West Saxon In Wales

West Saxon In Wales An Anglo-Saxon and Viking history enthusiast living in South Wales.

Back on the lathe today after 7 weeks of distractions. First off I made a stepped support block to help hold bowl blanks...
31/05/2026

Back on the lathe today after 7 weeks of distractions.
First off I made a stepped support block to help hold bowl blanks, spoons etc more steady when axing, which worked superbly.
As well as using my lovely new axe (see my other reel from today) I got to use my new double bevel bowl hook from Ali Asadi which makes a huge difference when going through the finishing stages.
I'll admit the outside could be smoother, but that's what happens when you have a new hook you've never used.

31/05/2026

I've finally got to use my new Oscar Rush axe on a bowl blank today and it's made a world of difference!
The curve of the edge slices through long and end grain with ease, the weight doesn't make my arm tired (my old Kent pattern axe was quite heavy).
The head is based on an axe from Arjeplog in Sweden that dates to the 11th Century. The handle I made, which admittedly is more of a modern design, but I need it to be as ergonomic as possible.

I'm very pleased with it!

It would seem the heatwave has decided to foxtrot oscar, so I'm back to it. Today it's a handle for my nice new double b...
29/05/2026

It would seem the heatwave has decided to foxtrot oscar, so I'm back to it.
Today it's a handle for my nice new double bevel turning hook from Ali Asadi
I've used Cherry for the handle and a piece of Beech rolling pin for the hook cover.
My lathe box is all packed up and ready for Sunday.
Hopefully the wood I've got is still good to turn.

On Tuesday I started working on what I need to make for my own re-enactment shelter, beginning with the uprights, but th...
28/05/2026

On Tuesday I started working on what I need to make for my own re-enactment shelter, beginning with the uprights, but the heat wave got the better of me and I ended up with heat exhaustion.
I'm good now though.
The uprights will be in two parts, with the top half held to the lower half with a length of dowel as seen in the pictures.
This is so that it can all fit in the back of my car.
The uprights will also have a spike (nail driven in with the head cut off) at the bottom to help hold it to the ground and a length of dowel at the top with a cap for the loops on the canvas to go over.
I've also made a tent peg and a rope tensioner, both of which I'll have to make another 14 of each.
I only need twelve of each, but I'm going to make some spares just in case.
All this has been filmed for YouTube, so there'll be some videos coming soon.

Yesterday I went to Bath for a good gander at the Roman Baths, as well as all the other pretty architectural wonders the...
24/05/2026

Yesterday I went to Bath for a good gander at the Roman Baths, as well as all the other pretty architectural wonders the city has to offer.
We also swung by one of my old stomping grounds on the way home, Venta Silurum, aka Caerwent, the best preserved Roman town in the UK.

Ad Glorium Romae.

This new double outside bevel turning hook from Ali Asadi came in the post yesterday and I can't wait to try it out. Tha...
21/05/2026

This new double outside bevel turning hook from Ali Asadi came in the post yesterday and I can't wait to try it out.

Thank you for getting this to me so fast Ali!

The time has come to build an historic as I can shelter for me and my lathe.
16/05/2026

The time has come to build an historic as I can shelter for me and my lathe.

This is a screen grab from a video of me playing (butchering) Fehu by Wardruna. I thoroughly enjoy talking to the public...
13/05/2026

This is a screen grab from a video of me playing (butchering) Fehu by Wardruna.
I thoroughly enjoy talking to the public about musical instruments from the early Medieval period, and I do plan to expand my selection in to wind instruments.
With a house move on the horizon it'll have to wait.

Another fantastic event with Draca Beordor at Avalon Archaeology talking to the public about musical instruments, furnit...
10/05/2026

Another fantastic event with Draca Beordor at Avalon Archaeology talking to the public about musical instruments, furniture, bowl turning, spoon carving and life in the era beyond the romanticised ideals of warfare.

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