Hatchtown Farm

I make all the tools, by myself, by hand, in my shop here at Hatchtown Farm. My goal is to produce tools that are beautiful, unique and functional.

I feel I should emphasize the uniqueness of each of the lathe-turned tools currently offered. Each shaft, whorl and handle is individually hand-turned without the use of any duplication machinery. In turning a dozen niddy noddy shafts, I will make each different than the one before it. You may be assured you purchase something that will be uniquely yours. Everything we produce is softly finished with hand-rubbed Danish oil.

Some products are created from laminations - layers of contrasting woods or wood and a stone-look-a-like biocomposite. This technique creates some exciting surprises on the lathe. I never know what to expect when my gouge carves through a spinning layer of wood, exposing some of a different wood hiding below.

Custom work is invited. Please share your needs and ideas. We welcome all suggestions -- and criticisms!

Hatchtown Tools Menu

• Handspindles -- absotootely scads of Spindles: Drop, Support, Low and High Whorls
  
• Niddy Noddies -- Enjoy measuring and skeining your yarn!
  Wherein we answer that age-old question: "What the heck IS a niddy noddy and HOW do you use one!??"
  
• Accessories -- Wraps per Inch Gauges, Orifice Hooks and Nøstepindes! ---- this is where to look for Nøstepinde instructions! ....and by the by, what DO you DO with WPI??
  
• Marudai -- Stands (or stools) for Kumihimo (Japanese braiding)

• Order Something? - A PrintOut order form, shipping information, and all that good stuff

We're now hooked up with the PayPal people.

Danish Oil unexpurgated -- Well, the truth, as I understand it, is that it's not Danish at all...which is OK because it's not oil either! Nope! Danish Oil is actually varnish which has been diluted with oil and maybe some other things as well. This dilution is key as it permits the finish to soak into the wood rather than just sitting on top the way varnish usually behaves.

I use Danish oil for a number of reasons:

• while offering a modicum of protection in the wood, the grain's still right there for fingertips and eyes to appreciate
• easily refreshed over time -- a rag's all that's necessary to rub on a new "coat"
• not thick and sticky when applied -- no dried in dust specks, lumps or ripples
• should additional protection be desired, Danish oil does not "reject" other finishes put on top of it -- providing a good base for full-strength varnish, shellac, lacquer or wax