Green Woodworking is enjoying a revival now that the planting of trees is recognised as an important way of reducing global warming.
Indeed wood loving craftsmen of the past are now regarded as the first conservationists, as they harnessed the attributes of wood in a sustainable and renewable way.
Their methods not only enhanced the woodland where they lived and worked, but also created a habitat for a wealth of wildlife from birds to insects, to fungi and fauna.
The Equipment of a Woodsman
A Shave Horse
Shave horses are used to hold rough pieces of wood whilst they are being shaped using a two handed spoke shave or draw knife.
The craftsman (or woman) sits at one end of the ‘horse‘ and uses a foot lever to hold their work in place.
Shave horses are mainly used to make spoons, small bowls and chair legs.
Many courses are run in the UK where you can learn how to make shave horses and other green wood products. Here is the link to Directory of Courses which lists courses run in the UK during 2022.
A Pole Lathe
Pole Lathe from the 1300s
A pole lathe, also called a spring pole lathe, is used for wood turning.
A cord is wrapped round the raw billet of wood. The woodsman presses the treadle which unwinds the cord, thus turning the wood.
The elasticity within the long pole acts as a return spring to reset the treadle.
The men, who used pole lathes, were called bodgers. Years ago they lived an itinerant life, setting up their lathes close to fallen trees.
The craft was particularly popular in the woodland around High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, where Windsor chairs were made.
Peter Wood, one of the UK’s leading craftsmen working with green wood, has recorded an excellent series of five videos called ‘A Beginners Guide To The Pole Lathe‘
The first video is divided into three parts…..
From 8.00 minutes to 17.30…….. Overview of the pole lathe
I have always loved wood crafts. In my teens it was model gliders, ships in bottles, puppets, wooden toys.... Then I had to earn a crust and became a civil engineer designing and building bridges, motorways, schools...until I became a video producer. On retiring I started making dolls houses but now I am a blogger concentrating on my love of wood.
We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
Cookie
Duration
Description
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional
11 months
The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance
11 months
This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy
11 months
The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.