One of our club’s objectives is to enhance our members’ woodturning knowledge and skills. To further this objective, the Zumbro Valley Woodturners has a mentors program. This program encourages a ZVW member to have a one-on-one learning experience with a ZVW woodturner who may have considerable skill in a particular area. 

The ZVW members in the following list have volunteered to assist other members in learning more about specific woodturning techniques. Any ZVW member who feels confident in any particular woodturning area is welcome to volunteer to be a mentor.


John Dahl
John Dahl

Lathe and tool selection and sharpening. Wood acquisition and blank preparation. Turning bark/natural edge, green wood and burl bowls and platters. Sanding techniques.
Phone: 507-259-5026
Email: johnnydxyz@yahoo.com
City: Rochester, Minnesota


Jerry Huneke
Jerry Huneke

Selection and use of carbide tools to create pens and small items.
Phone: 507-272-7560
Email: jerryjlh@hcinet.net
City: Zumbrota, Minnesota


Mike Denny
Mike Denny

Lathe and tool selection. Turning green wood and bark/natural edge bowls. French polish techniques using shellac.
Phone: 507-775-7481
Email: mikedennymn@gmail.com
City: Byron, Minnesota


Jerry Ritter
Jerry Ritter

Design and turning of small items, lidded boxes, finials, ornaments, and spindles. Making lathe tools and jigs.
Phone: 612-987-2414
Email: jerryritter@email.com
City: Lanesboro, Minnesota


Mark Behrends
Mark Behrends

Bowls, Natural Edge Bowls, Green Wood Turning
Phone: 507-649-1204
Email: mbehrends2@yahoo.com
City: Zumbrota, MN


Lyle Solem
Lyle Solem

All Areas of Turning, Jigs & Fixtures, Small Items
Phone: 507-289-7501
Email:
City: Rochester, MN


Steve Brown
Steve Brown

Lathe and tool selection and sharpening. Wood acquisition and blank preparation. Turning bark/natural edge, green wood, burl bowls, platters, and small items. Sanding techniques.
Phone:
Email: Slbdds1@gmail.com
City: Lake City, Minnesota


John Thorson
John Thorson

Bowls, platters, containers, boxes and toys
Phone: 507-951-3072
Email: jdthorson@gmail.com
City: Mazeppa, MN


Brent Larson
Brent Larson

Pens and small figures. Sanding techniques
Phone: 507-254-9238
Email: Bglarson11@gmail.com
City: Rochester, Minnesota

A member who desires assistance in improving a skill, or help with a project, contacts one of the above individuals. A mutually convenient time and place is then arranged for one or more discussion and instruction sessions. This might be in the member’s shop with the member using his own lathe and tools, or at the mentor’s shop. More than one member may participate in a session if it is agreeable with the mentor.