Help needed - Woodworm

[Penners]

As this is a topic on woodworm, this is a more appropriate lathe

Ah, a good old bodger at work. How did that word come to mean a shoddy workman?

 

[Flyfisher]

I had always assumed confusion with bodge and botch.

So I headed off to wikipedia (a general rather than definitive source, I freely admit) to discover that the 'skilled woodworker' definition is quite modern (c. 1910) and localised to around High Wycombe, a renowned furniture making town of course. I was also surprised to learn that commercial application of the craft only really died out in the 1960s. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodging

I tried using a pole lathe at a craft fair once. It requires correct coordination between hands and feet to take the tool out of work during the 'back-stroke', but once that is mastered it was quite easy to create something broadly cylindrical. Like many such skills, getting 80% there is relatively easy but the remaining 20% defines the real craftsmen. I've often thought of building a pole-lathe to play with . . . one day perhaps.

 

[Penners]

I've often thought of building a pole-lathe to play with . . . one day perhaps.

I like the idea that the lines between bodge and botch have been blurred - a very plausible explanation.

Your bodger's lathe does not, of course have to be of the pole type. If you look in the background of the photo above, you'll see an example of a bow lathe - an alternative way of achieving the back-spring.

 

[Flyfisher]

I've never tried one, but I'd guess it's easier to use both hands on the cutting tool rather than one hand and a foot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVwTSzNLxcM

At the other extreme, imagine messing up this piece of work and having to make another :shock:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taMV8CcszbE&feature=related


(Is this some sort of record for Mr Drift? Heavy engineering via lath-and-plaster, bow-lathes and pole-lathes.
Still, better pole-lathes than pole-dancers :lol: )

 

[Matt Green]

So I headed off to wikipedia (a general rather than definitive source, I freely admit) to discover that the 'skilled woodworker' definition is quite modern (c. 1910) and localised to around High Wycombe, a renowned furniture making town of course.

As the son of a chairmaker from High Wycombe*, and having served a 23 year sentence in the town, I can heartily recommend a trip to the Chair Museum if you ever find yourself unavoidably stranded there: http://www.wycombe.gov.uk/council-services/leisure-and-culture/wycombe-museum.aspx

It's housed in a fantastic brick and flint building.

Matt
*made redundant last month after 32 years at the company following a takeover, still they gave him a lovely...nothing. He got nothing. :evil: