Ball & Socket Embroidery Stand, Part 1

MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE "WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" IS PROVIDED BY... MORE THAN 40 MILLION PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THEIR CARS AND HOMES CHOOSE STATE FARM FOR THEIR INSURANCE.

STATE FARM, A PROUD SUPPORTER OF THE "WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

[HORNS HONKING] [FIDDLE PLAYING] HEY, HELLO AGAIN.

WELCOME BACK TO THE "WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP."

I'M ROY UNDERHILL, AND YOU KNOW, LIKE MOST MANLY MEN, I ENJOY WORKING WITH MY HAND TOOLS.

IN FACT, WHEN I'M NOT MAKING THINGS WITH MY MANLY HAND TOOLS, I'M OF COURSE SITTING DOWN AND ENJOYING DOING LOVELY NEEDLEWORK OF MY HAND TOOLS ON MY WONDERFUL EMBROIDERY STAND THAT I HAVE RIGHT HERE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY A WONDERFUL LITTLE EMBROIDERY STAND, AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA MAKE TODAY.

WE'RE GONNA START IT.

IT IS AN EMBROIDERY STAND THAT YOU MAY HAVE ACTUALLY SEEN.

IT'S IN THE WYTHE HOUSE IN COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG, AND IT'S JUST A CHARMER.

IT'S BEEN THERE SINCE 1936, SO I MEAN, MILLIONS OF PEOPLE HAVE SEEN IT.

IT'S OF COURSE A LITTLE TRIPOD STAND DOWN THERE, BUT THE REALLY COOL THING-- LET'S JUST TAKE IT APART BIT BY BIT.

IT'S GREAT.

IT HOLDS IT UP HERE RIGHT AT EYE LEVEL.

SO YOU TAKE OFF THAT OUTER HOOP, LIKE ON ANY EMBROIDERY STAND.

TAKE OFF THE WORK YOU'RE WORKING ON.

AND THERE'S OF COURSE A BENTWOOD PIECE HERE ON THE INSIDE, AND A YOKE THAT HOLDS THAT BENTWOOD PIECE-- AGAIN BENTWOOD.

AND WE'RE GONNA DO THAT BENTWOOD STUFF NEXT TIME.

WE'RE NOT GONNA GET THIS ALL DONE TODAY.

WHAT'S REALLY COOL IS RIGHT HERE--LOOK AT THIS.

THIS LITTLE HAND SCREW SETS A BALL AND SOCKET JOINT.

YOU CAN LOCK THIS IN ANY POSITION THAT YOU WANT JUST BY SETTING THIS SET-SCREW BECAUSE IT HAS A BALL AND SOCKET JOINT, AN 18th-CENTURY BALL AND SOCKET JOINT THERE.

SO WE'RE GONNA SEE HOW TO DO THAT KIND OF WORK.

AND THEN WE'LL GO ON DOWN.

WE'RE NOT GONNA DO THIS DECORATIVE TURNING SO MUCH, IN FACT, VERY LITTLE THIS TIME.

WE'LL DO THAT WHEN WE PUT THE LEGS ON, AGAIN, NEXT TIME.

WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO NOW, THOUGH, IS WORK ON THIS CONNECTION DOWN AT THE BOTTOM.

THE ORIGINAL WAS JUST LIKE THIS--HAD THIS KIND OF DIAMOND-SHAPED NUT ON IT.

IN FACT, I WAS IN THERE WITH TARA LOOKING AT THE ORIGINAL.

I SAID, "CAN I TAKE THAT OFF?"

I'D ALREADY DONE IT THAT MUCH.

SHE SAID, "OH, YEAH, GO AHEAD.

OK." SO WE STARTED UNDOING IT, AND ON THE INSIDE OF THIS ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE NUT-- YOU SEE HOW THAT SCREWS ON THERE-- THERE WERE PENCIL LINES, LAYOUT LINES WITH PENCILS.

NOW, THEY HAD PENCILS IN THE 18th CENTURY, BUT YOU JUST DON'T SEE IT MUCH ON FURNITURE.

AND WE STARTED LOOKING AT THE WEAR, AND IT JUST DIDN'T SEEM QUITE LIKE IT WAS FROM THE 1700s, BUT IN ANY CASE, IT'S-- IF YOU'VE BEEN IN THE WYTHE HOUSE IN WILLIAMSBURG SINCE 1936, YOU'RE A HISTORIC PIECE.

SO I'M GONNA START WITH THAT AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF THE TURNING, AND WE'LL SEE HOW TO DO THAT BALL AND SOCKET JOINT.

VERY COOL STUFF.

ALL RIGHT.

SO LET'S START WITH THAT BASE.

