Woodturning Circa 1926

[Bryan Milham]

How it used to be done - this from German.

A few 'basic' tools (gotta love that Hook tool) and away you go...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=-z_Ph6nZfGE

[thebowlerhattedturner]

Thanks for posting this Bryan. An interesting use of tools from a bygone era. It did look as though he had a hole right through the bottom though, was that intentional do you think?
Regards
John BHT

[bodrighywood]

If anyone is interested in the 'old ways' there is an interesting free download here from the early 20th Century

Pete

[Bryan Milham]

John,

I must admit to being captivated on 2 counts.

The whole thing was turned on a screw chuck - so yes he has a hole all the way through the base, but may have plugged it, he did the one in the lid with the knob.

And the use of (what we call) the Continental Gouge to hollow the bowl.

[bodrighywood]

The thing that impressed me most was the fact that he is sharpening his tools on what I assume is a water wheel and yet they look to be every bit as sharp as the ones we have today done on super grinders. They'd have been carbon steel as well which do take a better edge. Just shows what can be achieved without spending a fortune on fancy equipment doesn't it.

Pete

[thebowlerhattedturner]

Following on from that, I did try hollowing a bowl today with the continental grind gouge, on a softer wood(I was using Bubinga) I think it would be quite good. (Why do I have so many tools?)
It just shows that for all of our "modernity"(?) we are still close to what happened years ago.
Regards
John BHT

[bodrighywood]

Make  good challenge for a meet sometime. How few tools can we use to make something. Spindle work you could probably get away with just a sew for a lot of things, bowls maybe a couple more? Good way of building skill levels.

Pete