turning a bowl on a foot-powered lathe

[ForasAccess]

Nice demonstration and video with the lathe.

Brought back memories of older family & friends who enjoyed woodworking.

[CiaranRooney125]

This is fantastic, Great great job bud. Would it be simple to build a Lathe?

[tappakeggaday1]

really great video, next your going to have to post a video of you making a goblet

[panzertank15]

Incredible! One of the coolest things I've ever seen. Nice work

[Baroqueboy11]

Is that wood he's using for the bowl?

[panzertank15]

i like the part where he makes a bowl

[niby05]

that is quite interesting. is this a lathe of your own design or something from history? ive never seen one before but im not an expert on lathes either.

[robinturns]

Very similar lathes are pictured in early medieval illustrations and there are bowls that were made on a lathe of unknown design from 400BC. My inspiration was the lathe of George Lailey "the last bowl turner" who died in 1958, his lathe is at the museum of English Rural Life.

[aaazzz00o9999]

why do you use a foot powered lathe instead of a traditional lathe?

[robinturns]

Well I would say this was a traditional lathe but I know what you mean.

I work this way partly because I like the process and partly because I like the result. Bowls made this way have a very different feel to bowls made on an electric lathe. Its a bit like the difference between hand thrown earthenware and fine porcelain, there is a place for both in the world.

[kaliprophet]

In my opinion, not only is there a place for this type of turning, but there is a NEED for this type. It is an amazing process, and a true art. Wonderful work Mr. Wood

[brooksofmaine]

Very informative film. Thanks for posting.

[iamtheomega]

I was thinking if you attached one of those stair steppers that powers a fan (used at yard sale), it'd be at least 50% more efficient turning in one direction only and with much greater velocity.

[robinturns]

it is a common misconception that reciprocal motion is inefficient. I often get folk suggesting how it could be made better, I never saw anyone tell a man using a hammer how much energy he was wasting bringing the hammer back like that every time.

[deezynar]

Excellent craftsman. The real deal, true to period methods and tools.  Good product turned out in good time. Thanks for posting.

[liamg1995]

hello, Robin,

after watching this video several times I wondered

How do you get the metal spikes on the mandrel to go into the bowl instead of being driven further up into the mandrel?

Liam

[robinturns]

sorry for the slow reply, basically the end of the metal that's in the mandrel is blunt and the bit sticking out is pointy so it chooses to drive into the blank instead of further into the mandrel.

[dvdburn10]

Cheers Robin

Loads of rubbish on here. Yours is one of the gems worth watching.

As a keen amateur Photographer, I'd love to call and shoot some image. I live I Sheffield.

Just amazing work thanks.

[robinturns]

That would be fine, email is the best way to contact me to check when I am at the workshop

[liamg1995]

What did you make the mandril out of?

[robinturns]

I make mandrels out of any dry wood I have about and fit metal hoops to stop the ends splitting when I hit it with a big hammer

[piceaspruce]

very skilled. I wonder how tiring it is? I loved this video by the way!

[robinturns]

its hard work, about as hard as walking uphill but the arms get tired too.

[BobH73]

An excellent historical reenactment! The tool appears to be a typical old style hook nose...shaped out of flat steel shaped to a "C" at the end, with the bevel running from inside the "C" shape to outer edge. Tool is held about 45 Degrees - with the open part of the "C" facing about 2:30 on the clock so the back part of the "C" slices away the wood.

[banryuusen]

I've watched this countless times and it never ceases to amaze me. I am wondering if I could please ask you a few questions about your Lathe and tools? I am rejoining my old reenactment group that are now doing Viking age colonization. I know a bit about pottery but that wasn't as widely used at wood or metal being that they are more durable. I'd love to learn more about your craft. Please contact me if you have the time. Thank you.

[spawndonacle]

No need of a health club membership. It looks as though magic happens at 3:40. What type of curved tool shaped the inner bottom of the bowl?

[punctate]

A master craftsman at work making it look easy but just try it youself to find out what it takes. Until the 17th century most domestic plates, bowls, cups and spoons used in Britain were wooden. George Lailey was the last full time pole lathe bowl turner. George died in 1958 but Robin has single handedly revived the craft.

[gmark1953]

Fabulous my friend