>Hello to all you galoots! 
>
>I guess it's about time I sent a bio now that I've been lurking for over a
week.
>I operate a small woodworking business making Windsor chairs and some
>furniture as well as supplying riven green wood to Windsor chairmakers who
>can't find good wood. I am handicapped by Lou Gherigs desease which has come
>to limit my activities somewhat - especially Riving. I need and get a lot of
>help from SWMBO and other family members.

As you can see my loss of dexterity caused me to send this before it was
complete!

While I maintain a Normite shop my interest in handtools became focused when
I began making Windsors. I try to find tools at auctions and sales but have
made some that I couldn't find. I made a froe out of a car spring, a small
compass plane for chair seats, a new body for my grandfathers spokeshave and
am in the process of making a travisher out of an old planer blade.

As a point of interest I had obtained a 2" Witherby gouge which I used as a
roughing gouge for greenwood leg turning. It has about a 7 or 8 sweep. Any
way the more I used it the easier I found it to turn legs. Can't use it for
everything on a leg (coves etc.) but find it a good tool to finish the large
areas with. Anyone else ever tried this large a tool for turning?

Having read Steve LaMantia's info on scary sharp I cant wait to pick up some
paper and try it.

I also wanted to comment on having learned many things in the time I have
been lurking and hope that some day I can contribute some knowledge.

Jim Tourtillott