purchased from www.nelton.co.uk.
Details of the annual Festival of the Tree to be held at Westonbirt Arboretum,
Gloucestershire at the end of August can be found on www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/infd-6xclux.
This includes demonstrations of numerous woodworking disciplines.
Forthcoming woodworking events which we will be attending include:
September 14 - 15 Baptist, Arnhem www.baptist.nl
September 17-18 Willy Vanhoutte, Beernem www.willyvanhoutte.be
October 1-2 Maderas, Klinkrade www.maderas.de
We are close to compiling an itinerary for a demonstration tour of the USA in
October.
A number of Robert Sorby tools can be seen in action on youtube.
Further details are emerging of the inaugural Scottish Woodcraft show which is
scheduled to be held September 24 and 25 at the Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston,
adjacent to Edinburgh airport. One of the main attractions will be a first-ever
demonstration in Scotland by internationally acclaimed woodturner Stuart Mortimer,
who was born in Aberdeenshire. Mortimer is acknowledged worldwide for his lucid
presentations and the quality of his work which is in great demand by collectors
worldwide.
With a wealth of other woodcraft demonstrations planned, this event looks to be
one not to be missed by woodworkers across Scotland and northern England. Scotland
has not hosted a woodworking shop for eighteen months and there has been no confirmation
of a show in Glasgow in 2011. The Royal Highland Centre is easily accessed by
central Scotland's motorway network and on site parking is free of charge.
On the other hand, organisers of the Alexandra Palace woodworking show in March
2011 have advised that this will now be reduced to just two days. This is a sad
turn of events for a flagship woodworking exhibition which not so long ago used
occupied four days. They have also announced that the lead demonstrators will
again be Rob Cosman and Richard Raffan, the same as this year. There is a grave
danger that the organisers will fall into the comfortable routine as their predecessors
by resorting to the same familiar faces as demonstrators. Alternative lead demonstrators
would have added value to the show.
The recent AAW symposium in Hartford, CT produced the usual outstanding display
of work in the instant gallery. A slide show of pieces can be accessed on http://www.aawforum.org/vbforum/showthread.php?t=7359.
At the accompanying trade show there was evidence of a dealer from Kentucky selling
lookalike Robert Sorby micro turning tools. These tools are not made by Robert
Sorby. It is suspected that these are simply copies produced in the Far East.
This is just the latest in a line of Robert Sorby copies being marketed by unscrupulous
dealers and manufacturers. As they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!.
The next AAW symposium will be held in St Paul, MN, where the AAW currently has
its headquarters. It is scheduled to run June 24-26 2011 and will mark the 25th
anniversary of the first symposium held in Lexington, KY in 1987.
During the summer months we will be holding free turning demonstrations in stores
across the UK. We are also in the throes of compiling a demonstration tour of
the USA in October. Details will be posted when available.
We have to record the death of Geoff Ward. Whilst never directly involved in Robert
Sorby his teachings have guided many of the policies and direction undertaken
by Robert Sorby in the last twenty years. He was a tireless ambassador for Sheffield
toolmakers in far flung corners of the world and as a result was decorated for
his efforts by the Queen.
Details are emerging of a new event for woodworkers in Scotland. The Scottish
Woodcraft show is scheduled to be held at the Royal Highland Showground, Ingliston,
near Edinburgh on September 24 and 25 2010. The venue is easily accessible from
the Scottish motorway network and offers free parking to all visitors.
The organisers are hoping to attract a mixture of trade stands from all the big
woodworking names and demonstrations from a variety of masters of their craft.
Scotland has been without its own dedicated woodworking show for a while and the
hope is that this event will attract visitors from across Scotland and the north
of England.
There will be Robert Sorby turning demonstrations on two booths at the forthcoming
AAW turning symposium in Hartford, CT. Whilst these demonstrations will involve
a cross section of Robert Sorby tools there will be especial emphasis on micro
turning tools, the off-center wobble chuck and the ProEdge sharpening system.
