SB Woodturning Blog

Stuart Batty Woodturning has just moved into our new 32,000 square foot stand-alone building. This is the new home for our office, manufacturing, school, and recording studio. Our CNC machines are now wired and working to produce our first tools, which will be released in March followed by several new items every month.

SB Woodturning has moved into its new 14,000 square foot warehouse space. With the delivery of a CNC lathe, mill, band saw, and deburring equipment, all of the essential machines required to manufacture SB Tools are on site. More machines will arrive late December, including the 100 horse power creep feed grinder, weighing in at 40,000 pounds, which will be quite a machine to rig! Manufacturing will begin in January 2012, with the first tools scheduled to hit the shelves in the Spring of 2012.

Delivery truck loaded with our CNC mill.

Left: Positioning the CNC horizontal band saw. Right: Stu and Mike review the floor plan.

Left: CNC horizontal band saw in place. Right: Navigating bay #3 with a fork lift.

Left: Delivering the CNC mill on a cold, winter day in Colorado. Right: Navigating CNC mill through bay #2.

Left: Stu and rigging specialist confer about positioning the machinery. Right: Our skillful rigger.

Left: Our new general manager, Giuseppe. Right: CNC lathe and CNC bar loader.

The CNC lathe and bar loader in place.

SB Education strives to bring you the best educational experience through our videos and books. We utilize technology to provide views and understanding never before possible.

We are please to announce that every workshop book and pdf will now include hi-resolution photography from six Canon 7D 18 megapixel still cameras. The still cameras have been set up to replicate the same angles and views captured by the video cameras. Now each book will follow the same step-by-step instructions provided by the videos, without any loss of resolution.

This is just one more way SB Woodturning is advancing the art of woodturning.

The photos above show how the still cameras are rigged next to the video cameras to duplicate the same shots.

On the left, 4 of our still and video cameras are mounted to our five axis ceiling system. On the right, professional photographer Alexis Nadjadi  is sorting through photos taken during a shoot for the correct sequence to describe the cut.

At SB Education, we aim to capture the depth of knowledge that would pass from mentor to apprentice in a full-fledged apprenticeship—much the way that Stuart Batty, a third-generation woodturner, learned from his father, Alan Batty. No detail will be left out. The Tool Proficiency Video Series from SB Educational Media builds a solid foundation for any woodturning practice beginning with an in-depth, comprehensive understanding of each tool in the woodturning repertoire.

Stuart, who is world-renowned for his tool proficiency, has developed a method of teaching that is unparalleled. He has taught thousands of students over the past three decades. Stuart’s teaching method builds on the fundamentals of woodturning. Technique is broken down into individual components so that each action is fully explained for turners with any level of experience. With these techniques, any turner can achieve repeatable results with no physical strain on the body. Leverage and technique are used to achieve a better cut so that there is no need for force. By cultivating a strong foundation of knowledge, Stuart’s teaching methods enable woodturners to create any object on the lathe and to do so with a superior finish. Through mastering tool control, every woodturner can have an even more enjoyable woodturning experience.

The Tool Proficiency Video Series will be the first woodturning video series released that has been recorded in the SB Educational Media studio. This is a purpose-built, professional, high production-value studio dedicated to advancing the art of woodturning. Cutting-edge technology has been utilized on every level, from the high-definition cameras and LED lighting to the video editing equipment and the use of 3D animation. Video is captured with up to eight simultaneous camera angles to ensure that no viewpoint is left out. For the first time in any woodturning video, 3D computer animation recreates grinding and cutting sequences with extreme clarity. This technology allows woodturners to see every angle, without limitations.

The first tool to be featured in this video series is the Vortex Tool. Created by Stuart, named by Keith Gotschall, and popularized by Cindy Drozda and our own Ashley Harwood, the Vortex Tool has a unique set of capabilities for both spindle and bowl turning. Stuart will explain in detail the correct sharpening methods, techniques, and limitations that are specific to the Vortex Tool.

Videos will be available in DVD, Blu-ray, and downloadable digital formats. Each video comes with a full-color, water-resistant workshop book or downloadable PDF to view online, on your mobile device or tablet, or to print out at home. Featuring the same simple, step-by-step instructions and multiple-angle views available the videos, this book will allow you to bring the lesson into the workshop with you.

Sign up for our email list and be the first to purchase these truly unique videos on our website, available soon.

The first product from SB Woodturning is now available! The SB Angle Gauge One and Two are two all-purpose angle gauges which provide fast, easy and accurate set up of grinding angles. Made from durable 1/2” thick aircraft grade aluminum, these gauges provide increased accuracy for angle setup. They work on 4”-10” grinding wheels, flat or convex belt grinders, miter gauges, band saws and table saw blades. They even compensate for curvature of a wheel!

Angle Gauge One includes these angles: 20°, 25°, 30°, 40°,  50°, 60°, 65°, 70° and 90°

Angle Gauge Two includes these angles: 15°, 22.5°, 35°, 45°, 55°, 67.5°, 75° and 90°

Enjoy greater precision in your workshop with these time saving tools. Now available for only $35 at  Woodworker’s Emporium.