“Jeff has over 25 years of turning and teaching experience,” says Scott Baumeister, Rockler’s category manager for turning. “His best attribute as a teacher is his down-to-earth approach that’s appreciated by both beginners and experienced turners.”

Rockler and Sorby began to partner on these woodturning tours nearly a decade ago, Baumeister says. Since then, they’ve become an annual event at stores on the tour circuit.

Farris will demonstrate a variety of turning techniques using the latest Sorby tools, but his presentations won’t be limited to just that. If you have specific questions about how to use one of your Sorby tools, bring it with you to the store and Jeff can provide the advice and help you need. While his demos will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Rockler and Farris are keeping the day’s agenda decidedly unscheduled to encourage a “come when you can” atmosphere.

“We used to have specific demonstrations at specific times and learned that if our customers have other commitments, they are not able to attend. So, we’ve opened this up to an all-day event with less structure to encourage more participation,” Baumeister explains.

If you’re fairly new to turning, you’ll be in good company at the Farris demos. About a third of Rockler customers who are turners have only been turning for about a year, Baumeister reports. Over 50 percent have been turning for less than five years. And the popularity of woodturning continues to grow. Woodworkers and non-woodworkers alike are becoming less apprehensive about getting into woodturning, because the quick results are appealing.

“Turning a small project can take less than an hour, rather than the days or weeks it takes to make a typical woodworking project.”

One of the steeper learning curves of woodturning is sharpening, but sharp tools are essential to effective technique. Baumeister says sharpening is an important part of Farris’s presentations. During his store appearance, he’ll focus on sharpening methods using Sorby’s ProEdge Sharpening System. The power sharpener uses abrasive belts instead of wheels to cut tool steel cooler. It creates flat bevels on turning tools rather than hollow grinds and delivers a variety of surface finishes.

“(ProEdge) has a unique angle indexing system that makes sure turners get the right angle and can repeat that angle over and over again,” Baumeister adds.

Maybe you’re an experienced turner already. Farris will offer techniques and advice that you’ll find useful, too. Fundamentals of tool handling and sharpening are, Baumeister says, only part of the show. “Jeff shares advanced techniques as well. There’s something for every turner.”

The Sorby Winter Tour kicks off Sunday, Jan. 31, at Rockler’s Phoenix, Arizona, store. From there, Farris will visit the Denver, Colorado, Rockler store and four stores in California, then travel north to Rockler’s Seattle, Washington, location, and Beaverton, Oregon. In late February, he’ll head east to Rockler’s Buffalo, New York, and Portland, Maine, stores and stop in Indianapolis before visiting Rockler’s Maplewood and Burnsville, Minnesota, stores in early March. The store in Sandy Springs, Georgia, is on the circuit for mid March, and the Tour concludes in Altamonte Springs, Florida, on March 13, at Rockler’s newest store that opened last fall.

Turning presentations of Farris’s caliber would be worth the price of admission, but Rockler is offering them at no charge in order to encourage as many turners as possible to attend. Another benefit is that Sorby tools will be discounted 20 percent on demo day at the store. It’s the only time Rockler offers savings this big on Sorby products, Baumeister says.

So, if a Rockler store near you is on the Sorby Winter Tour circuit, be sure to check the schedule and add the date to your calendar.

“Whether you’re just getting started or have years of experience,” Baumeister says, “Jeff’s presentation will have something for you … If you’re looking to buy tools or just want to learn more about using the ones you already have, you’ll go home better informed and inspired to get to work on your lathe.”

For more details about the upcoming Sorby Tour, visit Rockler’s website by clicking here.

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The Dual Power Stereo weighs six pounds and has a suggested price of $89. See it online by clicking here or at a Home Depot store near you.

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Its robust build and shock-resistant body is easy to carry. It weighs 1.5 lbs. and measures just 6-in. x 4-in. x 3-in. Multiple angles on the body allow you to direct 170° of dispersed light where you need it most by setting the work lamp in various positions. It also has a swiveling, fold-down hook and a threaded tripod port for more mounting options.

Festool says the SysLite II is updated from the previous SysLite with higher performing LEDs that emit 50 percent more light with the same power consumption. A higher capacity internal battery also offers 20 percent longer runtime between charges. It now has an integrated emergency function that automatically turns the light on in the event of a power failure.

The SysLite II (item 500723) is available now for $195. It also can be purchased as a Work Lamp Set (item 500732; $250) that includes a magnetic mounting adapter.

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Tim Inman: For quick heat on an occasional basis as you’re suggesting, I would try an oil-filled portable electric radiator. They are cheap, safe and quite efficient.

