SWAT OTI Demonstrators for 2025
Here are your 2025 OTI Demonstrators:
(in alphabetical order)
Rich Colvin
RICH COLVIN designed and continues to evolve the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0. He published the plans for any to freely use, along with user guides & manuals, on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0 Library (mdfre2.ColvinTools.com).
His collaborations with other turners show the beauty of ornamentally turned pieces, and how ornamental turning works well with pieces turned on more traditional lathes. These pictures are of a piece which was first turned on a Powermatic 3520b and then finished on the MDF Rose Engine Lathe 2.0.
Rich strongly believes in helping new ornamental turners get started. He developed, published, and supports the Ornamental Turning Book of Knowledge (www.OTBoK.info).
Rich has been a woodturner since 1995, and an ornamental turner since 2016, when his wife told him they had no more room for bowls.
Rich is a member of the Ornamental Turners International and the Society of Ornamental Turners.
Rich lives in Marysville, Ohio.
Demo topics:
Task Automation for Rose Eng. Lathes
3D Printing & the Ornamental Turner
Brad Davis
Brad Davis Bio:I have worked with wood all my life,however I started turning wood around 20 years ago. This fascination reached a boiling point when I was introduced to a rose engine lathe at an event in Chicago. I purchased my first OT lathe in 2011. Since then I have added machines including Holtzapffel#1942 and most recently a fixed tool lathe made by Fred Armbruster. Along the way, I was fortunate to spend a lot of time with Gorst duPlessis who taught me that a rose engine does not have to be scary. I am also a prolific traditional turning artist as well. I have been blessed to be able to spend time with some of the greatest turners of my time which has given me a better understanding of form and function. I have been married for 40 years to my wife Shirley (who fortunately has never complained about what I purchase for my hobby). We have 2 children, Bradley and Alaina who have blessed us with 5 grand children
Demo Topics:
Potpourri-Q/A Ornaments on a Rose Eng
Spencer Hamann
Spencer Hamann is a luthier by trade, specializing in repairing, restoring, and adjusting orchestral string instruments. Since 2011 he has helped thousands of musicians find and fine tune their musical voice, individuals bring family heirlooms back to life, and students begin their journeys into music. He began studying the luthier’s art as a high schooler, under the mentorship of Sheboygan, Wisconsin luthier Mark Cooley. He earned his BFA in Music History and Literature and a certificate in Celtic Studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee which he attended on the Ruth DeYoung Kohler Scholarship for the Arts.
Spencer has enjoyed many facets of woodworking and restorations over the years, and began studying ornamental turning in 2023 when building attachments for his metal lathe to replicate classic patterns. In the summer of 2024 he completed the restoration and modification of a rose engine, and has continued to pursue technique and possibilities of these amazing machines.
Spencer is a member of the Society of Ornamental Turners, The Plumier Foundation, and currently serves as the President of Ornamental Turners International.
Demo topics:
Rosette Trans. with Touches & Rosettes
RE Patterns - Paper Chuck Practical Apps
Jeff Hornung
Jeff Hornung: In 2011, he was in a minor car accident and suffered a concussion. He had complications caused by Post Concussion Syndrome and ended up at the John C. Campbell Folk School in North Carolina for craft as therapy. Woodturning was the class he chose and that not only began the healing process but also launched his woodturning career. He has become a national and international symposium demonstrator as well as traveling to clubs for hands on classes when possible. Additionally, he’s also an experienced virtual instructor and has been providing live interactive remote demos since early 2019.
He is an award-winning juried artist, Craft Alliance Artist in Residence (2019), a woodturning instructor at Craft Alliance and the John C Campbell Folk School. Additionally, he’s also an experienced virtual instructor and has been providing live interactive remote demos since early 2019 as well as being a national and international demonstrator.
Demo Topics:
Ornamental Turning, If I Can Do It, Anyone Can
Ornamental Inlay
Tres Lennep
Tres LennepI was born and raised overseas in Aruba and Africa,attending high school in Switzerland. Moved back to Mississippi where my family parents and grandparents were from and earned a Mechanical Engineering degree from Mississippi State University. I worked for the Navy as an engineer administering shipbuilding contracts for over 40 years. I also spent 32 plus years in the Army and Air National Guard. In 2001 I purchased a lathe and was hooked on woodturning. I created a series of thin wall pierced and air brushed pieces of lighthouses and marine life along with several carved pieces. In the last ten years most of my work has been ornaments, special design pieces and ornamentally turned items. Several years ago,I became the vice president of Ornamentals Turners International (OTI). I have recently purchased additional ornamental lathes and have been having monthly shop days with local turners in my shop for those interested in learning more and collaborating. I have started doing machinery work and have constructed a geometric chuck in addition to other parts for various ornamental lathes. My latest project has been a small portable rose engine that I can transport for demonstrations,educational purposes and teaching opportunities.
Demo topic:
Traveling Rose Engine & Belt Welding
SWAT 2025
SWAT 2025