Sheer Genius... A Pedal powered lathe

[Mesquite]

I saw this over on Facebook in the Spoon Carving and Green Woodworking group and thought folks on here might appreciate it and its builders sheer genius

I know a lot of folks also don't do FB so I've copied the pics here

Idea and pictures by Jane Mickelborough

Basically they've taken an old treadle sewing machine base

Used some oak they had to make a frame

Turned a small pulley disc and fitted it

Made a poppet that slides

Made a tool rest that slides as well

Et voila as they said

 

[ozzy1977]

nice one, ny old neighbours metal lathe was treadle powered, a right bugger to control speed

 

[crosslandkelly]

I like that, very clever.

 

[Tjurved]

Nice I tried the same a couple of years ago but found out it had way to little momentum. The wheel of the pedal sewing machine is too light. Look at old pedal powered lathes and you shall find they all have heavy wheels. It works for the finest cuts but for heavier cuts it stops.

 

[grey-array]

Very nice I would like to add a flywheel myself though, but superb job there Steve!
Yours sincerely Ruud