Steve demonstrating the use of a spring-pole lathe at the fair

 

Naturally, I forgot my camera. This shot was taken by Ann when she arrived mid-morning. The lathe was swamped for three days. I encourage fair visitors to try the lathe out. This way they get a sense of what turning parts for furniture or chairs meant in terms of physical work in the 1800s. Ann of course, picked a time when the crowds around the lathe were sparse, so you can't judge the degree of interest from this shot. Thank you again to MOFGA member and fair volunter Jimmy Stewart, who acted as both a demonstrator, and interpreter working with scores of people showing on-lookers how the lathe works and talking each inexperienced user through all the details of stance, tool positioning, amd balance. Jim has been kind enough to volunter as my helper on the lathe for the last three years. His presence has allowed me to demonstrate Windsor chair-making without being torn away every few minutes to answer questions about the lathe.

 

I haven't posted anything much for the past few weeks as I have been revising many of my designs for my wooden hand-planes. I have arrived at a satisfactory look for my hollow and round planes. This past weekend I reworked my side-rounding and snipes bill plane planes. Like a lot of plane-makers, I have found that locating  a reliable  source of Beech is a hunt for the holy grail. I am currently using beech cut off a friend's property locally. He has kindly offered to let me cut some beech trees out of his wood lot. Which is great, except when I try to figure out when this is going to fit into schedule. Then the cut and split wood has to dry. All of the hardwood dealers I normally talk to tell me that they can't get Beech. I finally found a dealer up in the wilds of the Maine woods who says he has quarter-sawn european beech and boxwood available. Looks like I am going for a long car trip in the next couple of days.