NOW, THE ORIGINAL WAS BEECH AND FRUITWOOD.

AND I COULDN'T GET ANY BEECH WHERE I'M LIVING, AND I HAD TO GO GET SOME HARD MAPLE.

AND THIS WILL JUST SHOW YOU WHAT A RUBE I AM.

I WAS LOOKING AT THE MAPLE, AND IT HAD THIS FLAW IN IT DOWN THERE.

I SAID, "WHAT THE HECK IS THAT?

LOOK AT THAT.

THAT'S GOT SOME CARPENTER BEE HOLES IN IT."

AND I WAS THINKING CARPENTER BEES GOT IN THERE.

AND IT WAS THE LONGEST TIME BEFORE I REALIZED WHAT THAT-- THOSE OF COURSE WHERE THEY WERE TAPPING MAPLE SYRUP.

AND SO THOSE ARE THE--THEY DRILL IN AND PUT THE SPILES AND HAVE THE MAPLE SYRUP DRIP OUT BECAUSE THIS IS SUGAR MAPLE.

SO, THE WORK ON THIS PIECE-- I'VE ALREADY STARTED ON THE FLOOR SIDE OF THIS ONE.

I'M JUST GONNA WORK ON THIS FACE, TOO, BECAUSE I DO WORK FROM 2 FACES ON THE BASES.

NOW, GET THIS DOWN LEVEL.

SO WE FIND THE CENTER VERY SIMPLY BY DRAWING DIAGONALS.

AND THAT'S WHAT SO COOL ABOUT THIS LITTLE EMBROIDERY STAND.

IT IS NOT JUST WONDERFUL FOR THE PERSON DOING THE NEEDLEWORK.

IT IS A VERY WONDERFUL EXERCISE IN WOODWORKING BECAUSE YOU'RE GONNA DO TURNING, YOU'RE GOING TO DO THREADING, YOU'LL DO ALL KIND OF STEAM-BENDING, AND JUST GREAT STUFF HERE.

SO FIND THAT CENTER AND THEN BORE THROUGH, DRILL THROUGH, RATHER-- YOU SAY THIS IS A DRILL.

DRILL THROUGH THE CENTER ALL THE WAY OUT THE OTHER SIDE, BUT NOT INTO YOUR BENCH TOP.

ALL RIGHT--OUT THE OTHER SIDE.

AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU AN INDICATOR HOLE.

THAT CENTER, THAT LITTLE HOLE, WILL ALLOW THIS AUGER-- BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA DRILL-- BORE RATHER.

YOU SEE, IT'S BORING WHEN YOU TAKE OUT A FULL SHAVING.

IT'S DRILLING WHEN YOU PULVERIZE YOUR SHAVING.

THAT'S THE WAY THEY DEFINE IT.

THAT WILL GIVE THIS SCREW HERE, THE LEAD SCREW, A BETTER GRIP ON HERE AND KEEP IT FROM JUST SPLITTING AND SPLINTERING.

AND IT ALSO ALLOWS YOU TO DO IT FROM BOTH SIDES AT ONCE.

NOW, I'VE ALREADY BORED THROUGH ON THE OTHER SIDE.

AND SEE, I'VE ALREADY GOTTEN THROUGH THERE.

SO WE'RE GONNA TRY AND MEET UP HERE.

AND I GUESS I NEED TO COME OUT A LITTLE BIT AND SET THIS SO THAT IT WILL GRIP WELL-- MY MALLET.

I WANT TO HOLD FAST THERE.

ALL RIGHT.

I'M NOT GONNA GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH.

SO EVEN THOUGH THAT'S ON THE BENCH A LITTLE BIT, IT'LL BE FINE.

SO THIS IS GONNA BE THE UNDERSIDE.

SOMEBODY LOOKING ON THE UNDERSIDE WILL FIND THOSE MAPLE-SYRUP TAPPING SPOTS.

CHECK IT WITH A SQUARE; MAKE SURE WE'RE GOING SQUARE THROUGH.

AND WE'LL BORE THROUGH TO THE MIDDLE AND MEET WITH THE HOLES.

THAT JUST MAKES A SMOOTHER OPENING.

ACTUALLY, WITH THIS KIND OF AUGER WITHOUT ITS DOWN-CUTTING LIPS, IT ACTUALLY-- WHEN THE 2 HOLES MEET, IT DOESN'T MAKE A COMPLETE OPENING.

THEY'RE MEETING RIGHT NOW.

IT DOESN'T MAKE A--DOESN'T MAKE A CLEAN CUT, AND SOMETIMES I HAVE TO GO IN THERE WITH A GOUGE AND CLEAN IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND TAKE THAT OUT NOW.

