Treadle Design

[David Markowitz]

Someone will surely tell me if this should go elsewhere.

Is anyone familiar with a book or website on the general mechanic design principles of treadles? I picked up an old Singer sewing machine and am thinking of either restoring it or adapting it (as a jigsaw, perhaps? I once saw a picture of one used this way on the web).

I'm pretty interested in this as a more generalized thing and would appreciate it if anyone knows resources. If nothing else, it will fill a TV-less night after the Phillies are eliminated.

[Jim Belair]

Hi David.

Sounds like a neat project. You might try a book on automata or general mechanical movements. I'd try the library rather than buying and finding it doesn't have what you're looking for. Something like the following:


http://www.amazon.ca/Creative-Kinetics-Making-Mechanical-Marvels/dp/1402732236/ref=wl_it_dp_o?ie=UTF8&coliid=I3NDYNV3CU10Z8&colid=2E10SAY3U8Z3R

http://www.amazon.ca/507-Mechanical-Movements-Mechanisms-Devices/dp/0486443604/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Others might have better advice. They usually do :rolleyes:

Jim B

[john brenton]

Funny thing about that, I think if you want to turn it into a lathe it'll probably get moved into the lathe section.

I thought about doing that before, and although I've never seen one converted I'm sure it can be done. It would make a sweet little meat powered spindle lathe.


Someone will surely tell me if this should go elsewhere.

Is anyone familiar with a book or website on the general mechanic design principles of treadles? I picked up an old Singer sewing machine and am thinking of either restoring it or adapting it (as a jigsaw, perhaps? I once saw a picture of one used this way on the web).

I'm pretty interested in this as a more generalized thing and would appreciate it if anyone knows resources. If nothing else, it will fill a TV-less night after the Phillies are eliminated.

[Kevin Lucas]

Theres a few out there for sure. I debated making one myself, Here are a few links that may give you some ideas.

http://homepage.mac.com/estuary1/estuary/PhotoAlbum4.html

http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/advert/ay119.htm

http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/advert/ay255.htm

http://www.americanartifacts.com/smma/advert/ay209.htm

Roy Underhill lathe plan

http://blog.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/content/binary/TreadleLathe.pdf

Hope that helps some

[george wilson]

I used red oak for the treadle lathe we made for the Gunsmith's shop in Williamsburg. It was 5" thick,and 24" in diameter. I wouldn't use old pine scrap to make the flywheel as it would not be heavy enough to give much reserve oomph. You could bury blocks of metal equally around the wheel to add weight,but be sure to keep them equally in weight,and in balance.

I saw a pretty effective old cobbled together treadle lathe in a flea market. It used an iron,spoked old farm implement wheel for a treadle. Like on a disc harrow. It was about 2' in dia. and pretty heavy looking.