Chris Marshall: I have two more suggestions for you, Claudia. When I had a two-car garage shop in the Midwest, I used the propane forced-air heater you see in the top photo. It’s easy to light (push button) and has a strong blower that quickly circulates the heat. Mine will run about eight to 10 hours on a 20-lb. propane tank (the type used for barbecue grills), and it produces 35,000 BTU. It warmed my garage up enough in the dead of winter so I could work comfortably in shirtsleeves. The fan and fire is fairly noisy, and you’d need to keep a window or door cracked to ensure a constant source of fresh air. But, these little heaters put out an impressive amount of heat and don’t cost an arm and a leg to buy. The radiant-type propane heaters that mount right on top of a propane tank (below) might also work for your size space, but I’ve never owned one of them to offer feedback.

Here’s another idea. A number of tool companies, including Bosch, DeWALT, Makita and Milwaukee, now sell heated jackets that are powered by a rechargeable tool battery. They provide several zoned areas of warmth inside the jacket shell. If you truly don’t mind some degree of chill while you work, maybe a heated jacket and a small electric heater like Tim suggests could be enough for you. Just a thought…

Other heating options (vented wood or pellet stoves, natural-gas or propane furnaces, electric baseboard heat or hard-wired electric heaters) require installation and possibly an electrical upgrade. But, they probably provide the best all-around heating solution in the long run.

Stay warm!

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-Jimmy Meeker

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“I’ve gotten along OK with my Craftsman 6” jointer/planer, but an upgrade would be the tool of choice. Since money is no object, a Powermatic 1285 jointer with helical head. One please, extra onions.” – Tim Harrelson

“I’d probably get a Domino. But, at a price that’s approaching what I bought my new Unisaw for a number of years ago, it’s a one-trick pony that, when broken down into cost-per-joint is cost-prohibitive unless I was doing a whole lot of tenoning work.” – Keith Mealy

”If money were no object, I’d get a Robust American Beauty Lathe. Wow; those things are remarkable.” – Joe Kramer

“The answer for me would be a complete dust collecting system.” – Rose Hogan

“If money was no object, I would buy Festool’s Kapex miter saw.” – Rudi Hempe

“If I won the lottery, I’d buy a #40 scrub plane – right after I bought a BENCHCRAFTED Glide Crisscross Leg Vise.” – Tom Barnard

“I would go out and buy a 14″ band saw and a Bosch jigsaw.” – Rich Flynn

“I would buy a Festool track saw and their air cleaner that turns on with the tool. Too many times have I run my saw without a dust collector (or mask!). I’m 71, reaching the end of my handling 4×8 sheet days and, frankly, I just deserve it.” –Valerie Brannas

“I have had my eye on a Powermatic 18” variable speed  model drill press but just haven’t dropped the hammer on it. Of course, when one looks at one new tool, another also comes to mind. How about a new Powermatic 3HP 50″ with all the bells and whistles? That is another upgrade that I have eyed for several years. You did say space/money was no concern, right? If I did go with this ‘improvement’ as well as the laser engraver I have had my eye on it would require a complete new workshop. If one is going to dream, dream big or go home.” – Bob Hoyle

For some, the choices depended on their location. – Editor

“I had a bit of a dilemma in regards to Rob’s question about buying a new tool or a pile of wood.  Like most woodworkers, I would always like to have a new tool.  However, due to the fact that I live in Homer, Alaska, and my source of good hardwood is limited to one store in Anchorage (about 225 miles away), I would really like to have a nice truckload of a variety of hardwood.” – Charlie Franz

“I live in the west southern corner of Tennessee. It would be a large air conditioner for my workshop/garage!” – John Schelby

A few themes arose, incorporating wishes for the blade-braking technology found in table saws …

“Maybe a SawStop. Or a slider crosscut saw.” – Phil Zoeller

“First, SawStop. Second, dust collector. Third, all materials to extend my metal shop. I have three shops: auto, metal, wood.” – Neal Schwabauer

“With my record the past 35 years, I’d buy a SawStop!” – Jack Stanford

“My first thought was a nice new SawStop table saw. The largest one they make, with all the bells and whistles! I thought, well, I do already own a table saw, even if is a cheaper Craftsman. So I think I would definitely go with a nice CNC router. A nice top-of-the-line one. I’m disabled from a terrible motorcycle wreck that happened back in 2009. I was never supposed to live, or walk, or eat again. I just wanted to tell you this story because I will never, ever, be able to buy more tools. There is $0 left at the end of the month. I also told you this because I wanted to show that even a disabled man who can only spend small mounts of time in his shop because of severe back pain, can love working with wood! It’s my passion! I’m just happy that I had purchased tools, even though they were cheap tools, over the years before my accident. If not, I couldn’t enjoy woodworking like I do. I make mostly small projects and gifts for my family: birdhouses and feeders, routed signs, shelves and bookcases mostly. A CNC router, even a small entry-level one, is out of my reach, but I would LOVE to have one. That would be #1 on my wishlist.” – Dennis Reynolds