WE'LL GET ALL THE WAY ON THROUGH THERE AND THEN START THREADING.

NOW, THREADING LIKE THIS IS A--THIS IS A BIG JOB.

THREADING INCH-AND-A-HALF THREADS, AND THE CHANCE THAT YOU HAVE-- I JUST HAPPENED UPON A THREAD CUTTER, A INSIDE TAP FOR WOOD AND DYE, TO CUT THE SIZE THREADS THAT WE NEEDED FOR A REPRODUCTION OF THE 18th-CENTURY PIECE.

THERE ARE MANY OTHER WAYS TO SOCKET A PLATE INTO A SHAFT, BUT SINCE WE'RE DOING A REPLICA, I THOUGHT I'D JUST DO IT THIS WAY.

I'LL SHOW YOU ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT, TOO.

SO ANYWAY, WE GET THAT.

THE HOLE IS ALL THE WAY THROUGH, AND NOW WE'VE GOT THIS TAP.

LOOK AT THIS THING.

THIS IS JUST A BRUTAL-LOOKING THING.

IT'S GOT THE FLUTES ON THERE.

IT'S FILED IN A SPIRAL, SO IT'S JUST LIKE A REGULAR TAP, BUT IT'S FOR WOOD.

THE THING IS, BEING AN INCH AND A HALF IN DIAMETER-- YOU SEE, I'VE ALREADY GOT THIS STARTED.

IT IS A BEAR TO TURN.

YOU REALLY NEED TO LEAVE IT--YOU SEE, I STARTED TO SAW OFF THIS CIRCLE, AND I SHOULDN'T HAVE BECAUSE I NEEDED TO HAVE IT SQUARE.

AND THERE YOU GO.

IT CUTS THROUGH-- THAT TAP HAS NOW CUT THE INTERNAL THREADS IN OUR PLATE.

AND BECAUSE WE DRILLED THAT LITTLE HOLE THROUGH FIRST SQUARE, IT SHOULD BE AT 90 DEGREES TO ITS SURFACE.

BUT THERE YOU SEE THE THREADS INSIDE THERE.

SEE THOSE LITTLE THREADS DOWN INSIDE THERE CUT BY OUR TAP?

SO NOW WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO JUST CUT THE MATING PIECE AFTER WE'VE SAWN THE CIRCLE.

SO LET'S GET THIS OUT OF THE WAY AND SAW THE CIRCLE WITH THE BOW SAW.

AND JUST LEAVE IT SQUARE.

THE ONLY REASON YOU LEAVE IT SQUARE IS BECAUSE YOU NEED THOSE EDGES TO GET THE TORQUE TO TWIST THAT BIG OLD PIECE THROUGH THERE.

SO THAT KIND OF TAP IS RARE, BUT THAT'S THE WAY THE ORIGINAL WAS, AND THEY CERTAINLY WERE HAVING-- DID HAVE THOSE KIND OF TAPS, THAT EXACT SAME KIND, IN THE 17-- 18th CENTURY, RATHER.

SO HERE WE ARE WITH THE BOW SAW JUST SAWING AROUND AS CLOSE AS WE CAN TO THE LINE THERE.

JUST SAWING... [LAUGHS] ALL RIGHT, ENOUGH OF THAT.

SAWING AROUND THE DISK.

SO YOU GET THE DISK READY TO SCREW ONTO THE EXTERNAL THREADS.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND DO THAT.

YOU'VE GOT THE DISK, AND YOU HAVE IT SAWED AROUND.

IT'S THREADED INSIDE.

NOW WE NEED TO DO THE OTHER PART.

AND THE MATE TO THAT TAP IS OF COURSE THIS SCREW BOX.

AND YOU SEE IT HAS A V-SHAPED CUTTER THERE.

AND I'VE DONE A LITTLE BIT OF THIS PIECE ALREADY, THREADED IT ON THERE.

AND INSTEAD OF TURNING THE BOX, THE SCREW BOX AS IT IS CALLED, I'M GONNA TURN THE WOOD.

AND THAT WAY YOU CAN SEE THE ACTION OF THE SCREW BOX AS IT CUTS.

YOU SEE THAT V-SHAPED CUTTER THERE.

AND AS I TURN, THAT V-SHAPED CUTTER TAKES OUT A NICE SLICE THERE.

AND I HAVE THE GUIDE PLATE TAKEN OFF OF THIS SCREW BOX-- THIS IS THE GUIDE PLATE THAT NORMALLY GOES ON THERE-- BECAUSE WE NEED TO GO ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SHOULDER BECAUSE WHAT'S CRITICAL--I'LL DO A LITTLE BIT MORE HERE-- WHAT'S CRITICAL IS THAT SHOULDER THAT WE HAVE THE BASE PLATE FORCED, SO WE GO ALL THE WAY UP AS TIGHT AS WE CAN, AND EVEN HAVE TO FINISH THAT LAST LITTLE BIT WITH A V-GOUGE, A VEINER.

