I have a class that provides a shared_ptr number. At the end of the number's life cycle it should be placed back on a list of available numbers. The shared_ptr's custom deleter function looks like what I need. I'm able to get a free function to compile as the deleter just fine. In trying to use a class member function as the custom deleter I've run into compile errors. I'm not sure where I'm going wrong. I know the custom deleter need to be copy constructible and I'm probably breaking some assumed requirement. Any help on what I'm doing wrong would be appreciated. Ryan class CTNGenerator { public: CTNGenerator(void) { m_AvailableCTNs.resize(20); unsigned short startValue = 15; for (ctns::iterator itor = m_AvailableCTNs.begin(); itor != m_AvailableCTNs.end(); ++itor) { //This compiles fine. boost::bind(boost::mem_fun(&CTNGenerator::makeCTNAvailable), this); //Placing the call as the custom delete function doesn't compile. *itor = bus(new unsigned short(startValue++), boost::bind(boost::mem_fun(&CTNGenerator::makeCTNAvailable, this))); } } private: void CTNGenerator::makeCTNAvailable(unsigned short * ctn) { m_AvailableCTNs.push_back(boost::shared_ptr<unsigned short>(ctn)); } private: typedef boost::shared_ptr<unsigned short> bus; typedef std::list<bus> ctns; ctns m_AvailableCTNs; };