Polelathe
Encyclopedia
A pole lathe is a wood-turning lathe
that uses a long pole as a return spring for a treadle
. Pressing the treadle with your foot pulls on a cord that is wrapped around the piece of wood or billet being turned
. The other end of the cord reaches up to the end of a long springy pole. As the action is reciprocating, the work rotates in one direction and then back the other way. Turning is only carried out on the down stroke of the treadle, the spring of the pole only being sufficient to return the treadle to the raised position ready for the next down stroke. Modern pole lathes often replace the springy pole with an elastic bungee cord
.
While the action of the pole lathe and the skills required are similar to those employed on a modern power lathe, a requirement is that the timber used on a pole lathe is freshly felled and unseasoned, i.e. green. The angle that the tools are ground is closer to that of a carpenter's chisel
than that of a power lathe tool. Using power lathe tools on a pole lathe is safe but hard work. Taking a pole lathe chisel to a power lathe is to risk serious injury since the forces are such that the blade is likely to break.
The pole lathe's origin is lost in antiquity; we know that Viking
s used them from the archaeological finds at Jórvík
, the Viking settlement discovered beneath the modern city of York
in England. The use of pole lathes died out in England after the World War II. It has seen a return through the increased interest in green woodwork, although the majority of practitioners are at the hobby rather than professional level.
Lathe
A lathe is a machine tool which rotates the workpiece on its axis to perform various operations such as cutting, sanding, knurling, drilling, or deformation with tools that are applied to the workpiece to create an object which has symmetry about an axis of rotation.Lathes are used in woodturning,...
that uses a long pole as a return spring for a treadle
Treadle
A treadle [from OE tredan = to tread] is a part of a machine which is operated by the foot to produce reciprocating or rotary motion in a machine such as a weaving loom or grinder...
. Pressing the treadle with your foot pulls on a cord that is wrapped around the piece of wood or billet being turned
Woodturning
Woodturning is a form of woodworking that is used to create wooden objects on a lathe . Woodturning differs from most other forms of woodworking in that the wood is moving while a stationary tool is used to cut and shape it...
. The other end of the cord reaches up to the end of a long springy pole. As the action is reciprocating, the work rotates in one direction and then back the other way. Turning is only carried out on the down stroke of the treadle, the spring of the pole only being sufficient to return the treadle to the raised position ready for the next down stroke. Modern pole lathes often replace the springy pole with an elastic bungee cord
Bungee cord
A bungee cord , also known as a shock cord, is an elastic cord composed of one or more elastic strands forming a core, usually covered in a woven cotton or polypropylene sheath...
.
While the action of the pole lathe and the skills required are similar to those employed on a modern power lathe, a requirement is that the timber used on a pole lathe is freshly felled and unseasoned, i.e. green. The angle that the tools are ground is closer to that of a carpenter's chisel
Chisel
A chisel is a tool with a characteristically shaped cutting edge of blade on its end, for carving or cutting a hard material such as wood, stone, or metal. The handle and blade of some types of chisel are made of metal or wood with a sharp edge in it.In use, the chisel is forced into the material...
than that of a power lathe tool. Using power lathe tools on a pole lathe is safe but hard work. Taking a pole lathe chisel to a power lathe is to risk serious injury since the forces are such that the blade is likely to break.
The pole lathe's origin is lost in antiquity; we know that Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
s used them from the archaeological finds at Jórvík
Jórvík
Scandinavian York is a term, like the terms Kingdom of Jórvík or Kingdom of York, used by historians for the kingdom of Northumbria in the late 9th century and first half of the 10th century, when it was dominated by Norse warrior-kings; in particular, it is used to refer to the city controlled by...
, the Viking settlement discovered beneath the modern city of York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
in England. The use of pole lathes died out in England after the World War II. It has seen a return through the increased interest in green woodwork, although the majority of practitioners are at the hobby rather than professional level.