Boring Wooden Pipes and Hand Pumps

Before cast iron hand pumps were common and available cheaply, Tamarack logs were bored and used to draw water. Take a look and see how these were made from log to tube.

[@smaggies]

dang little danger be cautious, nice to view would enjoy the final project and view working. :)

[@skategeezer1810]

Another great video. You have an amazing skillset for your age, well any age. Keep putting out more videos like this.

[@castironmachines]

Thanks, I will!

[@dougalexander7204]

Interesting. I’m a little old man now but after I retired I operated a water powered sawmill for a state park. Your demonstration brought back some good memories. Thank you.

[@bravelyHomoSapien]

Not interesting. Boring 😅

[@SamClemens-n9q]

Man the engineering there is off the charts. It’s amazing that shop still exists and someone actually knows how to run it

[@kevinsellsit5584]

I'm impressed, but I'm more impressed with the blacksmith who made the drill bit!

[@stevesyncox9893]

I’m a bladesmith learning the blacksmith end of things. Very impressed by it all really.

[@kevinsellsit5584]

@@stevesyncox9893 Agreed, I honestly don't think I've ever seen a single flute drill bit. It works very well. From a blacksmith point of view that looks like a challenge.

[@anelpasic5232]

@@kevinsellsit5584 You would be surprised how simple these are to make.

[@ryanbeard1119]

Twist drills in my opinion are more of a early 21 century fad, sure, in milder and weak brittle materials they can drill a self evacuating chip, if (they) are broken properly, but the designs complexity also serves as controlled opposition over original makers, sometimes in the mind, everyone just thinks they need spiral flutes, and even precise geometry to do anything when that's not really true, the precise nature of the flute twist is more a function of the ridged machinery that made them eventualy leading to mass production

[@dustinandtarynwolfe5540]

​​@@anelpasic5232 this is correct. A single flute drill bit can be made with a straight piece of rod and a hand grinder. The geometry is extremely simple. Not to say blacksmithing is easy, but that's about as easy as it gets. That being said the chips it's removing are impressive.

[@Randal-bq5lv]

Was a machinist for 26 years and I have seen a lot of technology but the old machinery still impresses me as to the design and thought process of each aspect of everyday operations carried out… No music,,, yay…

[@ironcladranchandforge7292]

Excellent video!! Really enjoyed watching the process. The sliding carriage and boring bar worked well.

[@coloradomountainman8659]

What a wonderful breath of fresh air. None of that annoying crappy-ass background "music" that is so prevalent on KZbin videos of this type. Clear, concise explanations. And no irritating sponsered ad in the middle of the viideo. Kudo's to you.

[@GaryPArmstrong]

It was amazing what the pioneers did in their day. The difference between those days and now is that everything has become more mechanized and much faster, but the speed-up has not always worked, and there were lots of failures filling sheds. Thank you very much for showing this and hopefully we get to see you make a pump. 😃

[@brianroberts6751]

As a "modern" woodworker and large turner, this was fascinating! Very labor intensive!!

[@dardhunter7831]

Great video- thanks for documenting a forgotten trade. I recently cleaned out our 6’ diameter stone lined well dug in 1850. It is only 22’ deep and full of glass and debris from the 1920’s. About 10’ down I found a perfectly preserved 12’ long hexagonal White Oak log with a 3” hole bored through the middle. The upper part was not submerged in water and rotted away years ago. The original plunger was still at the bottom. I often wondered how they bore such a perfect hole. Now I know!

[@TerryChesney-z9u]

Being a retired machine operator for 45 years it is Fascinating to see these old machines in operation. You do a great job of explaining each one. Thank you so much for sharing your videos 👍

[@docalexander2853]

Very easy to work with wood. I'm not talking about precision craftmanship. That is a whole different animal.

[@canastasiou68]

Really enjoyed this, im glad you keep the old ways alive. Cheers

[@terryboehler5752]

Great demo. It's amazing to remove that much wood with each pass. The cutting tools were the star of the show.

