Living History
My father (and his adhdemon) loved learning new crafts throughout his life. He made this “draw bench” (if you know another name for it, feel free to leave a note) when I was a child and used it to split wooden shingles/shakes for a small barn.
You sit astride the rounded end (on the left in the first photo), I think the foot pedal activates a clamp to hold the wood you’re working on. I don’t remember if he used a draw knife or a froe to actually do the splitting. I very much wish he had spent a little time with my son teaching him to do these things back in his 70s when he was still pretty active, but he would not do so. So here we have this. Thing. That has value? But also takes up space. Will anyone every use it again? Remains to be seen.
I will note that it is *chef’s kiss* perfection that he took the time to make two decorative, turned wooden supports (you can see in the third picture) but other pieces have actual wane edge and bark left on. To his credit, the thing is quite solid and steady; 40+ yrs old and does not wobble when you sit down.
