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Turning with physical limitations

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In the latest AAW Journal on page 7, it says to “join the conversation” on the main Turning with Physical Limitations landing page. I can’t find it.
 

Timothy Allen

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but for actual conversation they direct you back here to the AAW forum....

The AAW Forum, where we don't actually have a place set aside for this type of conversation that would make it easy to access or research.

I've been thinking about this for several days and I would like to propose that we create either a new section in the Forum Index or create a sub forum for Tutorials and Tips.

Physical limitations is a broad topic and any physical condition that limits a turner should be fair game to discuss. In recent postings elsewhere on this site a couple of members mentioned that for them arthritis was a limiting factor. We may not all have arthritis, but if someone cares to explain how they are limited, someone else might just think of something that will help. Beyond the many folks with acquired limitations from injury, we're all getting up there, so think of this as insurance.
 
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Mark, good idea. Mine is standing for long periods of time due to arthritis in one knee. Tried turning while sitting on a stool but hard to get the lateral body movement I used in the past. I'll look at the section.
 
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John,

Eric Lofstrom is a kinesiologist and woodturner (and PE teacher) from Seattle who has a wonderful presentation on body mechanics for turning. When spindle turning, Eric describes the correct motion of shear cutting as Dance Move #1 (IIRC). Whichever number it is, it's basically sliding back and forth/side to side, with no trunk rotation. This could be accomplished seated with some sort of sliding surface. It wouldn't have to be fancy, laminate coated MDF might work. That would allow you to easily move down the length of the spindle to the next design feature without rotating to get there. Or you could look past the microwave ovens on the curbside and focus on one of those air hockey tables. Puck Left, Puck Right!

Turning curves requires rotating the trunk to create the curve (Dance Move#2, IIRC). A chair on a lazy susan, or maybe a seat from a fishing boat, would provide the rotation. However, most bowl type pieces are going to require the combination of both rotating and sliding. (DM #3) With such a complex motion, it would be difficult to manage both simultaneously and still maintain stability. But there has to be a way to do it.

I'm envisioning a pair of parallel tubes or big T-tracks upon which a bass boat seat is secured. Perhaps one of our mechanical engineer forum members can think of something that could be a DIY project.
 

Chris Fairbanks

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From the Communities tab on the main AAW website, select Specialty Programs, and then the button for Turning with Physical Limitations. You may need to be logged in to the site as a member to get there. The direct URL is https://www.aawforum.org/community/index.php?threads/turning-with-physical-limitations.17097/

That page has a number of tabs on it, but for actual conversation they direct you back here to the AAW forum....
I am talking with the AAW Staff about ways we may be able to better tie the forums and the Communities secition on the main woodturner.org site together. We are in the early stages of trying to make this a lot easier for everyone but its a really heavy lift. Stay tuned and we should have more information in a few months.
 
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Following.

I suffer constant pain and rely on narcotics to even bother getting out of bed. Standing is a huge problem. But, after ignoring my midi lathe for the past 3 years, I’m finally getting my butt back at it.

I purchased a 3/4” thick horse stall mat and cut it into three semi manageable pieces and placed two of them in front of my lathe. I can manage standing for about hours before the pain is unbearable.

The future looks grim as far as improvement but I’m not giving up. Getting out in the shop is the only thing that keeps my spirits up right now.

Trying to sell twig pots for Mother’s Day to raise funds for a bigger lathe that I could sit at. My current model is bolted to my turning cabinet. I think a freestanding setup would allow me to sit on a chair and turn.

I look forward to reading more about turning with disabilities.
 

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Chris Fairbanks

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John I wish you the best of luck on raising funds for an upgraded lathe. I feel for you as I have had two back surgeries over the last 25 years on my L5-S1 disc and also have a herniated L3-L4. The business partner of the neurosurgeon who did both my surgeries moved in as my next door neighbor about 5 years ago. He does some back surgeries but mostly focuses on brain surgeries. We were talking one day when I was going through a really bad span of back pain and weakness where I was on a lot of narcotics as well. He recommended to me a physical therapist to go see. I told him I have done years and years of physical therapy and while it helps it’s only helps a little. He said go see this one as she is different since she focused on primarily a Pilates based core strength training and stretching. I am like it sounds better than another surgery.

So I see her ands it’s nothing like the previous 100s of sessions I have had over the last 25 years. I saw her for five sessions over about 3 weeks and one morning I woke up and was like wow it barely hurts. I saw her for about 10 more sessions and took a break for many months. I ended up going back to her as I slacked off the exercises she was having me do at home and was moving something heavy around the shop I probably should not have been doing without help. So for the last three years that’s been our MO. I’ll see her for about 10 sessions and then take a break until I break myself again and then we start over. If I just put more time into the exercises and lost the spare tire I suspect I would be in a lot better shape. Not sure how bad the back is but if you have not tried a Pilates based core training it might be worth looking into. Good luck!
 
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The lastest issue of the AAW magazine showed a fellow in a wheelchair turning at a Robust Scout. I'm sure that others could be modified as needed. "Where there is a will, there is a way."
 
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<I'm envisioning a pair of parallel tubes or big T-tracks upon which a bass boat seat is secured. Perhaps one of our mechanical engineer forum members can think of something that could be a DIY project.>

Building an x-y platform should not be a problem. The problem is driving it. If you have use of your feet it could be done but if you do not have a body part to use for pushing or pulling it would not work quite so simply.

Stu
 
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