Turning-Saw Donkey

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Transitioning from a tall workbench to my mini-Roman workbench has been a joy. My old back has never felt better. And I must admit, my planing has improved exponentially. Being above the work makes all the difference.



Year's ago I made a bracket to use on my tall workbench to do scrollwork. Secured in the face-mounted “Moxon” vise, it was at the perfect height for “up and down” sawing. Sitting on a stool brought the work to eye level. I enjoyed the thing for years! But the bracket doesn’t work well with my mini-Roman workbench. Besides feeling crowded, I found I was using poor body mechanics. The “up and down” sawing technique felt awkward. Not to mention painful every time I banged my knuckles on those C-clamps!



The time had come to put the old bracket on the wall and start using my new “turning saw” donkey, patterned after the marquetry donkey pictured on plate 292 in André-Jacob Roubo’s L’Art du Menuisier.



I’m now sitting down unencumbered and comfortably going “back and forth” with my turning saw. Who could ask for anything more?



Thanks in advance for hitting the thumbs-up!

Knowing how to use a tool is more important than the tool in and of itself. - Ron Aylor

16 Comments

I wondered what happened to you.  I miss seeing your unplugged work.  

I really need to think about making something like this.  

--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

cool tool ron !

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

Very nice build, this donkey looks like fine furniture. 
Nice little saw bench, and even the turning saw has carved details. You do some amazing work Ron.

Main Street to the Mountains

Nice - the cam vice is a clever touch
Thanks for the comments, guys! 

Knowing how to use a tool is more important than the tool in and of itself. - Ron Aylor

I need to think about this as an alternative to a full-blown chevalet. I probably won’t ever be so into marquetry as to need a dedicated tool, but it would be nice to have a more useful setup than I do once in a while.

May you have the day you deserve!

My old back loves this thing. I use it primarily for cutting hinge cleats on my carved boxes.

Knowing how to use a tool is more important than the tool in and of itself. - Ron Aylor

I've been pondering some sort of shaving horse contraption Ron.  I REALLY like the marquetry mule!  Don't think I've ever seen one quite like that.  Squirreling that in the back of the noggin' for future use 😁
Ken, here is a shave horse I build last year...



Here it is again posing as a spoon mule...

Knowing how to use a tool is more important than the tool in and of itself. - Ron Aylor

Wow Ron, all of your work is fancy with the relief carvings. 

Main Street to the Mountains

Ever since I started carving I have a hard time looking at blank space... LOL!

Knowing how to use a tool is more important than the tool in and of itself. - Ron Aylor

Really nice projects, all! I guess "turning saw" is another name for coping saw? Although what I am seeing is a bow saw.

Steven- Random Orbital Nailer

Typically a bow saw has a fixed blade like this...
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A turning saw has a blade attached to handles that “turns” in the frame, like this...
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But yes, an old-time coping saw!

Knowing how to use a tool is more important than the tool in and of itself. - Ron Aylor

This is so very cool.  The design makes perfect sense for the task.

swirt

This is so very cool.  The design makes perfect sense for the task.

Thank you. My tired old back agrees with you!

Knowing how to use a tool is more important than the tool in and of itself. - Ron Aylor