Hey Ray....

Re: Hey Ray....

William Duffield, on the Cohansey


>You may already be too late to stop him, Todd. The last time we talked (day before yesterday), instead of the minibench, Ray was considering taking a JET Mini with him on future business trips, and doing a bit of turning in his hotel rooms.

If you think the Neanderthal slope is slippery, be forewarned that much steeper, more seductive slopes are lurking out there for the unwary woodworker. I've seen all too many who have turned to the round side, and were never heard from again in flatland.

Of course, like me, all the rationalization Ray needed was turning some tool handles. A few weeks ago, at the Loxahatchee Toolworks, I showed him how I do them. [nudge]

Today, we agreed that he would take possession of my old, electron-eating lathe. [shove]

I proposed that we make the exchange at Pennsbury Manor the next time the Joyner's shop is opened. Right now, Ray may not be aware that lying in wait in this joyner's shop are a treadle lathe, a springpole lathe, and a greatewheel lathe that he might try out with clear conscience. [strap on Acme roller skates and Acme rocket pack, point nose downhill, and light fuse]

Oooooo!

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia


>And even tho Ray reads the threads....It won't help. That is way sneaky Sir Will! :-) Ray, Is there a northern Virginia trip in the offing soon?JR

Re: It's all your fault, Joe!

William Duffield, on the Cohansey


>Re: It's all your fault, Joe! Yeah, you. You did it! You organized the last Springfield Neandertal breakfast.

Somehow, I ended up seated next to Dave Anderson, of Chester Toolworks. Our conversation worked its way around to my desire to upgrade my lathe, and we discussed the lathe he uses for turning handles on his exquisite little marking knives, awls, etc., and his recommendations. He explained why one particular honking big lathe with EVS (Electrons Violently Smitten, I think) could be advantageous even for something as small and delicate as a trimline pen. I realized it would also be sufficient for bedposts, yet still quite a bit less expensive than a Powermatic, Oneway, or Poolewood. Yesterday, partly based on Dave's recommendations, I brought a JWL-1642 home to the Loxahatchee Toolworks.

Well, actually, I brought two lathes back to the Cohansey, the big one for the shop, and a much smaller one to haul around, when I'm on Snake Den Branch, on the road, on a dock, or even maybe on the deck of a ship.

Here, I'm attempting to turn a dogwood carving mallet without harming any electrons (or the lathe, or myself). This lathe, not mine, at one time had done duty on a clipper ship. In addition to belaying pins, I suspect it turned many honey dippers. In the background are the components of the greatewheel lathe that is a replica of the one from the Dominy shop that is now in the Winterthur collection.

OH MY!

Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native now in Jax Fl.


>Bill,

Man, I wish you had more pics of that lathe you where using. that looks like a real Beauty! Tell me, how smoothly did it work? Did you find it difficult to pump the treadle AND introduce the tools to the wood?

Say, before you light that fuse, hows about pointing Ray in the direction of Florida for me. I'd like to see him again AND I have a big homemade LM ('lectron Murdering/Munching) lathe to taunt him with. :~)

Hey Ray, you'd better get back to Island REAL QUICK as there seems to be alot of scheming and coniving going on against you since you are away. Hey, when the cat is away the rats WILL PLAY! ;~)

Todd O.

Re: OH MY!

William Duffield, on the Cohansey


>NO, it's not easy to use. It's hard to put your body into a sweeping cut when you are standing on only one foot, and the other one is busy. When I want my car to go faster, I step on the accelerator harder and sooner than I would when I'm in no hurry. If I do that with this lathe, it just stops. Then it goes backwards. It is primitive in other ways as well. On the headstock is only a spur chuck, and it takes a really big bite out of the wood. I find it amazing what previous generations of turners could do with very unsophisticated tools. I guess I would start to get better at it if I had lots of practice. Next month, I'll try to get some more photos. There's another homemade lathe in town, built for turning bed poles, that I've used extensively, that I should also get some photos of. No, I don't like it either, but again, with practice, it gets the job done.

Well Bill...You did pick your seat...:-)

Joe Rogers, Northern Virginia


>Have you used the little gouge stone yet? It may work with lathe gouges.JR

So I'm to blame?

Dave Anderson Chester, NH


>Aw come on Sir William, I know that you have to lay this on someone, but it wouldn't have happened if you hadn't wanted it to. On the other hand, if you bring some of your results from the new toy to 5 Barns for show and tell, I'll probably forgive you. ;-))

Re: Plenty of blame for everyone

William Duffield, on the Cohansey


>Thanks for the advise, Dave. It is much appreciated. Regrettably, I'm busier than a one armed paper hanger this month and next, and I'll be lucky if I get the new space in the shop prepared for it and get it set up in time to turn it on, much less turn anything important on it between now and then. As you know, this one requires access from the tailstock end as well as from the side, while the old one required access mostly from the side, and from the headstock end. It's gotta go someplace new, and I have to move the tool racks and special taks lighting, too. Then I have to consider whether I should also move the grinder and other sharpening tools and metalworking bench, too.

I'm looking forward to seeing you at Five Barns. If I don't have anything created on the new one, at least I will bring with me some examples of stuff I've turned in the last year or so.