[@isaaco5679]

The company i work for just finished working on a job where the whole main street of a small rivertown got replaced and services upgraded. Apparently the company doing the street and other stuff were finding old wooden water pipes. This is cool to see how it was done back then.

[@morpheusduvall]

Good to know I’m not the only younger person keeping industrial history alive

[@PrebleStreetRecords]

Very cool. Here in Maine we still find wooden pipes once in a while when replacing water mains in town. The creosote soaked into them keeps them good as new!

[@jacobwilson3316]

I’m glad you shared this, I was hired to replicate some porch columns for a historical house that was being added on to 15 years ago, the column they brought me was a solid timber bored all the way through 9’ long, I couldn’t wrap my mind around the machine that could possibly do that in the late 1800’s, it was an 1 1/4” hole all the way through, the research I did at the time called it a “Spooning” technique, used to remove pith and stabilize timber from splitting, I ended up laminating white oak

[@allangibson8494]

And the early drill bits were “spoon bits”. They actually do look like spoons. You can use exactly the same tooling to drill gun barrels (gun metal just takes more time).

[@terryrogers1025]

I like it, nice job young man. I am very pleased to see old machines saved and put to good use as operating historical tools, as well as making a useable product to show case the machines potential. Thank you for the video, enjoyed it immensely.

[@LitoGeorge]

Exceptional. Period dress, machines, shop, methods. Do you know of anything like this in BC? I wish we were neighbours!

[@harleyoil63]

Been a cabinet and furniture maker since 1986. This is so dang cool. The Young Man is a True Woodworker.

[@Averageguy29]

At my farm in eastern township, we sometimes encoutered these kind of piping when we dig in our fields and arround the buildings. Its amazing to see those thing that have been burried centuries ago and still in very good shape

[@kirtadams439]

I just found your great video. I demonstrate making waterpipe with the same type of pod auger bit attached to an eight foot shaft at the St Johnsbury History and Heritage Center in St Johnsbury, Vermont. It is now my traditional craft of making “pump logs”, that I get to practice once a year. Thank you for posting this.

[@marlobreding7402]

My Great Great Grandfather Bardo Olsen Breding aka "Tresco Bardo" in 1800s Norway bored out logs to irrigate his lower fields. He was well known for his wooden shoes. His nickname Tresco means "Wood Shoes" Bardo.

[@georgewhitehead8185]

It is amazing as to how he "pumps" the initial drill, and then ejects a "cut plug." It is all about Touch and Sound. I am a Dental Surgeon and when we drill for Dental Implants we all "pump" the drill. We also harvest the bone chips, as a wet slurry, via suction, in a sterile, one use, Basket Trap. We use this wonderful Host Bone, if we need to, for a Bone Graft. Doctor George Whitehead

[@homesteadengineer]

In machining, we call it "peck drilling".

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

COLONOSKOPY'S RE USES?

[@deanedeane4318]

Absolutely wanderful ! Thankyou for sharing this wonderful example of the good ol days ! I remember in the early 90s walking in to an old rural automotive / mechanical small town workshop still in use , she was still all driven by belt via overhead shafts , however the chuff chuff motor had been replaced with electric ... I was around 25 and completely mesmerized . I wandered as you worked on the wood pipe if by turning down the outer diameter on the lathe first it may balance better and reduce the shaking and stress on the cutter heads while boring ..... just a thought , thankyou again and love from New Zealand 😉🙃😎newly subscribed.....

[@HighfieldJoinery]

You'll be glad to know we are still pulling these up as natural gas pipes in Rochester, NY, wrapped in tar cloth.

[@AllanRahn]

this was so nice to watch. i run a long hole drill and leathe 20 foot from 1838 with the original steam engine to make wood masts fore that times fishing boats in Denmark eu also used to make wood mainshafts for windmills and stuff like that. its important to ceep our history alive and show and tell how it works :)

[@shaneironside58]

Thank you I very enjoyed that video, makes you really appreciate how the old timers did it in the old days 😊

[@baddudecornpop7328]

I love seeing these types of machines. Need more ornamentation on that well piece though. Maybe some hand carving.