The latest issue of 'Good Woodworking' includes an independent report on our Sovereign
System.
We have arranged a number of special events in stores across the UK during the
summer months. We will also be attending the following major events in the coming
months:
June 18-20 AAW Symposium, Hartford, CT
August 27-30 Festival of the Tree, Westonbirt Arboretum
September 17-18 Willy Vanhoutte, Beernem, Belgium
September 24-25 Scottish Woodcraft Show, Edinburgh
October 1-2 Maderas Drechsel Technik, Klinkrade, Germany
October 2-3 European Woodworking Show, Cressing Temple, Essex
We are currently in the throes of putting an itinerary for a further turning
demonstration tour of the USA in October.
For those in the USA there is another chance to catch a Robert Sorby woodturning
demonstration in certain cities in the next couple of weeks. First of all we will
be attending the annual Utah Woodturning
Symposium in early May. From there we head to the Woodcraft store in Boise,
ID. The trip then takes us eastwards calling in at a number of Rockler stores
culminating with the store in South Portland, ME. Full details of locations and
times can be found on www.robert-sorby.co.uk/demonstrations
This will be followed in June by turning demonstrations at the American Association
of Woodturners (AAW) annual symposium in Hartford, CT. For anyone who has not
attended one of these symposia they are strongly recommended to take one in. Next
year's symposium will again be held in the Twin Cities.
We are currently in the throes of organising a series of in-store demonstrations
across the UK during the summer months. Full details will be posted when available.
However our UK demonstration schedule on this site has been up-dated to take us
into the autumn season.
Our thanks are extended to all those who supported our recent events at Baptist
in Arnhem, Netherlands and Willy Vanhoutte in Beernem, Belgium. Both stores will
host further Robert Sorby events in September 2010. Clips of the Baptist event
can be viewed on www.youtube.com/baptistarnhem
Following the success of last year's venture, the organisers of the European Woodworking
Show have confirmed October 2 and 3 as the dates for 2010. The venue will again
be Cressing Temple Barns near Braintree, Essex. You can follow the developments
on www.europeanwoodworkingshow.eu
Anyone visiting Sheffield this summer who has an interest in the industrial heritage
of the city, especially the manufacture of steel and tools, is encouraged to visit
Kelham Island Industrial Museum which is located in one of the oldest industrial
quarters of the city. The museum itself houses a number of collections of international
importance. From time to time there are also special focus events. Details of
the museum and other industrial sites around Sheffield can be found on www.simt.co.uk
Work is gathering apace on the organisation of the 24th Annual Symposium of the
American Association of Woodturners (AAW). This year's event is scheduled to be
held in Hartford, CT - one of the most cultural cities in the USA - June 18-20.
Visitors can expect to be treated to a huge variety of woodturning disciplines
with numerous rotations running throughout each day. The adjacent trade show exceeds
any other display of woodturning tools, equipments and general supplies anywhere
in the USA.
A preview of the latest issue of American Woodturner , the journal of the AAW,
can be viewed on www.woodturner.org/products/aw/
It is full of inspirational ideas for the aspiring woodturner.
Subscribers to Australian Woodworker magazine will shortly be able to win Robert
Sorby tools. Details will be posted later.
Since the closure of our erstwhile New Zealand dealer, woodworkers in that country
can access Robert Sorby tools online through our Australian
dealers - The Woodsmith, Carroll's Woodcraft, or Macwood.
Our US demonstration schedule has been up-dated to include the latest series of
events being held during May. These are a great opportunity to meet a Robert Sorby
employee and see Robert Sorby tools in use. The focus on this tour will be on
the new micro turning tool series and the Sovereign System. However, there will
also be an opportunity to see some tried and trusted favourites like the spiralling
system and hollowing tools in action.
We will also be in attendance at the Utah Woodturning Symposium (June 6-8). There
will be a chance to see the Robert Sorby ProEdge sharpening system put through
its paces. This will be available during the symposium from the people at Craft
Supplies.
