By hand and eye at the lathe, we turn our rocking chair front legs, footstool legs, Berry barstool legs, Paschall table legs, Johnson Pedestal table base, and spindles for all dining chairs and barstools. We use no duplicating machinery. I ordered a duplicating attachment many years ago, and sent it back the day I got it. We are faster and better . . . by far.
Work of this speed and accuracy cannot be done with dull tools . . . must be done with very sharp tools. Grinding and honing have become routine — after many missteps and struggles to find the right grinder, the right wheel for that grinder, a system for holding the tool at the grinder, and the right honing stone. All of the above must be easily accessible and organized so the time spent sharpening is minimal. The hands on the tool must be steady and true.
