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comments (20) April 7th, 2010 in blogs

elizh elizabeth healy, senior copy editor
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He has more talent in his foot than ... - CLICK TO ENLARGE

He has more talent in his foot than ...
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Thanks to "mvflaim," who posted this remarkable video on Knots. It shows a young wood turner in Morocco. I can't even describe his technique ... suffice it to say he uses only a very sharp skew chisel, his hand, and his foot to turn a chess piece on a hand-powered lathe. It's mesmerizing.


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Comments (20)

uncle_grant uncle_grant writes: I have taught residential construction for 26 years at Olympic College and all through those years students were convinced that the "magic" was in the tools. This video clearly demonstrates that a little determination and a whole lot of practice can produce wonders. Thanks for sharing. Now I'll go back to my electrically powered lathe and marvel at this artisan's skill.
Posted: 1:37 pm on April 22nd

ricswood ricswood writes: Wasn't that his name in the opening credit? He makes me wish I had the talent to do what he does with all four extremities! I have enough trouble with just two!!
Posted: 1:07 pm on April 22nd

7avesolitaria 7avesolitaria writes: Amazing, he demonstrates how to use more than two extremities we have, but also amazes me that the person who took the video did not mention his name, that would have been fare.
Posted: 9:14 am on April 22nd

sjdehner sjdehner writes: I think it's neat that people are writing in suggesting that they might actually try the bow lathe themselves!

No doubt it would make the young Moroccan wood worker smile to learn that he's brought some pleasure and inspired others with his level of skill.

This is a fantastic video celebrating the love of wood working and thanks for sharing.


Posted: 11:14 am on April 21st

Bidgybudget Bidgybudget writes: Like the rest of the commentors (and likely most all viewers), I am humbled... and encouraged.

This video (and the legion of undocumented crafters around the world like him) pretty well crushes the American idea of craftsmanship. What is so nice about it is that it does it so gently yet so completely.

I try to encourage the elementary school kids to whom I teach woodworking to appreciate the subtle power of hand tools. The successful use of a hand saw or router plane far out-ways the momentary flash of a power tool wielded by an adult for nearly every kid. It is unlikely I am inspiring too many future professional woodworkers but I hope they leave a class with some appreciation of what can be done without vast industrial support. This video certainly does that for me.

The real irony is that surrounding this little video on the the FW page are the blaring advertisements for CNC routers and all the other trappings of "professional" woodworking in the "developed" world.

Thanks so much for posting this.
Posted: 10:36 am on April 21st

RJSR60 RJSR60 writes: It makes me feel totaly ashamed at what we have and wish for. If I could handel a skew half that good I would be over joyed. My hat goes off to this man. Increadable.
Posted: 10:11 am on April 21st

RJSR60 RJSR60 writes: It makes me feel totaly ashamed at what we have and wish for. If I could handel a skew half that good I would be over joyed. My hat goes off to this man. Increadable.
Posted: 10:09 am on April 21st

Joeshi Joeshi writes: Woooooo!!! amazing amazing, i feel ashame as welll....i always looking for expert tools and external help....and this man tells me that only thing you need is your practical imagination and live with what you have!
Posted: 4:41 am on April 21st

dpaulstone dpaulstone writes: Holy **i*, that is humbling to watch. I always "need" the latest gadgets to make work easy. This man shames me! Fantastic, and inspiring. Thanks for the video.
Posted: 4:03 pm on April 19th

AllenO AllenO writes: I saw a man using this exact same setup demonstrating turning at Busch Gardens in Tampa Florida in 1979. In addition to the regular turning, he also had a special tailstock that allowed him to bore through a completed piece. This allowed him to make items like pipes or small lamp bases. I always wondered what happened to him, but it's nice to see his legacy live on.
Posted: 7:29 am on April 16th

Mezz Mezz writes: @4545 He uses a regular Creuser grinder/sharpener and buffs it with a leather strap!

How do i know?? my uncle lives just around the corner of his shop and they help each other.

If you have ever been to morocco and especially Marrakesh, you'll see a lot of handmade skewer handles that these guys
(he has 4 brothers that are great carpenters/woodworkers) make and sell at Jema el Fna, wich is the big market that Marrakesh is known for

please ignore the bad English, just a Dutch/Moroccan woodworker
trying to learn American Furniture and its designs!
Posted: 1:52 pm on April 8th

coonsy coonsy writes: The ability of a man with the normal number of appendages to master a material such as wood is boundless. We Americans are so accustomed to the "make it easy", "this machine does it all", "this gimmick will make your life easier" mentality stand amazed at what a human person can accomplish with simple tools. Hat's off to mankind. Together we can do anything.
Posted: 11:59 am on April 8th

cawoodie cawoodie writes: He manipulates that chisel so easily. I bet there are many, me included, who can't work a skew chisel without catching an edge. Inspiring me to grab my chisel and practice more.
Posted: 11:06 pm on April 7th

JimmyD. JimmyD. writes: Loved the video.

I grew up in central Africa back in the 60's. My parents were missionaries, and at the mission we had a carpenters shop, learned all the basics I know about furniture making, from African Master Carpenters who did EVERYTHING by hand, and I mean they could do ANYTHING. I spent hours watching and asking questions about everything they did. Sweet memories


Posted: 10:45 pm on April 7th

4545 4545 writes: And how does he sharpen?
Posted: 9:24 pm on April 7th

chibi chibi writes: Simple beautiful.
Posted: 9:19 pm on April 7th

beers beers writes: Reminds me of Mozambique, I knew a guy who lived way of the beaten path that made pestal and mortars for smashing garlic cloves with a lathe fashoined from a of heavy truck bearing pressed into a baobab tree. Those guys are amazing.
Posted: 8:44 pm on April 7th

howard11 howard11 writes: That is amazing. I do not yet have a lathe so maybe I will try a bow-lathe instead. However, I have to figure out a method of working without the use of my toes.
Posted: 7:08 pm on April 7th

hubiedoo517 hubiedoo517 writes: That's cool, amazing and inspirational.
Posted: 6:59 pm on April 7th

johncondor johncondor writes: It's like watching improvisational jazz!
Posted: 5:03 pm on April 7th

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