GET IN THERE AND CUT IT SO THAT WE HAVE THE THREAD GOING ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SHOULDER.

BECAUSE NOW WE TAKE THAT DISK... [PANTS] AND SCREW THAT DISK ONTO OUR PIECE.

AND OF COURSE WHEN IT'S CUT ROUND, WE'D NOW TAKE IT TO THE LATHE.

SO LET'S SEE.

I'VE GOT A PIECE ALREADY ASSEMBLED IN THE LATHE.

WE'RE GOING OVER AND DO THAT.

SO, WE'RE DOING THE BASE PLATE OF OUR EMBROIDERY STAND, THIS PART RIGHT HERE.

WE'RE LEAVING OUT THE DECORATIVE TURNING.

WE'LL DO THAT WHEN WE DO THE LEGS AND SET THOSE IN NEXT TIME.

SO, JUST TURNING THE PLATE, YOU SEE HOW IT'S NICE AND LITTLE CONCENTRIC CIRCLES AND STUFF LIKE THAT?

WELL, THAT'S DONE RIGHT HERE IN THE LATHE.

I'VE GOT THE BLANK SCREWED INTO THE SHAFT THERE.

IT'S ALL SET IN THE LATHE LIKE A SPINDLE, JUST LIKE WHEN WE DO THE DECORATIVE TURNING.

NOW ALL I HAVE TO DO IS GET IT UP TO SPEED BECAUSE IT'S A BIG OLD PIECE NOW.

LET'S SEE.

THIS IS A FOOT-TREADLE LATHE, AND IT'S A LITTLE BIT OF SLIPPAGE IN HERE, BUT THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

ONCE IT GETS GOING, THE INERTIA OF THIS PIECE CARRIES YOU A LONG WAY.

THERE WE ARE.

I'VE GOT THE GOUGE, AND I HOLD THE GOUGE SO THAT IT IS TOUCHING ABOVE THE POINT OF THE GOUGE AND SLIDE IT ALONG.

AND IT DOES A VERY NICE SHEARING SMOOTH CUT ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE FACE-- WITH THE BEVEL RUBBING AGAINST THE WOOD AND THROUGH IT ALL THE WAY DOWN.

NOW, ANOTHER WAY TO DO IT-- I HAVE HERE ANOTHER TOOL-- IS A SCRAPER, AND YOU CAN USE THIS ONE-- THIS IS A BIG FACE-PLATE SCRAPER-- AND HOLD IT DOWN LOW BECAUSE IT'S A SCRAPING TOOL, AND IT NEEDS TO DRAG A LITTLE BIT.

AND ANYWAY, WORKING ACROSS THE FACE UNTIL YOU BRING THAT PIECE TRUE.

AND THEN DO YOUR DECORATIVE WORK, AND OF COURSE PRETTY SOON YOUR LEG IS GONNA WEAR OUT, AND YOU'LL JUST LET IT COAST TO A STOP.

BUT AGAIN, IT'S THE FACT THAT THE PLATE IS SCREWED UP TIGHT AGAINST THAT SHOULDER.

THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT AT A RIGHT ANGLE AND ALLOWS YOU TO SPIN IT AND DO THAT NICE DECORATIVE WORK.

ALL RIGHT.

SO WE'VE GOT ANOTHER PIECE, A NUT, PUT ON THERE.

WE'VE DONE THAT.

NOW YOU CAN HAVE A TONGUE COME THROUGH HERE.

I'LL SHOW YOU A WEDGE WAY OF DOING THIS FASTENING IN JUST A BIT HERE.

BUT NOW WE'VE GOT TO GO ON AND DO THE SOCKET.

OOH, THE SOCKET.

THERE'S ANOTHER PROBLEM.

WE'VE DONE A GOOD BIT OF THE DECORATIVE TURNING ON THIS PIECE.

SEE, IT'S ALL PRETTY UP THERE.

NOW WHAT IF WE WERE TO PUT THIS IN THE VICE?

WE WOULD SMASH IT.

YOU KNOW, YOU PUT IT IN THE VICE TO GRAB IT FROM NOW ON.

IT WOULD SMASH AND DAMAGE THOSE DECORATIVE TURNINGS.

SO WE'VE GOT TO CRADLE IT NOW BECAUSE IF WE'RE MAKE THAT SOCKET-- I'M GONNA OPEN UP THAT SOCKET HERE, AND WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

HERE IT IS.