[@jamesboardman7048]

My stepson is machine operator in Detroit. They run across wooden pipes and junctions all the time he is collecting them. Its surprising how intact they are

[@davida1hiwaaynet]

Fascinating. Loved seeing this. That F-M engine does quite a good job powering your equipment; and you're quite impressive in your knowledge and physical abilities to handle this equipment. Really appreciate your sharing these videos. I have to look up a demonstration of how these pumps and wooden pipelines are assembled and used.

[@cdrive5757]

The other day I was reconnecting with my cousin Vinny. We're both older than dirt and desperately trying to keep our brain cells shaking hands. When discussing information sources I mentioned that I spend much of my on line time at KZbin for technical, social and political content. I got the impression that KZbin is not Vinny's boot up destination as it is for me. I'm a Wood Turner. So this video holds special importance for me in today's world. Most items turned in today's world are strictly ornamental in nature. Plumbing is the last thing that will come to a turner's mind. Line Shaft Drive, Wood Bearings, Hit & Miss Engine, Rudimentary Lathe, Flat Leather Belts and a "Get-Er Done" philosophy, makes this a very worthwhile and informative video. The fact that this video is brought to us by , (what appears to be) a Gen Z host gives me great hope! You're living proof that not all Gen Z have the mental acuity of an Eggplant! Engle's Coach Shop is another KZbin channel for inquiring minds interested in how things "were" done before mass production. Thank YOU! Wakodahatchee Chris

[@jeffreyhenion4818]

One place where I used to work was located in a former vinegar plant. Every time we did excavations we’d run into old wooden piping. Most were made from pieces of long strips of timber bound together rather like a long narrow barrel versus being turned out of solid pieces. They were then wrapped in cloth impregnated with creosote. Apparently, wooden pipes didn’t impart any undesirable taste or color to the final product versus the types of metal piping then available.

[@jsvallee567]

nice video fun to see how it was done years ago !

[@larrykerr7712]

Very interesting.Amazing how things were done?Great video.

[@lorriebuxton2041]

I recently bought a wooden Newell post lathe that will turn seven foot posts getting space ready to set it up great video

[@oldoldpilgrim7898]

Many thanks for the video. The house I grew up in was remodeled sometime around 1910 and the porch columns added during the remodel were hollow. Now, I think I know how the hollows were bored.

[@Don_P.717]

Most of the hollow columns I've run into were made with long staves like a barrel and the hollow center is vented from bottom up through the framing above to help them dry rapidly. I lived in one old neighborhood that sounds about the same age with the original little building supply. In the back room was a similar shop-built lathe to make and maintain the neighborhood porch columns. It was attached to the frame of the shop... like this one should be! I remember my Dad saying he would hear of wooden water pipe being dug up around Boston, around 60 years ago.

[@tomrichardson3107]

Awesome talent, very informative and interesting machinery, thank you for sharing your talent!

[@ШаповаловАлексей-ф4и]

Спасибо! Я не говорю по-английски. Гугл переводчик помогает плохо (субтитры очень часто показывают слова "иностранный" и "смех"). Но инженеру и так понятно все по видео :). Было бы весьма хорошо, если бы вы нашли возможность показать устройство деревянной помпы, а не только рассказать. Я восхищен продуманностью старых станков, которые при минимальных возможностях позволяли делать сложные вещи. Видно на кадрах фильма, как тяжело сверлить большие диаметры, как каретка сверлильного станка приподнимается, как вибрирует токарный станок от несбалансированного бревна, но... Но труба в конце концов готова! Ура мастеру!

[@42lookc]

Absolutely fascinating start to finish! I love the way you use modern technology to bring Olde Ways to our understanding. You are a natural teacher and instructor.

