MAKE-DO TOOLS

As sheddies many of us have to grapple with a common problem. For one reason or another the selection of tools at our disposal often falls just short of what we require to undertake our projects. Few of us are fortunate enough to be able to buy every tool we need, or the one would make the project just that bit easier. It’s often hard to justify buying a specific tool that may be used only every now and then, or to allocate space for it in your cramped shed.

If you are like me you will no doubt range back and forth between metal and wood projects, not to mention leather, plastic, and other materials, so the list of ‘required’ tools can burgeon quickly. Therefore, it pays to look for tools that can be used in all your spheres of interest.

It pays to look for tools that can be used in all your spheres of interest

Getting by without a lathe

One such tool is a metal lathe — in my opinion, the best woodwork lathe you can have. Although I was recently fortunate enough to be able to buy an old one second-hand, I had to do without one for many years and found that it often restricted the scope of things I could make.

When you find yourself in this position you either avoid projects that need one, prepare yourself to pay someone with a lathe to do that part of the project for you, or come up with some sort of substitute tool that will enable you to do those aspects of the job yourself. With a little