We are in the throes of planning a number of woodturning demonstrations in Canada
in October this year. Details of venues and dates will be posted when finalised.
There was a good attendance at the recent Get Woodworking Live show at Alexandra
Palace, London. Visitors were in agreement that the show was a great improvement
on previous years. The demonstration areas were especially busy when Rob Cosman
and Richard Raffan were performing. The organisers have already confirmed that
there will be another show at Alexandra Palace in March 2011. Hopefully they will
be able to put on an equally attractive array of woodworking demonstrators.
In 2008 Kangaroo Works which was the home of Robert Sorby for much of the latter
half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century was demolished.
Sadly the iconic archway to the works was removed and lost. Thankfully it was
traced to a reclamation site in Barnsley where its historical value was unknown.
Now the archway has been lovingly restored and is in pride of place as part of
the Hawley Collection at Kelham Island Industrial Museum in Sheffield. The Hawley
Collection, which opened to the public very recently, is an internationally important
assembly of Sheffield tools, tool catalogues and other ephemera put together by
one-time tool dealer Ken Hawley. The collection traces the history of toolmaking
in the city up to the present day. Details can be found on www.simt.co.uk
Forthcoming exhibitions include sliversmithing, micrometers and skate blades.
Robert Sorby will have a major presence at this coming week-end's woodworking
show - Get Woodworking Live - at historical Alexandra Palace in London. Alexandra
Palace was where the BBC first started broadcasting. Those proposing to attend
appreciate the fact that the organisers have arranged a first class selection
of demonstrators - including three from overseas and one from the Channel Islands
- across a number of woodworking disciplines.
This is a rare opportunity to see all these names under one roof. Because of
this the organisers have made each admission ticket valid for all three days
of the show. So if you miss something you can always come back the following
back without having to pay a second admission charge. The show represents outstanding
value for money.
If the show is deemed a success the organisers will be encouraged to replicate
this style of show - maybe in different locations, maybe at different times.
There is something for everyone. This year's show places more emphasis on hand
skills and hand tools than has been the case in the past. Classic Hand Tools
will have a full array of tools for the cabinet and furniture-maker. Rob Cosman
will be demonstrating hand cut dovetails in the masterclass area. Mike Hudson
from Clifton will be explaining the use and care of the hand plane on the Turners
Retreat stand.
Full details of the show can be found on www.getwoodworkinglive.com
We will shortly be posting details of our next series of woodturning demonstrations
in the USA. This time we will be focusing on the eastern states.
Next week we will be in Scotland visiting MacGregors in Inverness and Elgin
and Burhouse in Dunkeld. We will also be attending the Gordon Woodworkers and
Grampian Woodturners.
Get Woodworking Live is now less
than three weeks away. The organisers of the Alexandra Palace show promise something
for every active woodworker whether cabinet-maker, turner, carver, furniture maker
or timber framer. There are also special interest stands on rocking horse and
Windsor chair making.
For those seeking information and advice there is a high quality array of international
demonstrators running masterclasses throughout the show. Leading the way is Australian
master turner Richard Raffan who is making a rare appearance in the UK. He has
been one of the world's most influential woodturners of the last 20 years and
his books have inspired many an enthusiastic turner. He is complemented by Rob
Cosman from North America. He is an acknowledged virtuoso with the hand plane
and dovetail saw. There will be further masterclasses by other professionals in
different woodworking disciplines.
The trade stands include the biggest names in the woodworking industry exhibiting
the latest in tools and machinery. Visitors will have the benefit of knowing that
their admission tickets will entitle them to entry to the exhibition on all three
days. Tickets may be purchased in advance online at the show's web site.
Robert Sorby is one of the sponsors of the turning competition being held in conjunction
with the show.
Our thanks go to those who have supported out demonstration tours in the USA
and Ireland during February. Hopefully everyone will have learnt something.
For those who missed these events further tours are planned for the USA and
Canada later this year. We will also be in attendance at the Utah Woodturning
Symposium and the AAW Symposium during the summer months.