[@topspeed250k5]

How sweet it is to hear an engine running so slowly that you can count the revs. It epitomises the relaxed timing of a bygone era and now we have screaming hectic engines. I get that they got their power from torque, not rpm. They were inefficient and all the associated machinery was big, chunky and heavy to transfer the torque. But still, it's sweet to hear. It instantly makes me draw a breath, exhale, relax & slow down.

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

HIE THEE TO A HIT AND MISS ENGINES, TRACTION ENGINES SHOWS! CELEBRATE! LIKE THE NUNNERY EXPERIENCES AS WAS SMILED ON IN WM. SHAKESPERE'S TIMES.

[@williamkuhns2387]

In Spanish era California at the Franciscan missions they made water irrigation pipes by making long fired clay cones. The cones would be fitted together socket fashion buried in a dug trench. San Antonio de Padua Mission in South Monterey County is the only surviving Spanish California mission to have preserved ceramic water pipes.

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

BARK--BARK--BARK! ELM, AND BIRCH WAS USED BY NATIVES OF "MICHIGAN" FOR VESSELS AND POTS AND ROOFED BARKED COLONES OF CLAY-CERAMIC TILES THAT ARE STILL IN USE "OUT- WEST"-USA!

[@swansong1851]

Far from boring, actually. 😊

[@bunnyniyori6324]

I really enjoyed this, had not seen this done before.

[@thaddeuszukowski4633]

In this day and age you would be surprised to find that there are a few log water pipes still in use!!!

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

ASK THE "OLD TIMERS "OF CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN. THEIR "WATER DEPARTMENT GEEZERS ARE FULL OF- - - - - - - AND ALSO ABOUT WOODEN CITY PIPES.

[@davidtaylor5394]

oh man i envey you and your work.... maybe in the next life lol ...wonderful site and very well presented...your passion is infectious

[@steveparker8723]

I know a collector that has an entire set of these bits. Im going to guess they go upto 4 or 5 inch. He has the bar the bits set into. The bar has a T handle about 10 feet long. The bits are beautifully made.

[@jeffdymarczyk4413]

Old school handmade tools greatly appreciated!!Nice videos well done.

[@bonzie321]

Very neat. All this wood pipe and log cabins being built while the greatest marble buildings in the world were being built in just a couple of years according to Wikipedia.😉

[@lorenbush8876]

It's a lot easier to grab what a person needs from one of the big box stores which I hate but it may get to the point where they no longer exist so it might be nice to know how to make your own. Thanks

[@jimmygliss1171]

Where was this video recorded, it reminds of the old Denton old farm days exhibit in Denton, North Carolina.

[@ravenbarsrepairs5594]

Tamarack is what their made of? We've got a couple pieces out wooden pipe back that my father pulled from the well when he moved in in the 1970's. They're ~4"x4" squared sections, with a ~3" hole down the center. The house was built in the late 1920's just south of the Canadian border in northern NY.

[@castironmachines]

Yes tamarack in our area up near Ottawa anyway, I've been told they used elm in southern Ontario as well. Cheers!

[@purpleom9649]

Only 2k views? this deserves far more. As a wood turner you are a brave man turning that log being so off center, I think your viewership will increase by a huge amount..

[@diabolicalartificer]

A really interesting device & engine, thanks for posting. In England before steam etc water pipes were made from Elm, the bore done with augers. If you've ever worked with Elm there's not a bit of straight grain in the wood. Elm was also used for water wheels as it doesn't rot easily. Every village & town had at least one hand pump made from wood & unlike iron, they didn't freeze up. Amazing what our ancestors did, all by hand.

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

SAILING SHIPS USED ELM CROTCH WOOD AND LIGNAE VITA FOR "LIVE AND DEAD EYES" BEFORE TURN BUCKLES AND CHAIN PLATES WERE CREATED. THE QUESTION AS HOW WERE THE LIVE AND DEAD EYES "MACHINED" AS WHEN THEY ARE SOMETIME STOLEN FROM THE GREAT LAKES WRECKS WITH THE "EYES" STILL ROPE FIBER FILLED, AND WITH THE "RADIUS IS LIKE NEW SMOOTHED" AND TALLOWED FOR USE AND WORKINGS OF TIGHTENINGS?