YOU SEE, UNDO THE SET SCREW.

THIS SET SCREW IS WONDERFUL.

THIS IS PERSIMMON WOOD ON HERE, A PERSIMMON SET SCREW.

SO YOU UNDO THAT, AND THEN WE CAN POP THE BALL OUT.

HANG ON TO THE BALL SO IT DOESN'T GO FLYING AWAY.

HAVE I GOT IT LOOSE ENOUGH--A LITTLE BIT LOOSER.

OH, THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT, AND YOU SEE THAT SOCKET DOWN IN THERE.

LOOK AT THAT.

SEE HOW THAT'S ROUNDED TO MATCH THAT BALL PERFECTLY SO THAT BALL GOES DOWN INSIDE THERE, AND THEN THIS SET SCREW TIGHTENS UP AND CLAMPS IT TIGHT AND GRIPS IT.

SO THAT MAKES THAT ADJUSTABLE BALL AND SOCKET.

NOW, WHEN WE LOOKED AT THE ORIGINAL, WE LOOKED WAY DOWN INSIDE THERE.

AND YOU CAN SEE A SMALLER HOLE DOWN INSIDE THE BIG ONE.

AND THAT WAS THE KEY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE A ROUND SOCKET INSIDE THERE.

YOU COULD DO IT ON A LATHE, BUT I'VE GOT ANOTHER WAY WE'RE GONNA DO IT.

BUT I COME AWAY WITH THAT PROBLEM, HOW DO YOU GRIP THIS WHILE YOU'RE WORKING?

LET'S JUST SOLVE THAT FIRST.

THEN WE'LL MOVE ON.

I'LL GIVE YOU A SECOND TO THINK ABOUT HOW WOULD YOU CUT THAT ROUNDED SOCKET INSIDE THERE?

SO WE GOT A GRIPPA PIECE.

LET ME CLEAR THE DECKS.

I'LL GET MY SAW OUT OF THE WAY.

WE DON'T NEED THAT.

WE DON'T NEED THESE DISKS HERE.

WHAT DO WE NEED?

WE NEED A PIECE TO CUT, AND WE NEED SOME OF OUR GRIPPERS.

SO HERE WE ARE.

I HAVE SOME SOFT PINE SEMICIRCLES OR, WHAT DO YOU CALL THEM, HEMI-WHATCHAMACALLITS, HALF-HOLLOW CYLINDERS.

THEY'RE CUT OUT.

NOW HOW WOULD YOU CUT THESE OUT?

THESE ARE GONNA BE OUR GRIPPERS.

WE'LL PUT THEM IN THE VICE, OBVIOUSLY, BUT LET'S JUST A SECOND AND LOOK AT HOW YOU CUT THESE BECAUSE HERE'S SOME COOL GEOMETRY.

AND IT HAS TO DO WITH RIGHT ANGLES AND WORKING WITH THIS ODD-SHAPED PLANE.

THIS IS CALLED A CORE BOX PLANE, AND IT ACTUALLY CUTS-- EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS AT RIGHT ANGLES-- IT CUTS THESE PERFECT CIRCLES.

NOW I'LL SHOW YOU THE PRINCIPLE BECAUSE WE HAVE JUST A WONDERFUL MATHEMATICAL WORLD WE LIVE IN.

IF YOU HAVE STOPS-- OR A DIAMETER OF A CIRCLE, AND HERE IS OUR RIGHT ANGLE.

AND SO I SET THIS RIGHT-ANGLE SQUARE IN HERE.

THIS RIGHT ANGLE NOW BEING STOPPED AT THE DIAMETER, THESE POINTS HERE, WHEN SLID AROUND IT WILL ACTUALLY TRACE A CIRCLE ALL THE WAY AROUND.

SEE THE POINT THERE HOW IT ACTUALLY GOES AROUND THE CIRCUMFERENCE?

AND EVEN UP TO HERE--SO WE SLIDE AROUND, AND THAT IS DESCRIBING THE CIRCUMFERENCE OF THE CIRCLE AS WE MOVE.

THAT'S THE WAY THE CORE BOX PLANE WORKS.

AND THIS WAS SENT TO ME BY CHARLES BIRCH.

HE'S A FRIEND THAT HAS SENT THIS DOWN.

THEY USE THEM IN PATTERN-MAKER SHOPS.

YOU START WITH 2 LITTLE GROOVES ON EITHER SIDE OF YOUR WOOD THERE.

AND THAT'S THE EXACT WIDTH OF THE DIAMETER OF THE CIRCLE THAT YOU WANT.