… and other “newfangled” tool technology, like CNC routers, laser engravers, and 3D printers. – Editor

“A CNC router would be my choice if money were no object.” –  Nick Nikkila

“I have been a woodworker for most of my 62 years of life and have acquired most all the tools I could possibly need to support my hobby. I hope to continue working with wood for the rest of my life so I would invest in a very good dust collection system.  Not only would that reduce cleanup time and allow more time to create, but it would keep me healthier by allowing me to breathe cleaner air. My next purchase would be a CNC router because as a retired engineer, they look like a cool piece of technology that would be fun to work with.” – Wayne Whitcomb

“My tool of choice would be a laser engraving system.  So many things are possible with this device that one of my friends, who is fortunate to already have one, is doing more with that than with his woodworking.  Of course, I would never let that happen.” – Gordon Patnude

“I think I would like a 3D printer so I could make any tool I want.” – Thomas Norman

There were also quite a few wishes for a jointer of some type (those of you wishing for an 8” jointer should keep an eye out for the forthcoming March/April print issue of Woodworker’s Journal – and check out the tool review article). – Editor

“I am in need of a long bed jointer. I have a tabletop jointer, but it just doesn’t cut it for long boards. I’d also love to get a lathe.” – Bob Mayfield

“My purchase would be an 8″ jointer.” – Greg Matuszak

“If money was not an issue, I would run out and buy a nice, big 8-inch jointer! After that one, probably a nice drill press.” – Dan Beeson

“After I listed off a dozen tools, I ‘want,’ I went back to, ‘What do I really want to accomplish?’ I’m sure that’s different for different folks. I want to learn how to work with hand tools more but my CHIEF problem is getting stock into an easier to work form. I’m not sure running out and buying a planer (if I could afford it) would be the answer. I don’t think so. Perhaps if I could get the jointer working and my table saw working better that would be a start. I’m not sure.” –  Dan Reynolds

Some would choose to focus on their shop space itself, rather than the tools. Well, at least at first.  – Editor

“The item I would purchase isn’t a tool, but an addition on to our home to get my shop out of the basement. (Some days, it is extremely hard fro me to go up and down the stairs, without talking about crrying supplies, lumber and finished products and up and down. Although going down is easy: I can always fall … it is just that sudden stop at the bottom I am not as fond of.) Once the shop was built, I would upgrade the dust collection and get a stationary planer. After that … the list could get longer.” – Mike Grawvunder

Sanders and table saws also got votes. – Editor

“I would purchase a cabinet saw to replace my Craftsman table saw. While the table saw does what I need to do with some constraints, it would be a blessing to have a cabinet saw. Also, because of the cost of lumber, I would definitely buy some sheets of quality plywood.” – Robert Rodrigues

“A new table saw would be my first choice, for sure. I already have a nice pile of wood, even though my wife thinks it is excessive.” – Jeffrey Murray

“I have been looking at a new Grizzly 5hp cabinet saw probably in the spring but, if you’re buying, I will go ahead and place my order now.” – Blake Dozier

“I have a well-equipped basic shop; my next purchase will be a Shop Fox 18-inch wide belt sander.” – Ted Fischesser

“I would love to have an open-end drum sander. One of those 19-inchers.” – Ken Koehn

“There are many machines that really enhance our woodworking, but the one worth its weight in gold is the oscillating wide-belt sander. By the time you set enough aside to purchase a 24-inch one, hold the reins and wait for the 37-inch one to fit the budget.” – John Schmitt

As did accessories. – Editor

“This article was perfect timing. I just saved up and bought my new contractor’s Delta 10-inch table saw! Right now, I’d buy a dado stack to further complete my table saw purchase and finish my box joint jig setup!” – John Hutton

“First of all, I will admit to being a ‘tool junkie’ and over the past 50+ years or so have put together what amounts to a pretty large, well-equipped shop. There are few tools that I actually  need, or can even imagine needing. That given, what I would seek first, given Rob’s conditions, would be spiral insert cutterheads for my jointer (first) and surface planer (second), then a small ‘pen’ lathe (third). I wouldn’t promise, however, not to come up with additional tools/accessories to put on my ‘want list.'” – Gerald Garrison

And for some of you, “new” tools appears to be a relative concept. – Editor

“I’d replace my Grizzly band saw ($175) from 1985. I could use increased height capacity for resawing and bowl roughing. My table saw, Walker Turner from 1949, is in pretty rough shape, too, but I don’t do much table saw joinery and the motor is new (also 1985). After that, maybe some of the newer hand tools to replace my reconditioned Stanleys.” – Dave Krichten

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