[@westonwaters7984]

Always wondered how the bored all the old porch columns we have repaired from late 1800's

[@TheWoodlandEscape]

I finally found your channel and I must say, I’m very impressed. I hope someday we might collaborate on a project. I’ve subscribed at hit the notifications.

[@castironmachines]

@@TheWoodlandEscape thank you! I’m definitely interested in that and would love to come for a visit down your way as well. Wonderful work on the new shop, am following the flintlock project. Cheers!

[@johnboughton7451]

Those shavings/Chips would make great fire lighters

[@michaelc.3812]

So nice that the “bit/cutter” clears so easily when you pull it back. If you had to stop the drill each time it would suck…

[@nelsonnoname001]

Originally thought maybe tar or oil but - how would you treat the pipes so they do not rot so quickly yet also make the water safe to drink? Great vid, thanks!

[@twagner6155]

I don't know what you called it but it's a gun drill. The same principle is used to drill oil holes for crankshafts. I'm a machinist and have used gun drills.

[@elwoodanderson4149]

Chips are some great kindling

[@EitriBrokkr]

I'd love to see some more close up and details of those drill bits

[@bertrandpotvin]

Good job! Nice to see you working.

[@castironmachines]

😆

[@bobflores]

Learned so much in the video. Did you slow the boring machine down when you changed to the larger bit? In my woodworking experience the bigger the bit the slower the speed. Would the finished pipe be treated with linseed or some other oil? You are a very accomplished young man. Thanks for the video.

[@castironmachines]

Thank you! Normal the bit would be slowed down, but if this engine setup runs too slowly, the inertia is not enough to carry the larger cutter through hard spots or nots and the belt is constantly thrown off. I'm not aware of any treatment but it's very possible they could've used linseed oil. Cheers

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

@@castironmachines IN 'MERICA THEY ARE KNOTS. THE PRE-LIMBS OF SPROUTS FROM SEEDS THAT GERMINATE AND SEND UP THIN VERTICALS FROM WHICH BUDS OF LEAF/BRANCHES MAY IF NOT EATEN EVENTUALLY BECOME A BENT BY ANCIENTS FOR TRAIL INDICATORS THAT PAID IT FORWARDS FOR ALL WHO TRAVELED.

[@ThomasBarone]

Absolutely amazing!

[@johneastmond9092]

I've done "old time" demonstrations like this. We had clutches on every machine. Or slip pulleys the belt would be shifted to. Then you could operate the machines individually. Do you have to set up each belt to each machine for each use? You know what you're doing! did good at the bit sharpening.

[@canadiangemstones7636]

Amazing machine, great video!

[@heliarche]

I'd like to see more on the hand pump if possible.

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

RESEARCH GREAT LAKES SHIPS IN BOOKS LIKE "THE SHIPWRECKS OF THE STRAITS OF MACKINAC by DR. CHARLES E. FELTNER AND JERRY BARRON FELTNER. PAPER BACK. SCUBA DIVE THE WOODEN GREAT LAKES SCHOONERS AND SNOOP!

[@simonklaus7777]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@mchurch3905]

Very interesting. I can see that maiming injuries and deaths weren’t that uncommon with the open fly wheels and belts prevalent with these operations.😮

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

@mchurch3905 SO HOW COULD RECORD PROFITS BE MADE WITH OVER BREEDINGS OF WORKER BEES WHO ARE EASILY RE-NIGGED/REPLACEABLE? SAVE THE TYRANNIES OF GUARDS!

[@georgeglass1748]

Great video

[@grant9860]

you got a good thing going there i am enjoying watching a thought if you had someone holding the camera we would get angles of your work

[@mrsb33]

I would love those chips for my hive smoker!

[@russwabuda1556]

thank you from the bottom of my heart.

