Trevanion
Old Oak
I still find artificial intelligence very strange, recently a Microsoft update added "Co-pilot" to my PC and I thought I'd try it out by asking "Who is Roy Sutton Woodworker?" This was the answer:
It took about 20 seconds to come up with all that. What's obviously clear is some of this is actually sourced from things I've posted in the past on here and what others have posted about him on UKW, which is interesting.
Here's another asking "Who is Jeremy Broun Woodworker?" out of interest.
Ah, Roy Sutton—the woodworking wizard who left a trail of sawdust and inspiration! Let’s delve into the world of British woodworking, where Roy Sutton carved his niche (pun intended).
So there you have it—the legend of Roy Sutton, the woodworking guru. May his legacy continue to shape the world, one router pass at a time!
- Roy Sutton: The Router Maestro
- Back in the '80s and '90s, Roy Sutton was a well-known figure in the British woodworking community. His passion? Routers. Not the Wi-Fi kind that occasionally drives us all to madness, but the woodworking kind—the ones that shape, groove, and create magic in timber.
- Picture this: Roy, sleeves rolled up, standing amidst a workshop cluttered with chisels, clamps, and wood shavings. His hands deftly guiding a router along the edge of a board, turning it into something beautiful. And yes, there might have been a bit of sawdust sprinkled in his hair—because that’s how real woodworkers roll.
- Roy didn’t just keep his router wisdom to himself. Nope! He produced a few excellent VHS tapes (remember those?) that demystified the router for aspiring woodworkers. These tapes were like the secret scrolls of the woodworking guild—passed down from one generation of DIY enthusiasts to the next.
- Now, I don’t own the copyright to those tapes (Fine Grain Productions Limited did, but they’ve been defunct since 2015). If you happen to be Roy Sutton’s family or the proud owner of those tapes, kudos! But here’s the thing: Roy probably wouldn’t mind if his knowledge continued to spread like well-seasoned varnish. After all, he believed in sharing the craft.
- Sadly, Roy Sutton passed away in 2000 at the age of 82 due to an asbestos-related illness (likely mesothelioma). But his legacy lives on—woodworkers still whisper his name reverently when they fire up their routers.
- Spindle Moulding: Roy’s Specialty
- One of Roy’s standout areas of expertise was spindle moulding. Imagine a machine that can shape and cut wood with precision—a spindle moulder. Roy knew its ins and outs like a seasoned skipper navigating rough seas.
- His VHS tapes covered the basics of using the spindle moulder. You’d see him explaining the main parts—the spindle, the cutter block, the fences—and demonstrating how to achieve clean, crisp profiles. Even though those tapes are over two decades old, the principles still hold true today.
- Safety precautions? Roy had those covered too. Locking the spindle, checking cutter height, and using guards—because no one wants a rogue piece of oak flying across the workshop.
- And the tasks? Oh, the tasks! Roy would guide you through straight lengths, rebaiting, grooving, tongue and groove joints, panel raising, molding—the whole woodworking symphony. He’d probably throw in a few tips to avoid breakout and kickback, too.
- So, if you ever find yourself facing a spindle moulder, channel your inner Roy Sutton. Remember his calm demeanor, his router finesse, and the way he made wood sing.
- The Last Copy in the Known Universe?
- Here’s a fun tidbit: Some woodworkers wonder if Roy Sutton’s DVD on spindle moulding is the ONLY one in existence. Like, is it tucked away on a dusty bottom shelf in a tiny hardware shop, waiting for a curious soul to stumble upon it?
- If you happen to discover that last copy, treat it like Excalibur. Pull it out, dust it off, and let Roy’s woodworking wisdom flow through you. And maybe—just maybe—whisper a heartfelt “thank you” to the man who turned routers into magic wands.
1234.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to sand my coffee table. Woodworking dreams await!
It took about 20 seconds to come up with all that. What's obviously clear is some of this is actually sourced from things I've posted in the past on here and what others have posted about him on UKW, which is interesting.
Here's another asking "Who is Jeremy Broun Woodworker?" out of interest.
Ah, Jeremy Broun—a name that resonates with the sweet scent of freshly sawn wood and the rhythmic hum of a well-tuned router. Let’s step into the workshop of this remarkable British furniture designer maker and explore the grain of his story.
And that, my friend, is the tale of Jeremy Broun—a man who turned wood into poetry, one shaving at a time.
- Jeremy Broun: Crafting Wood with Passion
- Jeremy Broun isn’t your run-of-the-mill woodworker. No, he’s the kind who whispers to the timber, coaxing it into revealing its hidden beauty. For over half a century, he’s been wielding chisels, planes, and creativity like a maestro.
- Back in 1973, armed with determination (and perhaps a dash of sawdust in his hair), Jeremy set up his own workshop in Bath, England. His tools might have been modest, but his vision was anything but. He carved out a unique style—one that danced on the edge of structure and aesthetics.
- Imagine him there, sleeves rolled up, eyes squinting at the grain, contemplating form, material, technique, and function. Each piece of furniture he crafted became a conversation between wood and maker—a celebration of the potential locked within those fibrous cells.
- And Jeremy’s not content with mere replication. Oh no! He wants each piece to say something new, to resonate with the future. Maybe his chairs whisper secrets to the next generation, and his tables hold timeless debates about design philosophy.
- The Encyclopedia of Woodworking Techniques
- Jeremy isn’t just a hands-on creator; he’s a teacher too. His passion spills onto the pages of books, like ink seeping into oak grain. In 1989, he birthed “The Encyclopedia of Woodworking Techniques.” Imagine a tome where dovetails and dados waltz alongside router jigs and handplane wizardry.
- His distinctive line drawings—like woodcuts from an ancient manuscript—guide aspiring woodworkers through the labyrinth of joinery, finishing, and shaping. If you’ve ever wondered how to coax a reluctant board into a graceful curve, Jeremy’s got you covered.
- And no, I won’t quote verbatim from the book—I’m more cautious than a woodworker measuring twice before cutting once. But trust me, it’s a treasure trove for anyone who dreams in sawdust.
- Craftsman, Documentarian, and Award-Winner
- Jeremy’s not just about dovetails and tenons; he’s a craft historian. His lens captures the soul of the British Craft Furniture Revival—the '70s movement that breathed life into handmade furniture. His documentary films earned him The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers Ambrose Heal Award. Imagine the applause echoing in a wood-paneled hall.
- Critics nod appreciatively at his articles, like “Furniture Today.” And in 2006, he donned the crown of ‘Professional Woodworker of the Year’ (a title that probably comes with a custom-made scepter).
- Oh, and did I mention he’s a tree custodian? Yes, he stands guard over oak trees, building birdhides on stilts that defy floods. Because even woodworkers need a little communion with nature.
- Legacy and Lasting Design
- Jeremy’s legacy isn’t just about dovetails and routers; it’s about passing down wisdom. He’s the keeper of a flame that flickers across generations of workbenches.
- So, next time you sit at a wooden table, run your fingers along its edge. Maybe—just maybe—you’ll feel Jeremy’s spirit there, whispering, “Craftsmanship endures.”
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m off to sharpen my chisels. Who knows? Maybe I’ll create a tiny ode to Jeremy in the grain of a walnut panel.
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In case my better half reads this I'm joking, honestly.