AND START WITH THE PLANE AFTER, HOWEVER, AFTER YOU HAVE GOUGED OUT-- GOUGED IT OUT ROUGHLY.

NOW, I'VE GOT A PIECE HERE THAT'S ALMOST NEAR COMPLETION, GETTING THERE.

AND I HAVE STARTED JUST THE SAME WAY BY HAVING THOSE 2 LITTLE GROOVES, THOSE LITTLE SHOULDER CUTS, GOUGED OUT JUST ROUGHLY WHAT I WANT REMOVED.

AND THEN WITH THIS CORE BOX PLANE AND ITS 90-DEGREE SIDES-- AND I'M NOT HITTING MY...THE SIDE OF IT.

OK. JUST SLIDING IT DOWN, IT WILL CUT A PERFECT HALF-CIRCLE.

IT'S ONLY CUTTING ON THIS LOWER SIDE HERE, SO IT'S JUST CUTTING ON ITS LEFT SIDE OF THAT ANGLE WORKING ITS WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.

YOU CAN SEE HOW THERE'S A HUMP IT'S GOING TO MEET.

IT'S A VERY COOL GEOMETRY AS WE WORK OUR WAY DOWN.

THEN WE NEED TO TURN THE PIECE AND COME BACK THE OTHER WAY.

AND YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE, THIS IS HOW IT WORKS FINALLY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM.

SO A CORE BOX PLANE-- ODD THING.

I'VE ALWAYS HEARD OF THEM.

NEVER HAD ONE TO WORK WITH.

I DIDN'T REALIZE WHAT A COOL THING IT WAS.

QUITE AN EXCURSION FROM MAKING OUR LITTLE EMBROIDERY STAND, BUT ANYWAY, YOU DO NEED SOMETHING TO HOLD THE WOOD.

NOW, ALTERNATIVELY, YOU CAN LEAVE THE WOOD AS A CYLINDER AND DO THE DECORATIVE-TURNING LAST.

THAT'S WHAT YOU GENERALLY DO, BUT I HAVE HAD-- THERE'S SO MANY THINGS YOU HAVE TO DO ALONG THE WAY.

YOU'D HAVE TO MAKE A PLUG, AND YOU HAVE TO GET THIS STEP DONE.

ONCE YOU DO THIS STEP, YOU LOSE YOUR CENTER, SO IT'S HARD TO RE-CENTER.

BECAUSE WE'RE GONNA MAKE THAT SOCKET NOW, THAT BALL SOCKET.

AND WE'RE GOING TO DO IT, AGAIN, BY BORING A CYLINDER FIRST.

THAT'S THE OBVIOUS THING.

WE'LL JUST TAKE THIS OBVIOUSLY.

WE'LL BORE DOWN AND MAKE A CYLINDER.

GO DOWN WITH A DRILL A LITTLE BIT, A BIT DEEPER, AND WE'LL START ROUGHING IT IN WITH THAT SAME AUGER.

AGAIN THAT HOLE HELPS, AND YOU SEE, CLAMPING IT HERE KEEPS YOU FROM BUSTING OUT A LITTLE BIT, HE SAID, HOPING THAT HE'S NOT GONNA BUST OUT BECAUSE THIS DOES DO A LOT OF PUSHING ON THAT END GRAIN, AND IT CAN TEAR OUT.

AND THE HARDER THE WOOD IS, THE BETTER IT'S GONNA GRIP YOUR LEAD SCREW AND THE LESS PUSHING DOWN YOU'LL HAVE TO DO.

SO WE'LL WORK OUR WAY AROUND AND DOWN-- BORING A CYLINDRICAL HOLE BEFORE WE GO AND TRY AND ROUND IT ON THE INSIDE.

AND LISTEN TO THAT END-GRAIN CUTTING.

YOU WORK THIS DOWN ABOUT 5/8, SO YOU'LL HAVE TO DRAW THIS OUT VERY CAREFULLY.

AND THEN--HOO!

START WITH SMALLER BITS.

ROUGH IN.

HERE'S THIS 7/8.

WE'LL BORE THAT INSIDE THERE ON DOWN.

AND THEN GO TO--ALL THE WAY DOWN TO A HALF-INCH CENTER UNTIL WE HAVE SOMETHING INSIDE THERE THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS.

DO YOU SEE HOW THAT HAS--THE CYLINDER IS BORED.

SO WE BORED A CYLINDER.

NOW WE JUST HAVE TO HOLLOW IT OUT IN THERE SO IT'S READY FOR A BALL TO GO IN BECAUSE A CYLINDER WOULD GO IN, A BALL WOULD NOT.

NOW, THE KEY IS THAT LITTLE HOLE THAT GOES DEEPER THAN ANYTHING WE NEED DOWN THERE.

