Displaced Canadian
Member
The idea hit me last night to maybe build a treadle lathe. Still in the thinking stage, has anybody done it and what is it like to use one? Isn't there a nick name for those who use them?
I think they're called Neanderthals. :biggrin:Isn't there a nick name for those who use them?
On the serious side, I think it's a cool idea. I like using retro items (see my avatar). I'll be watching to see what you come up with.The idea hit me last night to maybe build a treadle lathe. Still in the thinking stage, has anybody done it and what is it like to use one?
I have turned on a spring pole Lathe. My friend Fritz is into historical reenactments and buck skinning. I used to do blacksmith work and my father and brother still do.
Anyway Fritz made his out of wood from the ground up. You could turn a spindle on it if it was the only thing you had to use. A true treadle lathe run from a bike rig or an old sewing machine would be perfect for pens but bowls bigger than say a small cereal bowl would be tough. The only true treadle lathe I have ever worked with was an adapted sewing machine that could me run with one foot. I think the bike rig would be really limiting and you'd get smoother power transfer with a flywheel. I have used several treadle and kick type pottery wheels over the years that worked great, but I haven't seen any lathe or pottery wheels based off a bike.