April sees us holding two two-day events in Europe. On April 19 and 20 we will
be at Baptist in Arnhem, Netherlands - www.baptist.nl - and then on April 21
and 22 we will be visiting Willy Vanhoutte
in Beernem, Belgium. Both events will involve product demonstrations and question
and answer sessions.
Our Patriot lathe chuck is available is Australia from The
Woodsmith in Victoria. The Woodsmith carries an extensive range of Robert
Sorby tools as well as wood blanks and finishes.
Following the closure of the Woodturning Shop there has been no Robert Sorby dealer
in New Zealand. Robert Sorby tools can be bought online from the following sites
in Australia:
The Woodsmith www.thewoodsmith.com.au
Carroll's Woodcraft Supplies www.cws.com.au
Macwood www.macwood.com.au
Benchworks www.benchworks.com.au
Jet Shops in Townsville and Mildura also carry Robert Sorby tools.
Alternatively goods can be shipped from the UK by our sister company www.turners-retreat.co.uk
You can keep abreast of all the latest developments at Get Woodworking Live
on www.getwoodworkinglive.co.uk. This include a list of exhibitors, demonstrator profiles, special attractions,
clubs and societies attending, and online ticket buying.
The genealogy of the Sorby family linking the founder of Robert Sorby to the
very first Master Cutler in Sheffield in 1624 has been posted at the bottom of the company
history section of 'About Us' on this site. We are more grateful to Lynn
D Baker from Cotter, AR - a genealogist and woodworker - for compiling the fine
detail in this family tree. It would appear that the Sorby family directly descended
from Robert Sorby died out around one hundred years ago.
We are also grateful to those who have supported the latest Robert Sorby demonstration
tour of the USA. Our next scheduled appearance in the USA will be in May at
the Utah Woodturning Symposium - www.utahwoodturning.com
In March there will be a re-opening of the Hawley Collection of old tools and
tool ephemera - www.shef.ac.uk/hawley
- at its new home at Kelham
Island Museum in Sheffield.
This is an extremely important collection of artefacts relating to the growth
of industry in Sheffield. This will also be the home of the Kangaroo stone logo
which once graced the archway to the Kangaroo Works, the location of Robert
Sorby until 1934.
The Carpenters Fellowship of the UK which exists to promote and encourage timber
framing has scheduled its annual get-together - Frame 2010 - for September 3-5
2010 at historic Cressing Temple Barns in Essex. That was the location for the
inaugural European Woodworking Show in 2009. Details of Frame 2010 and other events
organised by the Fellowship can be found on www.carpentersfellowship.co.uk
The next demonstration tour of the USA is drawing ever closer. The first event
will be held in Pleasant Hill, CA on January 29 and the final one in Houston,
TX on February 25. Full details of locations can be found on www.robert-sorby.co.uk/demonstrations
One of the high points is sure to be the Tool Show at Hartville Hardware in Hartville,
OH. This event regularly attracts thousands of visitors in the hunt for information
and bargains. The next show will be held February 19 and 20 and will be the first
one attended by a Robert Sorby turning demonstrator.
The organisers of Get Woodworking Live - www.getwoodworkinglive.com - are offering
clubs and groups an added incentive with the offer of one ticket free for every
ten tickets booked. Tickets are valid for all three days of the show. Alexandra
Palace is easily accessible from London's North Circular Road. For those travelling
by train a free shuttle bus will run from the local to the show from the local
train station.
You can keep up to date with us on www.twitter.com/robertsorby
It is great sadness that we have learned of the sudden death over the Christmas
holiday of Jim Byrne of the Dublin Chapter of the Irish Woodturners Guild. Jim
- or 'Dublin Jim' as he was known to his friends at Robert Sorby - was a very
familiar face at most of the major woodworking shows in the UK. An independent
traveller, Jim made his own way from Dublin and was always to be found at Alexandra
Palace, Harrogate, Stoneleigh ('the Birmingham show that is now at Coventry' as
he called it) and Yandles. He was even to be found at the short lived woodworking
show in Llandudno. In fact, as was commented in the Irish Guild Journal, it always
seemed as though Jim planned his life around the woodworking shows. Not only was
Jim a generous man, he also had a wry wit. He was a true son of Dublin.
