by Follansbee » Sun Jun 15, 2008 1:43 am
[quote="Johan Davidsson... i´m reconstructing an pole lathe from the 1700´s, after Hulot´s illustration.
One thing I can´t find any information on is what kind of power cord was used in the old days. [/quote]
Well, I thought I'd chime in with some of my usual 17th c junk...here's the section of Joseph Moxon's Mechanick Exercises (1678-83) on the "string" for a pole lathe. it's kinda long, and only of interest to some...apologies otherwise. I have never used sheep gut for my pole lathe. I use 1/8" nylon cord. lasts & lasts...and much of my turning is on square sections of oak for joined stools and wainscot chairs. The nylon stands up to working on those square corners pretty well.
P. Follansbee
here's the Moxon quote
Upon the thin end of the Pole is wound a considerable Bundle of String, that as a Mandrel requires to be bigger than ordinary, or the Work heavier, they may unwind so much of the String as will compass the Mandrel twice, or (if the Work be heavy) thrice; the easier to carry it about.
This String is made of the Guts of Beasts (most commonly Sheep, and spun round of several thicknesses, of which the Workman chuses such sizes as are aptest for his Work; for large and Heavy Work, very thick, but for small and light work, thin: And there are several reasons for his Choice; for a thin String will be too weak for heavy Work; but if it were not too weak for heavy work, it would be apt to mark soft wood more than a thick String would, when they are forcÂ’d to shift the String, and let it run upon the Work. Besides, a thin String (though it were strong enough) would not so well bring heavy Work about; because being small, but little of the String touches the wood to command it, unless they wind it the oftner about the Work, which both takes up time, and hazards the breaking of the String, by the fretting of the several twists against one another.
Now a thick String is uncommodious for small work; because having a strength and stubbornness proportionable to its size, it will not comply closes to a piece of Work of small Diameter, but will be apt to slip about it, unless both Pole and Trad be very strong; and then, if the Center-holes be not very deep, and the Pikes fill them not very tight, and the Puppets also be not very well fixt, the strength of the String will alter the Center-holes; especially when the work is upon soft Wood, of else it will endanger the breaking of the work in its weakest place.