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Welcome to Lane's End Studios

5400 Melon Lane
Edwardsville IL 62025
618.692.6508

Charity Davis-Woodard, potter
Bob Woodard, metal worker


Lane's End Treadle Wheels


Handbuilt by Bob Woodard
Dimensions: 35" w x 38.5" h x 44" d
Total weight: 160 lbs.
Price: $1600

 

for more info, or to order, contact:

wheels@lanesendstudios.com


  • Enhanced Leach design

  • Rugged steel frame

  • Adjustable treadle height

  • Can be disassembled for transportation
    or storage

The Lane's End Treadle Wheel is designed and built to provide an attractive, rugged, totally functional and low maintenance wheel that can be taken apart for transportation or storage.

Based on the original Leach treadle wheel design, it is comparable in both weight and dimensions to solid wood wheels. The frame is rigid steel construction that eliminates expensive wood mortise and tenon joinery and the necessary wood bracing. Since metal does not shrink there is never a need to toghten bolts as there is with wooden frames.

The flywheel and removable splash tray/pan are made from MDF and covered with durable paint. The 12" diameter aluminum wheel head attaches to the 1" diameter steel crankshaft with a single set screw.
Both wheel head and treadle height are adjustable. The seat, treadle foot bar and foot rest are painted construction grade SPF (spruce, pine or fir).

Two double sealed and lubricated-for-life ball bearings take the place of the leather or teflon crank strap. This eliminates the need to adjust for stretch.

Sealed double ball bearing crank


Chain pivot with sealed teflon rod-end bearing

Top and bottom crankshaft bearings are heavy duty and have grease fittings for very occasional service. Chain pivot is a sealed nylon rod end bearing.

The treadle-style wheel offers the potter an opportunity to work in a comfortable position on a very responsive and quiet tool. Although it is not possible to achieve the speed that electrically-powered wheels provide, potters quickly discover that great speed is not required to throw most forms. Very little momentum is maintained by the flywheel, so the potter controls the rhythym of his throwing or trimming by the speed with which he works the treadle.

The experience promotes a unity between potter and tool as the wheel becomes an extension of the human body.

Distracting noise and other frustrations that often accompany electric wheels are never at issue with treadle wheels.

Quiet, comfortable and simple to maintain, a well-built treadle wheel will last a lifetime.