Plans are coming to fruition for the Get Woodworking Live show March 12-14
at Alexandra Palace, London. For the woodturner there is one of the best and
most varied selection of demonstrators including Richard Raffan from Australia,
Alain Mailland from France, Mike Darlow, Mick Hanbury and Andrew Hall. For the
woodworker there is a rare visit from Rob Cosman, one of the world's outstanding
woodworkers, and Philip Edwards, the master of the plane. The £10 full
admission is valid for all three days of the show making this an extremely inexpensive
way of seeing some of the world's foremost woodworkers in action.
You can now follow the latest news on the GetWoodworking Live show at Alexandra
Palace, London in March on www.twitter.com/woodworkingshow. The show itself is scheduled to be something extra special for the woodworker.
The admission ticket entitles the holder to admission to all three days of the
show. That in itself is exceptional value when you see the list of demonstrators
and compare the price with that charged by other similar events. Full details
of exhibitors, demonstrators, attractions and ticket pricing are to be found on
www.getwoodworkinglive.co.uk
This may well be the last appearance of the lead demonstrator, Richard Raffan.
Many turners around the world have been inspired by his books and videos over
the last twenty years. His appearance at Alexandra Palace marks a rare return
for one of the world's most influential woodturners.
There will be no Scottish Woodworking show in 2010. Burhouse 2.0 in Dunkeld,
Perthshire are planning to host an event to fill the gap. More details will
be posted on their web site in due course - www.jeanburhouse.com
We wish to record our thanks to the Scottish woodturning clubs who held a Robert
Sorby demonstration in the last few weeks. As ever the hospitality was exceptional.
The clubs concerned are Taywood, Strathclyde, Broxburn Woodcrafts, Galloway
and Scottish Borders, all of which are thriving.
Dates and venue for the Robert Sorby demonstration tour of the USA in late
January and February 2010 has been posted on the demonstrations
page. The focus this time round is on the western states. These events offer
a wonderful opportunity to speak to someone from the Robert Sorby factory in
Sheffield, England.
The first Robert Sorby demonstration of 2010 will be held at John Davis in
Stockbridge in Hampshire - www.johndaviswoodturning.co.uk
The winner of the Robert Sorby door prize at the recent North of England woodworking
show in Harrogate was Mr R Ainsworth from Harrogate itself. The show was very
well attended on all three days with plenty of activity for visitors to see. The
organiser has already advised that the 2010 event will take place on November
19-21 in the same location.
In the next few days Robert Sorby personnel will be engaged in demonstrating our
tool line in both Scotland and Ireland. Details of venues are shown on the Demonstrations
page of this site. In addition we will all be attending three Scottish woodworking
clubs.
On December 12 we will be one of a number of trade exhibitors at the Christmas
open day at Turners Retreat.
The Robert Sorby ProEdge sharpening system is now carried in stock in France by
Ets. Bordet of Montreuil. Information can be downloaded from www.bordet.fr
Details of a demonstration tour of the western states of the USA in February 2010
should be posted shortly.
Looking forward there are several important events and gatherings for woodturners
scheduled for the first half of 2010.
January 15-17 Florida Woodturners
Symposium, Eustis, FL
January 29-30 Tennessee Woodturners
Symposium, Nashville, TN
March 12-14 Get Woodworking Live,
Alexandra Palace, London
May 6-8 Utah Woodturning Symposium,
Orem, UT
June 18-20 AAW Symposium, Hartford, Conn
The woodworking show in London in March looks likely to be the premier event for
woodturners in Europe. Headline demonstrators include Richard Raffan from Australia,
Alain Mailland from France, Mike Darlow, the author of several books, Mick Hanbury
and Andrew Hall. For woodworkers there is the added benefit of an appearance from
Rob Cosman and Phil Edwards. A special web site - www.getwoodworkinglive.com
- has been established to bring up-dated information on the show and its attractions.
