Bob Glenn
05-15-2007, 11:26 AM
I am building a spring pole lathe to use at eighteen century re-enactments where I make Windsor chairs. I try to add something new each year and this year I will be turning chair legs and stretchers on the new lathe.
Last night I was working out in the shop and needed to cut a six inch decorative arch on top of each end of the lathe supports. The wood is yellow poplar and an inch and half thick. I was regreting using my power reciprocating saw, since it doesn't cut thick material very well.
With the end piece clamped up in the end vise, I looked over and at my Grandfather Lindstrom's hand made bow saw. It's the only tool of his that I possess. He came to America from Sweden when he was 20, in early part of the last century. He was a woodworker, and made musical instruments for Conn in northern Indiana. He was also a passionate wood worker at home. I remember visiting his basement and seeing all the handtools and the wonderful wooden work bench. Unfortunately, when he died, my cousins hauled all off to the dump, except for the bench and my bow saw. I would give up a lot to able to use his tools today.
I have tried to use his bow saw several times when cutting out seat blanks for Windsor chairs, with little luck. Either it wouldn't cut straight or it would become uncontrollabe and wander off the line.
Last night on a whim, I once again picked the bow saw from its resting spot, tighten the blade, and started to cut. Cutting through waste stock, I noticed it was cutting amazingly fast and square to the stock. As I approached the cutting line I had laid out, the saw turned and followed the line with relative ease and little effort.
I couldn't believe my eyes as the first piece came off leaving a relatively smooth surface, needing only a little spoke shave work to clean up.
With the job done, I celibrated with a cold one in the stillness of the evening alone in the shop, admiring my work. I think Grandpa may have been guiding my hand last night.
He would have been proud.
Last night I was working out in the shop and needed to cut a six inch decorative arch on top of each end of the lathe supports. The wood is yellow poplar and an inch and half thick. I was regreting using my power reciprocating saw, since it doesn't cut thick material very well.
With the end piece clamped up in the end vise, I looked over and at my Grandfather Lindstrom's hand made bow saw. It's the only tool of his that I possess. He came to America from Sweden when he was 20, in early part of the last century. He was a woodworker, and made musical instruments for Conn in northern Indiana. He was also a passionate wood worker at home. I remember visiting his basement and seeing all the handtools and the wonderful wooden work bench. Unfortunately, when he died, my cousins hauled all off to the dump, except for the bench and my bow saw. I would give up a lot to able to use his tools today.
I have tried to use his bow saw several times when cutting out seat blanks for Windsor chairs, with little luck. Either it wouldn't cut straight or it would become uncontrollabe and wander off the line.
Last night on a whim, I once again picked the bow saw from its resting spot, tighten the blade, and started to cut. Cutting through waste stock, I noticed it was cutting amazingly fast and square to the stock. As I approached the cutting line I had laid out, the saw turned and followed the line with relative ease and little effort.
I couldn't believe my eyes as the first piece came off leaving a relatively smooth surface, needing only a little spoke shave work to clean up.
With the job done, I celibrated with a cold one in the stillness of the evening alone in the shop, admiring my work. I think Grandpa may have been guiding my hand last night.
He would have been proud.