A pole lathe is a very ancient wood turning machine requiring no conventional power, only the leg power of the turner. By mounting a cylinder of green wood that has been prepared before hand using a draw-horse, between two metal points the turner can start to shape the wood into say, a chair leg. He starts by wrapping the string around the piece of wood, this string is attached to a springy pole at one end and a foot treadle at the other. By pushing down on the treadle the wood is rotated in one direction. As he pushes down he uses chisels to cut the wood. At the bottom of this stroke the springy pole pulls the wood back around in the other direction and the treadle back up ready for the next down stroke. The turner can only cut with the chisels on the down stroke. So in effect his work is reciprocating back and forward. Because of the state of the wood and the sharpness on the chisels the end finish is incredible smooth, requiring no further smoothing with say, sand paper. A whole range of items can be turned, chair legs and spindles, stool legs, bowls, platters, the list goes on. Check out the Gallery.

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