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The Human-powered Bandsaw
“One form of intermediate technology employed in my shop, the human-powered machine, provides an alternative to both the hand tool and the power tool. At this time, my tools in this category include a treadle-powered bandsaw, a hand-cranked drill press, a pedal bench grinder, and treadle metal lathe. The lathe and drill press are more than 100 years old and were manufactured to be human-powered. The 12" bandsaw is of more recent manufacture and came to me with a 1/4-horsepower electric motor. I use all of these tools regularly. However, I will describe the bandsaw in some detail as it is by far the most used. The saw is mounted on a purpose-built stand equipped with wheels. Without an electric...
That is All You Need in Life, Isn’t It?
M&T: Were you learning new skills there or were you simply applying knowledge you already had? RU: Well, I taught myself blasting out there. I had the Whole Earth Catalog, and there was a review in there of a book on blasting. I didn’t have the book but I had this photo of the open book, a left and right page. I read that and thought “Oh, that’s all I need to know.” I went down to Santa Fe and bought a case of dynamite for $35. I had to fill out a form for it, and the fellow just told me “Check this, check that. OK, now sign.” That was the way it went: just like that I had...
Podcast 65 – “Handworks 2023”
In this episode, Joshua and Mike reflect on their time at Handworks, quite possibly the single most significant hand-tool woodworking event in the world. Part travelogue, part update, part rumination, this episode traverses a range of topics. If you weren’t there, you really missed out.
SHOW NOTES:
Issue Fifteen
Handworks
Ed Bouvier, Village Woodwright
Colonial Homestead
Jordan Goodwin, Blacksmith
Jason Lonon, Blacksmith
Mortise & Tenon Apprenticeship Program