Left handed lathe.

I'd be interested to hear (read ) how this right or left handedness thing affects how folks use a shovel. Which hand do you use to grip the shovel handle to push the shovel into the sand/gravel/soil/coal and which to grip the shaft close to the loaded scoop to lift the weight?

I've called it a 'scoop', what's the proper term for the 'business end' of a shovel?

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

I would guess the "blade".

I wear my watch on my right wrist so do a couple of other people I know. Never though it to strange or different.

BTW I have what I believe to be a genuine left handed metal lathe. Cast iron body very heavy about 24" x 10 x 15" as I recall but not seen it for a few years so could be a bit bigger/smaller. No motor or means of fitting as it stands at the minute

Made by New ULM Manufacturing Minnesota USA. Can find no references anywhere to it. Have tried contacting what I believe to be the successor company but no answer to my query to this date.

Might be tempted to part with it as it is just anothe project to do sometime. It is buried in the garage somewhere so needs digging out.

regards

I remember a science experiment of many years ago where subjects wore glasses which showed an image upside down and reversed side to side. The participants all adapted quite quickly, showing that the brain can cope. At the beginning, extreme precautions were taken to prevent accidents.

As a left pug you soon learn to adapt and in certain circumstances it's easier for lefty's to do certain jobs as I found out in my earlier years at work. As to the question I would have the handle n the left hand and the blade in the right., fly rod in the left etc.

Evening Gentlemen,

I'm left handed and was never forced to write right handed, my right hand is only there to balance the symmetry

I use my left hand for everything but I do struggle a bit with standard micrometers and vernier calliper's when measuring work in the chuck, as regards the shovel I hold the handle in my left hand and the blade end with my right.

I've always assumed that left handers are more intelligent because we have to adapt and relearn to keep up with the rest of you 

Martin P

Edited By martin perman on 09/02/2023 18:22:46

Isn't it odd that lefthandedness led to insulting adjectives, and ability to use either hand, a compliment?

Do I need to explain? Well, even-handed folk are regarded as fair and reasonable, and left-handed iones can be sinister, cack-handed, gauche, etc. Other adjectives are available.

Cheers, Tim

Martin - your argument is similar to the one that reminds us that English folk are always a bit clever because they have to cope with such a silly language. I'm English so I am sure it is correct ...

Tim

Edited By Tim Stevens on 09/02/2023 18:08:37

Is that better, it was meant as tongue in cheek.

Martin P

I'm surprised at the number of left handers in the medical profession

Roy

Is that a known fact showing up in some research data somewhere or simply your experience? I'm genuinely interested to know.

Regards Mike

At Southdown reconditioning sthe longer prop shafts need a lathe l.,onger than we had.

Th solution was to nuy two identical lathes and mount them back to back. In this way there ws a headstock at each end, and the availability of a tailstock of either hand.

But only the "conventional Saddle was used!

Howard

Mike. Purely what I've noticed both in hospital and at my local medical centre.

Roy

I'm sure I've seen a photo of a massive centre lathe which had a headstock at each end, two tailstock in the middle and two saddles. The idea was that when you had a really long job you could lift the taislocks off with a big crane, but most of the time you could use it as 2 lathes. I can't remember whether it was handed, or hod the saddles facing opposite directions.

I'm a southpaw, but had to learn to use right handed ones as that's all you got at school~ But they were available to buy way back when.

Now got some L/H ones for those awkward wallpapering momments.

one advantage of being a lefty - I use a file a lot to break sharp corners when turning. with the handle in the left hand and the tip in the right you are not reaching over the chuck which you would have to do if you are a righty. did once try filing in the vice right handed, but it just feels all wrong.

I used to get into trouble at school for smudging my work as left handers are not leading the pen away from the writing in quite the same way as a right hander as we tend to push the pen rather than pull it.

It was made worse for me was in the 1950's we had wooden pens with a nib and an ink pot which was slow drying, a kindly teacher gave me a piece of blotting paper which helped me a lot. It's odd how Persian and Arabic scripts go from right to left which would cause similar problems I would have thought.

I write right handed, I can use a screwdriver in both, I shoot (shot gun) left handed, but that is because I have a dominant left eye!

Up until the death of my father 30 years ago I was predominately right handed. After his death I found myself picking up and using tools in my left hand, until I realized. My GP said the change was due to shock. I now use which ever hand is easier to do the job. Writing still remains on the right side only. Trying with the left looks like my GP's writing.

Regards

Gray,

An acquaintance had a deformed left hand and was unable to apply the handbrake in most cars; their choice with right hand brake, IIRC, was from the Rootes group.