I have an early background in metal manufacturing in the Kansas City, MO region before going into management with AT&T. Tooling development, research and high-speed production were my strong points in the manufacturing area. With AT&T I was site manager of 12 buildings in Atlanta, GA.

After retirement to the NE GA Mountains about ten years ago, I became a full time wood turner graduating up the scale with lathes until I purchased a Powermatic 3520.  I saw the potential of tool control and less body stress that the Powermatic provides by sliding the head stock toward the tail end of the lathe, but I discovered that lifting the 50 pound tailstock off each and every time I wanted to hollow a bowl was not only hard on my body, but frustrating as well.

I have studied under world-class English turner Ray Key, and American turners Jim Talley, Dave Barringer, Hal Simmons, and Terry Daniel. I have been an assistant instructor at John C. Campbell Folk School, as well as giving private instruction to fellow woodturners. I am a member of the AAW , Brasstown Woodturners Guild , and the Mountain Laurel Woodturners Club.

My woodturnings are displayed in several galleries in North Georgia.   I do commissions for many types of woodturnings.  I recently completed a commission for over a hundred balusters for the restoration of an 1896 historic home in Abbeville, S.C.

Don Butler