Admission tickets can also be purchased online.
Details of the forthcoming Robert Sorby tour of Ireland have been posted on the
Demonstrations section of this site. Admission
to all events is free of charge. At the same time there is a tour of Scotland
scheduled for early December. Both of these offer the woodworker the opportunity
to see and try some of Robert Sorby's more specialist tools including the new
Sovereign System and the ProEdge sharpener.
The highly popular North of England woodworking show will open its doors in Harrogate
on November 20 for three action packed days. Anyone who has attended this show
in the past will attest to the fact that this is the friendliest of woodworking
shows held in the UK. An up-dated list of trade stands, demonstrations and other
attractions is to be found on www.skpromotions.co.uk.
Robert Sorby is providing one of the exhibitors offering a door prize to visitors.
A new Robert Sorby product catalogue encompassing all the latest additions
will be available shortly.
Images of the 2009 Open Door at Maderas in Germany are to be found on www.maderas.de
Anyone in the USA wishing to enhance their collection of micro turning tools
can obtain additional blades may do so from any one of the following main dealers
: Rockler, Craft Supplies, Woodcraft, Klingspor's Woodworking Shop, Packard
Woodworks and Hartville Tool.
During late November and early December there will be a strong Robert Sorby
presence in Scotland as we will be attending a series of woodworking events
on the following dates:
November 28 Just Wood, Ayr
November 29 Tayside Woodturners
November 30 Strathclyde Wooturners
December 4 & 5 Burhouse 2, Dunkeld
December 7 Broxburn Woodworkers
December 8 Galloway Woodturners
December 9 Scottish Borders Woodturners
It is with great sadness that we have learnt of the sudden death of Heinz Risse
in Germany. Heinz was well known to many turners in central Germany and was a
familiar stalwart of the annual Open Door at Willy Vanhoutte in Belgium. With
his trade mark hat and pipe Heinz was only too willing to dispense advice to an
attentive audience. He also used skills gained as an engineer to develop a series
of tools which bore his name. Heinz will always be remembered as someone who was
only too willing to offer his help to his considerable circle of friends.
Many thanks to all those who have taken the time and trouble to attend our many
woodturning demonstrations across the eastern USA. Hopefully everyone has left
with their knowledge enhanced and spirit enthused.
It is not long now until the North of England Woodworking Show to be held in Harrogate
November 20-22. This is the one show which all visitors enjoy. It has a unique
buzz right from the very beginning. Running at the same time as the woodworking
show is a knitting and stitching show in Harrogate. Before that there will be
a Robert Sorby presence at the Norges Varemesse in Lillestrom, Norway.
