Hi, Today was a good day despite the all day rain and drizzle and the expected flooding tonight. My mail had 2 new catalogs, 1 from Packard Woodworks and the other the one I had requested from Robert Sorby. I had read here recently that Sorby had instructional CDs with their catalog, so I requested one via their web site. I spent about 2 hours watching the 2 discs this afternoon. I was pleased with the content and understand the use of several of their tools much better than I did before. I had not used their multi tip hollowing tool myself, thinking it was a glorified Oland tool. It has Oland type tips, but the scraper tip is more than I expected. There was a recent thread here about shear scraping, and they illustrated this technique very well. Also, the difference in aggressiveness of different positioning was well documented. Any one who still has questions about this should take a look at this video.
Also demonstrated were the texturing and spiraling tools, the chatter tool, their Spindlemaster (which was discussed here a few days ago), as well as their sharpening system showing set up and use which should also benefit anyone contemplating a Wolverine sytem or similar home grown grinding set up.
They have a new rotating Stebb center for use in tailstocks for offset turning plus the usual Morse Taper ones and one for use in a Nova chuck. They have a "hardwood scraper" that I hadn't seen before. It has a negative bevel on top and a conventioal bevel underneath. Another new tool is their "easy beader". It is a formed scraper in 2 sizes, ground so that a straight in plunge gives 2 side by side 1/2 beads, then move down to the next position and repeat. This completes 1 bead and starts another. It's like one of the old beaders (where a cove was ground into the end of a scraper) were cut down the middle and rejoined with the wings in the center. That sounds strange, but it's really sinple, and, at least on the video, it seems to work well.
The usual disclaimer applies here, no association with the company, and none of their tools -yet. (That may change by Christmas!) Just thought I'd share the wealth.
Ken Moon Webberville, TX