Adventures of an Imperfect Man In Search of a Handmade Life
Here are a couple of photos of the one I still think of as the "new horse." It is made up of mostly recycled and scrap wood that I was hoarding for just such a project. More than ten years later, I am still quite happy with the size and design of this one. It … Continue reading My Favorite Working Pony
For bow makers and other wood crafters...A shaving horse is an invaluable tool if you create or work with odd-shaped objects that are otherwise difficult to clamp or need to constantly move around. I don't know how I would get half my projects done without one. A horse, in combination with a small bench or … Continue reading Shaving Horses and Portable Woodworking
In Britain and Ireland, the Romany Gypsys and the Traveller community are often associated with low-skilled work such as scrap dealers, horse traders, musical entertainers, or more nefarious activities outside the societal norms. However, there were plenty of skilled craftsmen and craftswomen providing goods and services to people around the country. Below is an image … Continue reading The World is Your Workshop
Just a short show-and-tell today because I needed a new eating spoon. I lost my old favorite a few weeks ago and as near as I can remember, it was about 20 years old. I remember this because it was cut from the end of a bow stave of a bow I love. Here is … Continue reading Eating Spoon
Tools and work benches always create lots of discussion and bring out opinions. I am re-posting a couple pictures that feature my bodger horse as it has created a few new comments. This horse has been slightly modified over the years but is essentially the same as when it was made 5 or 6 years … Continue reading Looking Back at the Horse
Here's an image of Mick's pole lathe where my bowl and plate were created. It's hard to see all the workings from this view but it's a pretty great set-up. Unlike a modern, continuous motion lathe, the cutting is done on the down-stroke (about 2 1/2 revolutions) and the spring returns the system to the … Continue reading Pole Lathe
Wow. Simply wow. I'm happy whenever I see we haven't lost our craftsmanship.
A great short film about a bowl being turned on a treadle lathe. http:// Info from the Vimeo Page: Shot in a couple of hours on 2 separate afternoons, this is Leo who lives in a yurt with his partner and a variety of animals on the edge of Exmoor in the UK. He is … Continue reading The Wood Turner
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 