Bio

Jim Kephart has been turning wood since 1976. The early years of woodturning were primarily a hobby and source of gifts. Although he created artistic pieces and bowls, his main interest seemed to be related to making items.This led more to spindle turning. He currently owns and operates a woodturning business located in Manchester Connecticut were he specializes in hand woodturning of furniture parts, balusters, columns, and prototype woodturnings.

Over the years, Jim has done more than a few demonstrations and classes on many topics including:

  • Spindle turning
  • Skew use
  • Tool Control, safety and turning projects
  • Tool making
  • Hollow form turning
  • Tool sharpening
  • Duplicating spindles by hand turning
These demonstrations were performed for or at many locations including:
  • AAW Symposium at Purchase NY 1993
  • Granite State Mini Symposiums (all)
  • CNEW Symposium 1996
  • New England Wildlife Art Expo from 1994-2001
  • Local Woodworking shows in Springfield, MA, including paid seminars
  • Harris Enterprise Open House 5 years.
  • Nutmeg Woodturners
  • Central New England Woodturners
  • Central Connecticut Woodturners
  • Long Island Woodturners
  • Woodcraft Woburn, MA
  • Arnold Arboretum, Watertown, MA
  • Woodcraft in Manchester, Connecticut
  • Albany NY
Jim also designed and taught woodturning classes at Harris Enterprise in Manchester Connecticut for 5 years (approximately 4 classes per year). Classes include Beginning Woodturning, Hollow Turning, Bowl Turning Class.