Ryan Herring

Peter - I've never heard of a treadle lathe without the flywheel, how are they setup?

The handle measures 22" to the center of the bit.

Sorry, I didn't realize anyone responded to my question.

The axe head is approx. 7.5 lbs
The eye is parallel with the bit. So the offset has to be in the handle.

Since I have never used a hewing axe before I was wondering about....
1. Hand clearance vs. control, pretty much the angle of the offset.
2. Is grain runoff really critical in a handle that wouldn't be getting nearly the shock that a felling axe handle would.
3. If grain runoff is critical then steam bending seems to be the only option. Is there an advantage to the 'S' handle shape vs. one with just a single bend.

I wasn't interested in buying a handle so I just decided to just give it shot.

Here is what I know I did wrong:
1. my grain direction is about as bad as it's possible to be, but the wood was free.
2. the handle is oak, not hickory or ash, but, again, the wood was free.

I got about a 15 deg. offset, though it is hard to see in the picture.
We'll see which breaks first, me or the handle.

I would appreciate any input.

Ryan

Only cutting half the time is a drawback.

What you're describing is a little more like a treadle lathe.
If you were to put the pottery wheel below the drive shaft and use a belt I would guess that you would get a lot less vibration in the work piece.

Fairly compact treadle lathe


This guy has a great set of videos. If you haven't seen any, you should check them out.

Roy Underhill developed this from an old technical manual.



A little fancier.
http://dblaney.wordpress.com/2010/03/12/spring-pole-lathe-details/

@Nick
It is about sensitivity to the different species. I have never heard of anyone who has a problem with maple, ash, oak..etc. either. My body doesn't like to be exposed to black walnut.
I work with one guy who is sensitive to Teak and Spanish Cedar. He is one guy out of fifteen, all of the rest have no problem with any of the species that we use.

Interesting.

Sassafras is down as poisonous.
Didn't they try to use that as a cure for syphilis?!

Does anyone have any experience or know of information on different ways to make an offset handle for a hewing axe?

I don't have any experience with steam bending but if that is my only option then I will soon!!

Thanks in advance.

Ryan

You had me at "Salt & Vinegar"

I received my DVD set on 8/9.