[@djdutch87]

Wow that's some cool stuff, I still wondered what happened off camera, when the drill get stuck. Was the belt trowed off?

[@castironmachines]

Yes, either the engine drive belt or the boring drill belt get thrown off, thankfully it is easy to unstick and rebelt everything.

[@SamClemens-n9q]

I know they recently found wooden pipes as water mains in Philadelphia PA, and had to be replaced

[@markmiller6817]

Thanks for sharing that !

[@stevesyncox9893]

Mad Respekt man. Thank you.

[@ryanbeard1119]

Can we see a version of this that uses same style bit but auto mechanical in/out stroke with progresonal infeed.

[@hosseinhayati9820]

Very nice! Thank you for shering :) Well done!

[@keithlawlor9993]

Did they make pipe organ pipes from wood in a similar way?

[@donbell8187]

The lathe is a real galloping Gerdie!

[@bravelyHomoSapien]

Those chips would be amazing fire starters. Soak them in a petroleum based solution that dries solid. Value add the chips😊

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

PS... DON'T USE THE INUSE COPPER MINE SUPPRORTS OF TAMARACK IN MICHIGAN. THE ORANGE COLORED FRESH WOODCHIPS ARE A STUNN. TAMARACKS ARE NOT AS THE STUPIDS OF" DICIDUOUS FIRS" - - -- - THEY OF THE DELICATE ROADSIDE MELLOW- YELLOWS- - - - - OF GRASS-CURBBINGS' , THEIR OCTOBERS' HIGHLIGHTS!

[@paulnicholson1906]

makes you appreciate PVC pipe......

[@torg2126]

Fascinating. How boring!

[@oldsteamguy]

is this at a museum?

[@johnbaker7621]

Like that the pump is interesting

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

GREAT LAKES WOODEN SAILING SHIPS HAD ARCHED DECKS AND SCUPPERS, BECAUSE THE WOODEN AND TWO PERSONED CENTERLINED OVER THE INNER KEEL TO ONE SIDE OF: WAS THE MAX DEPTH OF THE BILGE WATER. AS THE BILGE PUMPS OF THEIR DAY WERE LIKE THE SHORT SPOUTED ONES STILL SEEN, THE CAMBER OF THE WOODEN DECKED SCHOONERS (WHILE TIGHT AND SOUND) MADE THE GRAVITY OF THE BILGEWATER SHEET TOWARDS SCUPPERS 3 FEET-ISH BELOW THE GUNNELS AND CHAIN PLATED DEAD EYES WHILE TALLOWED ROPED (LACED) TO THE MASTS' LIVE EYES.

[@fhorst41]

We have demonstrators making these by hand in the 18th century area at Goschenhoppen Folk Festival that would be sooooo jealous of your "modern" approach. It takes several days to do by hand what you can do in many hours lol 😆

[@_Lazare]

Hehe Pretty cool ! Awesome work

[@sdjhgfkshfswdfhskljh3360]

Is there anything that prevents pipes from rotting during use?

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

LACK OF OXYGEN ---- DUH! WET WOODS DON'T EVER BURN. ROT IS BROWNING THE RESULTANTS OF) OF EXPOSED TO 19% O2 ! ! ! AND 78% NITROGEN. THMINK OF THE "FAR TRIANGLES"

[@Marqan]

despite being boring, it was quite interesting

[@davidsauls9542]

Thank You !!

[@terry1965]

How many feet of pipe have you done in a day

[@docalexander2853]

You could have put a piece of ground tool steel in a long hollow bar, and then forced air down the drill to blow the shavings out. Easy Peasy.

[@ludvigtande1236]

So cool to see. ❤

[@stephransley4371]

That was so interesting thanks.

[@charlessmyth]

Wood was what there was to work with back in the day :-)

[@georgedunkelberg5004]

WHAT DO EWE THINK PLAY DOUGH IS?

[@AdamBechtol]

Sweet to see! thanks :)