Human Power?

[Renardo Subrosa]

Hi there,

Well, after many years as a professional woodworker, if I never hear another power tool again, I'll be happy. In fact, these days I try to get as far off grid as possible, as often as possible. I even have my own woods but no cabin it yet. Getting the wife to agree would be a problem.

However, I do like to take my hand tools out in the woods and work out there with hand tools. What about using a treadle lathe? Have any of you done so? Do you have any plans for one? I seldom use other people's plans but I like to look at plans because people tend to try to complete their ideas when they make plans.

Any thoughts on this? I have decided to return to the primitive. I sometimes make twig furniture, nowadays and I was thinking of using green wood from a freshly downed sapling and try my hand at becomming a simple chair bodger. Perhaps a spring-pole lathe would be good for such a case but I'd like to make a lathe that uses a wheel and perhaps a flat belt for back at the house. Ideas? Advice? Experiences?

Thanks in advance,
Reny

[Ted Shrader]

Hi Reny -

Welcome to the Creek. A great place to hang out and exchange ideas with lots of friendly folks.

The local Woodcraft had a homemade treadle lathe on the floor for a while. Looks like the hardest component to come up with would be the flywheel. It would be a project to keep you occupied for a little while.

Welcome,
Ted

[Ken Salisbury]

What about using a treadle lathe? Have any of you done so? Do you have any plans for one? I seldom use other people's plans but I like to look at plans because people tend to try to complete their ideas when they make plans.

Experiences?

Thanks in advance,
Reny

Strange that you should ask. As a matter of fact my first experience in wood turning was on a pedal lathe which my Grandfather (pattern maker and wagon maker) had which had a huge flywheel. His lathe had a large pedal accessible from both sides of the lathe. In the early 40's he would make me pedal while he turned. My reward for this labor was every now and then he would pedal and let me turn something.

Where were the child labor laws when I needed them :D :D

However, I think I will stick to my Jet Mini and my Jet 1642VS.

[Steve Inniss]

Reny,
I do have plans for a treadle lathe somewhere. Never did get around to building it. I can find them if you'd like. -Steve

[Renardo Subrosa]

Reny,
I do have plans for a treadle lathe somewhere. Never did get around to building it. I can find them if you'd like. -Steve

Well, sure. I'd like that if it isn't too much trouble. Thanks either way.
--
Reny

[Ted Shrader]

Reny -

Check out these two links:
http://www.his.com/~tom/sca/lathes.html (Part I)
http://www.his.com/~tom/sca/lathes2.html (Part II)

Ted

[Renardo Subrosa]

Reny -

Check out these two links:
http://www.his.com/~tom/sca/lathes.html (Part I)
http://www.his.com/~tom/sca/lathes2.html (Part II)

Ted

Er, thanks Ted. Thanks for making an effort and without knowing me, it did seem to fill the bill. The level of sophistication is not quite what I was looking for, however. I guess I'll just have to make my own. I would like a good excuse to make a real spoked wheel and I have a bunch of windfallen oaks down back after the 4 hurricanes we had this summer. I can use these for large parts like the wheel hub for example. I'm also interested in the treadle grinder of itinerant knife grinders such as this one of a 'modern' Indian one: Knife Grinder (http://www.asiagrace.com/detail.php?i=193) . I was thinking of perhaps making a similar lathe that could be wheeled as a barrow and then tipped up onto it's legs and small spindles turned right in place, right out there in my own private woods, right where the wood falls. I have come to abhor the noise and dust of a commercial woodshop and would rather work out among the trees with squirrels and songbirds for my companions.

Thanks again,
Reny

[Wes Bischel]

Renardo,
Try these links:

http://pages.friendlycity.net/~krucker/BoysLathe/
http://homepage.mac.com/estuary1/estuary/PhotoAlbum4.html
http://www.ilovewood.com/publications.htm
http://www.mimf.com/articles/lathe/ (not a treadle, but a good resource)

Check out these links for info on Barnes lathes - they are both wood and metal, but the treadle/pedal info is a good reference.

http://www.lathes.co.uk/barnes/index.html
http://www.owwm.com/MfgIndex/detail.asp?ID=73

There are also a few books on the subject: Fine Woodworking has one - Making and Modifying Machines which has plans for a nice pole lathe derivative (turns in one direction vs the old pole which turns in two directions) and a treadle lathe. The other is from the Woodwrights shop - Roy Underhill - though I'm not sure which of his books has the lathe in it.

That's all I have on the subject. If you come across anything else, please pass it along.

Wes

[Renardo Subrosa]

Cool, Wes. Thanks.
--
Reny

[Steve Inniss]

Reny,
Sorry for the delay. I uncovered plans for a complete treadle lathe, which include a flywheel, and have scanned them. There are 6 or 7 pages and each is a little large to post here without losing the resolution. If you'd still like them - or if anyone else does- please PM me with your email address. -Steve