THAT'S WHAT KEEPS IT TOGETHER.

LET ME GO AHEAD AND GET THE DEVICE.

THIS TOOK ME A LOT OF THINKING!

I'M SAYING, "HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?"

THEY WERE TURNING SPHERES IN SPHERES IN THE 18th CENTURY.

WONDERFUL TURNING, YOU COULD DO ANYTHING MECHANICALLY, BUT I COULDN'T FIGURE OUT HOW DO YOU CUT THAT SOCKET.

NOW THAT LITTLE PIECE THAT FELL OFF IS A BIT OF SCRAPER BLADE, AND THAT'S THE KEY TO THIS.

HERE, LOOK HERE.

I HAVE A DEVICE--OOP--JUST SET THE WRONG WAY BECAUSE IT CHANGES.

NOW, IF YOU CAN IMAGINE, HERE IS A DEVICE THAT WOULD FIT THAT LONG HOLE THAT GOES DOWN FARTHER IN THERE.

SO WE HAD A HOLE FARTHER DOWN INSIDE THERE.

AND SEE WHAT THIS IS.

THERE'S A SCRAPER HERE, BUT IT IS ONLY ENGAGING ON THIS ROUND FACE RIGHT HERE.

BUT WHEN WE PULL IT BACK, LOOK WHAT HAPPENS.

DO YOU SEE HOW IT'S-- AND EVEN TOP AND BOTTOM, YOU SEE RIGHT THERE.

THOSE 2 SCRAPERS ARE COMING AROUND.

SO IT'S SHAPED SO IT'S FLAT WHEN IT'S LIKE THIS, BUT WHEN WE PULL IT BACK, THAT CIRCLE ROTATES INSIDE THERE.

I GUESS YOU COULD USE THIS FOR PROSTATE SURGERY--OOH.

I SHOULDN'T SAY THAT.

ANYWAY, THIS ROTATES ON THERE, SO THAT GOES DOWN TO THE BOTTOM, AND THEN YOU GRADUALLY START PULLING THIS LEVER BACK, AND YOU'RE BRINGING THOSE SCRAPERS OUT.

LET'S LOOK WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE INSIDE THERE.

THOSE SCRAPERS ARE ENGAGING.

THEY'RE CUTTING HERE AND WHERE?

HERE.

SO HERE AND HERE.

SO IT'S EASY TO SHARPEN.

IT'S ONLY CUTTING ON THAT FLAT FACE, ON THAT FLAT FACE RIGHT THERE.

YOU KEEP TURNING THIS OUT, AND IT CUTS FROM BOTH ENDS.

AND IT'S RUBBING UP AGAINST HERE AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN, BAM.

IT CUTS THROUGH, AND YOU HAVE CUT THAT PERFECT LITTLE SOCKET FOR THE BALL THERE.

NOW, TO GET IT OUT YOU JUST SIMPLY LIFT THAT BACK UP, SEND IT BACK TO A CYLINDRICAL SHAPE AND THEN TAKE IT OUT.

NOW, IT'S MADE OUT OF SCRAPER BLADE, AND YOU JUST HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WORKING WITH THAT METAL SO YOU DON'T GET SOMETHING IN YOUR EYE.

BUT YOU SOFTEN IT--TEMPER IT AND SAW IT AND FILE IT.

THAT'S HOW YOU GET THERE.

NOW, LOOK RIGHT HERE.

YOU SEE HOW I'VE FASTENED THIS ON TO THIS LATHE HEAD, THIS LATHE PUPPET, WITH A WEDGE THROUGH HERE.

SO THERE'S THE PIECE COMING THROUGH.

THAT'S THE SAME WAY YOU CAN DO THAT SHAFT.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO-- THIS WOULD BE CUT OFF HERE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT LONG SCREW BUSINESS BECAUSE THOSE SCREWS ARE TOUGH TO GET.

LET'S GO AHEAD AND SEE HOW THAT SCRAPER WORKS.

BUT ACTUALLY, WE'RE MORE, WE'RE GOING TO LISTEN TO HOW IT WORKS BECAUSE OF COURSE YOU CAN'T SEE IT DOWN INSIDE THERE.

SO I'M GONNA DO THIS ON MY SPRING-POLE LATHE.

AND YOU SEE THE SCRAPER.

I'VE SET IT SO THAT IT'LL GO IN THERE.

IF YOU LOOK INSIDE HERE, YOU CAN SEE THIS ONE IS IN PROGRESS.

THE SCRAPER IS ABOUT TO THIS POSITION.

SO THIS SCRAPER HERE HAS BEVELED THE INSIDE, AND THE TWO ARE JUST ABOUT TO MEET THERE.

