"There are countless horrible things happening all over the world and horrible people prospering, but we must never allow them to disturb our equanimity or deflect us from our sacred duty to sabotage and annoy them whenever possible." -Auberon Waugh
Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Working-with-your-hands Wednesday
I love to see an artisan turn an ugly chunk of wood into something beautiful.
Bonus video! I think one of my neighbors had one of these when I was a kid.
On the radial arm saw ... ... Dad was an avid carpenter, with a workshop that included a radial arm saw. I'd quite forgotten about it until I saw this video.
I do not remember him (or myself, when I was older) using the saw for anything but crosscut. And it vanished when he retired and moved out of state.
But it does look to be very versatile! If a bit risky ....
I used someone elses radial arm saw some when I was young, but I never had any desire to get one of my own. I was a skinny guy, and never felt I had the bulk that was handy to keep control of one. When the time came to get my own saw, a table saw was my first choice. It just felt safer, to me. A table saw, miter saw, and bandsaw do all the cutting I need to do.
That burl became a fine bowl, but I would have turned it into a table. At about 5:10 I would stopped machining and (if possible) set it in resin - rough side up, with maybe six inches of resin above the wood. An unusual conversation piece if nothing else.
That tool is very cool. Multiple types of saw, lathe and mill. They call it "boring and profiling" but that's what a lathe and mill do.
ReplyDeleteNice work! I really liked the point where he finally balanced the wood -- it started out vibrating the lathe quite a bit.
ReplyDeleteAnd a very original approach, making multiple bowls out of the one burl.
On the radial arm saw ... ... Dad was an avid carpenter, with a workshop that included a radial arm saw. I'd quite forgotten about it until I saw this video.
ReplyDeleteI do not remember him (or myself, when I was older) using the saw for anything but crosscut. And it vanished when he retired and moved out of state.
But it does look to be very versatile! If a bit risky ....
Risky sure, but where do you think 7 fingered shop teachers come from?
DeleteI used someone elses radial arm saw some when I was young, but I never had any desire to get one of my own. I was a skinny guy, and never felt I had the bulk that was handy to keep control of one. When the time came to get my own saw, a table saw was my first choice. It just felt safer, to me. A table saw, miter saw, and bandsaw do all the cutting I need to do.
ReplyDeleteThat burl became a fine bowl, but I would have turned it into a table. At about 5:10 I would stopped machining and (if possible) set it in resin - rough side up, with maybe six inches of resin above the wood. An unusual conversation piece if nothing else.
ReplyDelete