Pole/ treadle lathe?

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Sean Hellman

Tenderfoot
Apr 19, 2009
89
4
devon
www.seanhellman.com
Any treadle lathe users on here?
Yes, what do you want to know?
If you are worried about space, then design one that will break down quickly. The Mike Abbot design is good for that.

pole-lathe-MA-design_zpscc4fd000.jpg


or something a little bit different

bowl-lathe-2_zpse6745c46.jpg


bowl-lathe-3_zpsad54cb9b.jpg
 

robin wood

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oct 29, 2007
3,054
1
derbyshire
www.robin-wood.co.uk
what do you want to make? what raw materials do you have? I have made quite a few lathes and better to start from what you have, coming from a forestry background I tend to build either from old fenceposts or from round green wood. I make big heavy lathes for turning bowls.[video=youtube;GLpNNf4V5lU]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLpNNf4V5lU[/video]
 

Everything Mac

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 30, 2009
3,112
83
36
Scotland
Hi Robin, I should have sent you a pm for advice.


I'd like to start making socket chisels. And as such I'd like a way to make the handles with the option of maybe giving the odd bowl or something a go if it takes my fancy. I've had a go on pole lathes in the past and I've grown up using a metal lathe (very different I know)


As for raw materials I've got plenty of timber to make use of. Mostly 2x2" but I've got a few larger posts in odd sizes about 4x6"




Sean, thank you for posting those designs. I really like the top one!

All the best
Andy
 

robin wood

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Oct 29, 2007
3,054
1
derbyshire
www.robin-wood.co.uk
With pole lathes traditionally spindle turning and bowl turning were completely different trades done by different people. You can turn an odd bowl on a spindle lathe and I can turn an odd spindle on my bowl lathe but it's not very efficient. If you can borrow a copy of this book http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?an=mike+abbott&bt.x=0&bt.y=0&sts=t&tn=green+woodwork it is still the best intro to pole lathe spindle turning. You can save a whole lot of time by seeing someone else doing it well, there are a lot of folk scratching away at pole lathes at country fairs and not many people really doing it well, the shavings should fly off and leave a crisp clean finish. There are quite a number of folk in Dorset and a local group of the APT http://www.bodgers.org.uk/local-groups a visit to one of their meets would be time very well spent.
 

Everything Mac

Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
Nov 30, 2009
3,112
83
36
Scotland
With pole lathes traditionally spindle turning and bowl turning were completely different trades done by different people. You can turn an odd bowl on a spindle lathe and I can turn an odd spindle on my bowl lathe but it's not very efficient. If you can borrow a copy of this book http://www.abebooks.co.uk/servlet/SearchResults?an=mike+abbott&bt.x=0&bt.y=0&sts=t&tn=green+woodwork it is still the best intro to pole lathe spindle turning. You can save a whole lot of time by seeing someone else doing it well, there are a lot of folk scratching away at pole lathes at country fairs and not many people really doing it well, the shavings should fly off and leave a crisp clean finish. There are quite a number of folk in Dorset and a local group of the APT http://www.bodgers.org.uk/local-groups a visit to one of their meets would be time very well spent.


Good grief. I know the chap in Dorset. I buy my charcoal from him! Small world.
I'll have to pop round next week and have a word.

Cheers Robin. Much appreciated.

Andy
 

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