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A brief
history of woodturning.
In England the "bodgers" or chairmakers were the
best known users of lathes.
Consisting of a spring, usually a young sapling,
a length of rope passed twice around the piece
to be turned and leg power to drive it, the
first lathes travelled back and forth but the
cutting stroke only ocurred on the downward
movement of the object being turned. These
lathes were constructed in-situ wherever the
bodger was doing his work, usually in a forest
location where all the timber for the components
of the chair could be found.
The Industrial Revolution
heralded the introduction of heavy cast
commercial lathes powered by water then steam
and latterly by electric motor. Few had access
to lathes and the skills and techniques used
were jealously guarded by those earning a living
from turning.
Today the vast array of
affordable and portable lathes and their
attachments shows how popular the hobby has
become.
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