SO WE CAN WORK THIS A LITTLE BIT FARTHER.

I'LL RESET THAT TO ZERO AND SET IT HERE.

IT'S HELD BY A PIKE AT THE END.

THIS IS AN OLD 18th CENTURY, 17th CENTURY, 16th CENTURY, 15th, 14th, 13th--ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE EGYPTIANS OR WAY, WAY BACK, A SPRING-POLE LATHE.

THE DESIGN IS A GERMAN ONE FROM THE 17th CENTURY, BUT IT'S REALLY COOL.

LET'S TRY THAT RIGHT NOW.

WE DON'T HEAR MUCH, BUT REMEMBER THAT PROTRUSION IS CENTERING ON THERE, AND I CAN TIGHTEN IT UP A LITTLE BIT.

AND NOW IT'S CUTTING AT THE BOTTOM.

NOW, BY PULLING THE LEVER HERE, IT'S GOING TO BRING THOSE CUTTERS INTO A MORE HEMISPHERICAL OR CIRCULAR SHAPE.

AND NOW YOU HEAR--SEE THIS DUST COMING OUT?

THERE'S DUST COMING OUT THE BOTTOM.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE IT IN THE LATHE.

IT'S JUST A HANDY WAY FOR ME TO DO IT.

YOU CAN HAND TURN IT-- AND SEE DUST FALLING OUT THE BOTTOM THERE.

SO IT'S JUST VERY SLOWLY SCRAPING ITS WAY AROUND.

I SAY SLOWLY--THIS DOESN'T TAKE FOREVER-- JUST ABOUT A 5-MINUTE JOB AS LONG AS THIS THING STAYS STEADY.

NOW, THE PROBLEM IS--THE MAIN THING IS THIS SQUEAKING WILL DRIVE YOU CRAZY.

SO THERE WE GO.

I'M GONNA TAKE THIS BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION NOW, AND WE'LL JUST TAKE THAT OFF AND LOOK INSIDE, AND WE WILL HAVE-- LET'S SEE.

I FORGET I DON'T HAVE TO HIT THIS ONE.

YOU CAN JUST UNSCREW IT.

IT IS COMING DOWN TO A HEMISPHERE.

ALMOST THERE--ALL RIGHT.

THEN WE'LL SEE HOW TO DO A BALL- OR A SOCKET-SPHERE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU CALL IT.

ANYWAY, THAT'S HOW WE'RE WORKING IT, BY HAVING THIS ROTATING SCRAPER INSIDE THERE THAT GOES FROM A CYLINDER TO A CIRCLE.

SO LET'S GO AHEAD AND PUT IT TOGETHER.

WE'VE GOT EVERYTHING HERE--YES, WE DO.

HERE'S OUR SOCKET, AND WE'VE GOT A SET SCREW.

WE'VE GOT TO DO THE SAWING NEXT TIME.

I'LL GO AHEAD AND PUT THE BALL IN THE SOCKET.

AND--THERE WE GO.

ALL RIGHT.

AND THEN WE'VE GOT TO DO OUR STEAMING AND PUT THESE HOOPS TOGETHER.

STEAMING, AGAIN, IS A CHALLENGE BECAUSE YOU REALLY DO NEED TO HAVE AIR-DRY WOOD BECAUSE IT IS--THE STUFF THAT YOU GET THAT'S KILN-DRIED, IT JUST REALLY DOESN'T RESPOND REAL WELL.

WELL, WE'LL DO A LITTLE BIT OF THAT.

I THINK WE'LL TRY SOME ELM.

THIS IS SOME OF THE SAME SUGAR MAPLE, AND IT WAS NOT FUN TO DO.

OK, SO WE'VE GOT TO DO THE STEAM BENDING NEXT TIME, AND WE'VE GOT TO GET THE LEGS ON THE BOTTOM OF OUR LITTLE STANDING EMBROIDERY HOOP, SO I'M GOING TO GO BACK TO MY NEEDLEWORK.

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN NEXT TIME RIGHT HERE IN THE "WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP," THIS IS ROY UNDERHILL.

SEE YOU THEN.

SO LONG.

OW!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE "WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" AND TRADITIONAL WOODWORKING ON OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN FIND US ONLINE AT PBS.ORG.

MAJOR FUNDING FOR THE "WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" IS PROVIDED BY... ROY UNDERHILL IS THE AUTHOR OF THE "WOODWRIGHT'S SHOP" AND OTHER BOOKS ABOUT TRADITIONAL WOODWORKING PUBLISHED BY THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA PRESS AND AVAILABLE AT BOOKSTORES AND LIBRARIES.