REG. SHERWIN Masterclass Saturday 20th May 2006

Reg. last visited the club on 24th July 1999. A full house arrived very early today and soon settled in with tea and coffee flowing freely. The audience, singing happy birthday to him, surprised Don. Reg started with a brief résumé of his career. He followed this with a brief explanation of how he works. The first offering from Reg was a goblet with a difference. Using various special tools and gouges he turned a goblet, which was so small, the camera set up could hardly focus on it. It was about 3mm X 6mm. Reg showed various tools and explained their use, and the merits of them.

The next offering was to be a demonstration of turning a piece of rough old pine. Reg turned a dibber. Whilst working Reg took time out to explain turning techniques with the aid of teaching aids and props that he had prepared earlier. "Reg Tip." When you have finished sanding, turn the workpiece end for end, this has the same effect as reverse chucking and gives a far cleaner finish.
There then followed a discussion about the bevel grinds available and their merits or pitfalls. This was followed by a demonstration of tool grinding with a jig.
At this point lunch.was served Aline Smith and her helpers did us proud again. Well-done ladies and thank you.
After lunch, Reg's wife did a brisk trade with their shop, which they had brought with them.
Reg then continued discussing and demonstrating, the various aspects of tool grinding and sharpening.
After sharpening, Reg demonstrated pommels. Reg turned different shaped pommels on a piece of pine to demonstrate the techniques required to produce furniture spindles etc. Reg followed this with a demonstration of the finish obtainable from a roughing gouge used at different cutting angles.
Reg then showed how he makes tool handles. Reg drilled the pilot hole for the blade first. The blank was then fitted blank between centres and roughed it to a cylinder. He then formed a flange to fit the ferrule onto. When the diameter was correct he stopped the lathe and fitted the ferrule so that the end of the handle would not split when the tailstock was tightened. With the workpiece back on the lathe, Reg turned the remainder of the handle adding embellishments as he worked.
Next Reg turned a whizzer. If you do not know what a whizzer is then I am sorry, you have missed out and you will need to ask one of the lucky 33 people who came to the Masterclass.
The next toy Reg made was a whipping top. This item brought back memories of childhood for the older members of the audience. Yes I had to have a go too. You should have seen grown men trying to get the thing to run.
Next Reg showed how he makes the almost oval handles on his bradawls. Using a piece of rectangular sectioned ash, Reg fixed it between centres and turned the profile. Explaining that he would normally fit the handle with a ferrule to prevent it from splitting under use. When the handle was finished Reg fitted a masonry nail into it and then ground it to a tri-point. This he explained acts to cut out a cone shaped depression in the wood when marking out, rather than pushing the fibres to one side.


Reg then told us that he was going to make a Guardsman. This statement sent a ripple of interest around the audience some of whom were stating to feel the effects of the lunch and were almost dosing off. Well Reg did indeed turn a guardsmen from Olive Ash; again you should have come along to see for yourself. You really did miss out by not coming you know.
Reg then showed how to make a pen, which uses a Bic pen refill. Again using Olive Ash, Reg showed how he drills the blank. Reg first drilled the end of the blank using a standard 5/32" (4mm) drill. This he followed by using a long series drill. He used chalk to lubricate the drill whilst drilling. After drilling the blind hole, Reg showed how he finds the true centre of the blind end, using a special jig he has made. After fixing the blank between centres Reg turned the pen and polished it he then fitted the refill and passed it around for the audience to admire. This brought the Masterclass to a reluctant close.


All the audience gave a really appreciative round of applause to Reg. for giving us another memorable day. THANKS REG!

Derek Blake, June 2006


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