Thread: Conundrum Curiosity Complex.

The Shakers of the US invented, patented, and sold a human powered tablesaw a long time ago. It was called a Barnes Treadle Saw.
You can probably download the designs.

Oh and a quick search came up with this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXpn2ibxm88

I've seen those during my web-fu sessions. I don't have access to a fly/belt wheel of that size and/or caliber .

For me, this is definitely an exercise in working with what I have. Or what I can get ahold for basically free (meaning either money OR time/effort). I ask a maintenance man at work today "who's leg do I gotta hump?..." question. Referred me to either of his supervisors. He talked similar to what was already said in this thread: after filling a trailer & paying for transport, they'd probably barely make past "breaking even". So, especially since one of the supervisors holds me in more of a positive light than most of my co-workers, no harm in asking. Maybe offer "what account would I drop two bucks in to settle up the cost of the scrap?"

You grease those wheels! Definitely beats my back-up plan of swiping parts after hours...

Originally Posted by dinnermint

You grease those wheels! Definitely beats my back-up plan of swiping parts after hours...

Hehe, I pocket the occasional nut or bolt swept up off the floor after maintenance neglected to tidy up once they fix something. Anyone else where I work wouldn't think twice about leaving it with the breadcrumbs swept up, later to be hauled off for processing into animal feed. Said bolt was already trash to maintenance, and would have to be rejected by a metal detector at the animal feed place, so it won't be missed by anyone.

The small mountain of scrap set off to the side is a different story. Some person in the office probably considers it important (for tax purposes, anyway ) as a monetary resource for the company. I make loaves of bread for a living. Very few things are more reliable, for earning a living. So I won't do anything risky like trying to "five finger discount" 50-200 pounds of metal. It will be acquired with the permission of someone who has at least some sort of authority in the matter.

Who knows? I may be able to pique his interest if I mention what it's for . Not exactly "brownie points", but might prove helpful.

Let's see if I can upload the other pics I took of the wheels?...

Success!

I took shots from multiple angles, cause that was easier than trying to figure out dimensions for usability.

Originally Posted by Crawler

The small mountain of scrap set off to the side is a different story. Some person in the office probably considers it important (for tax purposes, anyway ) as a monetary resource for the company. I make loaves of bread for a living. Very few things are more reliable, for earning a living. So I won't do anything risky like trying to "five finger discount" 50-200 pounds of metal. It will be acquired with the permission of someone who has at least some sort of authority in the matter.

When I were tiny, the story goes, my Dad, between jobs, collected floor sweepings and sold the resulting bags of hardware to keep my Mom and I in food.
~Richard

This is just what I pass by on my way to the clock to punch in...








So yea... we've got "stuff" sitting around, waiting for a hearse with 18 wheels. Kind of a morbid metaphor. I blame insomnia. G'night.

Thomas Edison said "to invent,you need a good imagination and a pile of junk". Looks like you are well on your way!

Originally Posted by tintin

Thomas Edison said "to invent,you need a good imagination and a pile of junk". Looks like you are well on your way!

When I worked full time as a contract designer of fixturing, I used to go out and walk through Hardware stores and Surplus stores looking for ideas which became soutions.
~Richard

Originally Posted by criswilson10

The Shakers of the US invented, patented, and sold a human powered tablesaw a long time ago. It was called a Barnes Treadle Saw.
You can probably download the designs.

Oh and a quick search came up with this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXpn2ibxm88

There were also foot powered lathes. Here's a link:

Documentary-Barns-treadle-lathe-jig-saw-table-saw-grinder-shaper-machinery-info-data-pictures. All by-American-Artifacts-dot-com

I think the show was 'The Woodwright' and he used old time hand tools and he had a treadle powered lath that used a spring and a leader but the lath turned back and forth instead of just round and round. The lathe could also be used outdoors with a tree branch acting as the spring and he did a demonstration doing so.

Foot powered lathes before the treadle used a spring pole (usually made of ash in the US) with a piece of twine that ran from the top of the pole, wrapped around the wood to be turned, and then down to a foot pedal. They were called spring pole lathes. You have to be careful with them because the wood rotates in both directions while pushing the foot pedal up and down. The treadle lathe is much easier to use, especially if you get one with a heavy, free spinning flywheel.
You just gotta love those old alcohol powered tools.