The wood turner

Pole lathe
One of the stalls in Time Team's medieval market belonged to wood turner Mark Sanderson from living history society Anmod Dracan. This society of experts and researchers specialises in entertaining and educating by giving active demonstrations.

Mark used a pole lathe to turn a wooden bowl on his stall. 'I used a piece of ash for the pole of the lathe because it's naturally springy and good for driving the lathe,' he says. 'And I used a selection of birch and beech wood to make the bowls.'

Staying sharp
Pumping his foot up and down to pull the ash pole strap and drive the lathe, Mark made the shavings fly. 'It takes me about an hour to produce a bowl,' he says. 'With a pole lathe the piece of wood you're working turns towards you on one stroke and then away as the pole is released. The key is to cut when the wood spins towards you and then draw the chisel back when it returns. That way the chisel stays sharper longer.'

Back to Roxburgh

Text only