Dave Springett, the master of turned puzzles, will be the turning demonstrator
at Turners Retreat on November 14. For details of our demonstrations there during
November and a copy of the new mail order catalogue please visit www.turners-retreat.co.uk
The next series of Robert Sorby turning demonstrations in the USA is drawing
closer. Following is a list of dates and venues where there will be the opportunity
to meet a Robert Sorby representative and see Robert Sorby tools in action:
| October 2009 |
|
|
| 3 |
Mann Tools, Columbia, SC |
Tel: 803-252-7777 |
| 5 |
Woodcraft, Milwaukee, WI (new location) |
Tel: 262-785-6770 |
| 6 |
Woodcraft, Johnson City, TN |
Tel: 423-282-9973 |
| 6 |
Woodcraft, Appleton, WI |
Tel: 920-730-9663 |
| 7 |
Woodcraft, Sterling Heights, MI |
Tel: 586-268-1919 |
| 8 |
Woodcraft, Providence, RI |
Tel: 401-886-1175 |
| 8 |
Woodcraft, Canton, MI |
Tel: 734-981-6808 |
| 10 |
Woodcraft, Portsmouth, NH |
Tel: 603-433-6116 |
| 10-11 |
Woodcraft, Cleveland, OH (new location) |
Tel: 440-232-7979 |
| 12 |
Woodcraft, Columbus, OH |
Tel: 614-273-0488 |
| 13 |
Woodcraft, Parkersburg, WV |
Tel: 304-485-4050 |
| 13 |
Woodcraft, Harrisburg, PA |
Tel: 717-939-6770 |
| 14 |
Woodcraft, Allentown, PA |
Tel: 610-351-2966 |
| 15 |
Woodcraft, Baltimore |
Tel: 410-828-7426 |
| 16-17 |
Woodcraft, Indianapolis, IN |
Tel: 317-578-3400 |
| 16-18 |
SWAT, Wichita Falls, TX |
www.swaturners.org |
| 21 |
Woodcraft, Atlanta, GA |
Tel: 770-587-3372 |
| 23-24 |
Woodcraft, Nashville, TN |
Tel: 615-599-9638 |
| 23-25 |
North Carolina Woodturners Symposium, Greensboro, NC
|
www.northcarolinawoodturning.com
|
| 26 |
Woodcraft, Richmond, VA |
Tel: 804-355-3945 |
| 27 |
Woodcraft, Virginia Beach, VA |
Tel: 757-466-1166 |
| 30-31 |
Klingspor's Extravaganza, Hickory, NC |
www.woodworkingshop.com |
Entry to most of these events is free. It is worth checking with the store
in advance to confirm times.
There is a review of the new Sovereign System from Robert Sorby in the November
issue of 'Woodturning' (issue no. 206). Sovereign is now available in the USA
from Mann Tools, Woodcraft, Craft Supplies, Klingspor, Hartville Tool and PS
Wood.
There is also a brief, informal video presentation on the Sovereign on the
relevant page of this web site.
The recent European Woodworking Show held at Cressing Temple in Essex was very
well received. The location coupled with exceptional weather drew a great crowd
to see a host of woodworking demonstrations and displays. It is highly likely
that this show will become a regular feature of the calendar.
Arrangements are well in hand for the North of England Woodworking Show to
be held in Harrogate in November. Full details of this highly popular show can
be found on www.skpromotions.co.uk
After that show Robert Sorby will be touring Scotland. Included in the itinerary
are open days at both Just Wood in Ayr and Jean Burhouse in Dunkeld followed
by presentations to Galloway, Borders and Strathclyde woodturners groups.
As the darker nights approach there is increased activity in the woodworking world.
During the next month Robert Sorby will be participating in a number of major
events.
Sept 4-5 Norfolk Saw, Norwich
Sep 4-6 Tempa Handverk, Denmark
Sep 10-11 Yandles, Martock
Sep 18-19 Willy Vanhoutte, Belgium
Sep 19-20 European Woodworking Show, Essex
Sep 25-26 W H Raitt, Co Donegal
Sep 26 Peter Child, Essex
Each of these vents offers an opportunity to see and buy many Robert Sorby
tools. On certain occasions there will also be an opportunity to buy at special
promotional prices.
The main focal point will be the new Sovereign System which has already featured
in a number of woodworking magazines.
Woodturners in the USA should not feel left out as there is a full schedule
of Robert Sorby demonstrations in the USA during October. Details of dates and
locations can be found on the Demonstrations page of this site.
