Sherman Anderson
UPDATE: Sherman’s been hard at work and has remodeled his studio to make it more accessible and comfortable. Make it a point to stop by and say hi! Additionally, Sherman will be hard at work on Friday from 9 am to 5 pm due to a previous commitment – he volunteers his lift, camera and time to take videos of the High School home games.
Sherman began learning the craft of wood turning as an apprentice at the Ozark Folk Center in 1999. After researching old-fashioned toys he chose peg tops which he began making the next year using hickory, maple, oak, dogwood and ash. The wood stock is turned as a spindle and tops come off one end of the spindle, one at a time.
This turned out to be a successful and rewarding business. Sherman now makes three kinds of tops including peg tops, finger spinners and a deluxe side-pull top that runs like a gyroscope. He makes the peg tops in five sizes using 80 species of tree wood. He also fashions wooden buttons for the cords. Metal tips for the tops are re-fabricated out of collared duplex nails and archery field tips.
Sherman’s demonstration includes not only how he makes the tops, but a three-part lesson about throwing a peg top which is of special interest to the kids. Sherman first had to learn to throw tops in order to sell them, and in 2002 he acquired the skill to throw a quadruple – four tops in one throw!! Sherman will give you a two page set of instructions on how to wind, hold and throw the peg top you purchase to take with you as a reminder.
After making over 6000 tops, and probably throwing most of them, Sherman has it down pat and welcomes you to his studio to see the whole world of tops.
Sherman’s studio is located at 589 N. Ridgeview Drive, located off Highway 5, 9 & 14 N. just a few blocks north of the Dulcimer Shoppe. A landmark for that corner is the sign advertising Anglers Resort. Turn right at that sign. Bear left at the first “Y” and right at the second “Y”. Our house and mailbox are numbered 589. It is the third house on the right. There is ample parking and the studio is in the beige metal shop building.