At the time of writing the Sovereign System is available (or will shortly be
available) from following Robert Sorby dealers:
UK - Turners Retreat, Mid-Cornwall Saw Services, Ockenden Timber, Snainton
Woodworking Supplies, G & S Timber, The Woodworking Centre, ASK, Stiles
& Bates, R S Paskin, W L West, The Toolpost, John Davis, Little Sheffield,
Yandles, Charnwood Machinery, Classic Hand Tools, MacGregor Industrial Supplies,
Just Wood, Burhouse 2.0, Data Power Tools, The Wood Shed, Ken's Hardware
USA - Craft Supplies, Woodcraft, Mann Tools, Klingspor's Woodworking Shop,
Hartville Tool, PS Wood
Australia - The Woodsmith
Belgium - Willy Vanhoutte
Denmark - Tempa Handverk
Eire - W H Raitt, Richard Gough
Germany - Maderas Drechseltechnik
Spain - Commercial Pazos
As part of the introduction of the new Sovereign System we have added a further
movie clip to our site. This can be found in both the movie clips and Sovereign
sections. The Sovereign itself is already available from a number of regular Robert
Sorby dealers around the world. It will also form a major part of our numerous
demonstrations in Europe and North America between now and Christmas.
Amongst other clips on the site is a presentation on the ProEdge sharpening
system which is becoming ever more popular as woodworkers recognise the safety,
efficiency and repeatability the ProEdge brings to tool sharpening.
As part of our US demonstration tour in October we will be participating at
the SWAT turning symposium in Wichita Falls, TX. Further details of this event
which attracts over 500 enthusiastic turners can be found on www.swaturners.org.
A full schedule of all the venues of our demonstration programme can be found
on the Demonstrations section of this site. The demonstrations themselves are
designed to give turners first hand experience of some of the more unusual Robert
Sorby tools - like hollowing, spiralling, texturing.
The organisers of Get Woodworking Live to be held March 12-14 2010 at London's
Alexandra Palace have announced ticket pricing for the show which will feature
some of the world's leading woodworkers. If bought in advance an admission ticket
- which is valid for all three days of the show - costs just £8.50 whilst
concessions pay just £6.50. Given the calibre of demonstration this represents
extremely good value for money. Details of advance ticketing can be found on
http://www.getwoodworking.com/news/article.asp?a=4917
For those in Scotland we will be attending the summer open days at Just Wood
in Ayr on August 22 and 23. Admission is free.
Anyone in the North Carolina area towards the end of October would be well advised
to visit Klingspor's Extravaganza in Hickory, NC. It is widely regarded as the
best free woodworking show in the south eastern USA. Included in the event are
demonstrations, close-outs, numerous trade booths from most of the big names in
woodworking, competitive pricing, classes, new products, plenty of free parking,
easy access from I-40 and, to top it all, free apples! This is a relaxed show
which attracts visitors from a wide area and vendors from across the USA and overseas.
The Extravaganza takes place on October 30 and 31 2009.
The Robert Sorby booth at the Klingspor Extravaganza forms part of an extensive
demonstration tour of the eastern states of the USA. Details of dates and venues
are shown in our demonstrations section. The
in-store events are free and well worthwhile attending as there is always something
new to see and something new to learn. One of the key demonstrations will involve
the new Sovereign System which we expect to be on many turners' Christmas list.
Sovereign is already available in the UK from a number of dealers - Turners
Retreat, World of Woodworking, G& S Timber, Mid-Cornwall Saw Services, Data
Power Tools, Snainton Woodworking, Sharpend Services, ASK, Stiles & Bates,
R S Paskin. And the Woodcraft store in Albuquerque is currently the only US
source.
If you are stuck for something to occupy your time over the August Bank Holiday
week-end, a visit to the Festival of the Tree at the National Arboretum in Westonbirt,
near Tetbury in Gloucestershire is highly recommended. For more information
visit www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Forthcoming woodturning demonstrations at Turners Retreat are:
August 8 Andy Lodge
September 12 Tracy Owen
There is now a dedicated platform for the Get Woodworking Live show in London
in March 2010. Latest information can be found on www.getwoodworking.com/news/article.asp?a=4917
Early indications are that this will be an extremely busy show.
For those in the north of England the big woodworking event is the annual show
in Harrogate (November 20-22 2009). This is always a popular event with a diverse
mixture of trade stands, club displays and demonstrators. Have a look at www.skpromotions.co.uk
for fuller details.
Watch out for news of Robert Sorby demonstrations in Scotland during December.
