Preview: Ingenuity at Work & Play, with Harry Bryan

18 Responses So Far to “Ingenuity at Work & Play, with Harry Bryan”

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  David Dickson says:

  Brilliant and thought provoking. What a full and productive life Harry has, always using his imagination to try and figure out a better, or different, way of getting things done.
  Much respect!
  Okay, now I’m getting out of bed. 😁

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  Bill Kenneke says:

  Spectacular!

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  Harry Bryan says:

  I would like to respond to Michael Mittleman’s comments on the pedal band saw and drill powered scooter.

  The band saw project came about because I work off the grid and am always on the lookout for ways to save energy. I must also admit to a fascination with foot powered machinery. This saw is a machine, and as such is as accurate as it was when electrically powered. It is many times faster than a bow saw, its hand equivalent, and makes a cut which is consistently accurate in its angle to the surface. Much of its work is done using softwoods under 1″ in thickness where speed is limited by care and accuracy in cutting, not by lack of power.
  A part broke recently on this saw and it was out of commission for two days. I was shocked how often I missed having the saw during this brief time. I have never worked up a sweat with this tool although I am sure the exercise it gives is good for me.

  The scooter was something I originally built as a 14 year old from a Chevrolet drive shaft. The project was not about improving on the original but about providing a learning experience for my grand children. I hope they learned something about gear ratios, the power of batteries, and the potential in old parts usually sent to the landfill. It certainly made many people smile, reason enough for taking on the project.

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    Michael Mittleman says:

    Thank you for the response, Harry. I wish you well – alternatively stated – more power to you.

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    Dean Wilson says:

    Harry, I’ve found all your articles incredibly interesting and take my hat off to your resilience and ingenuity. I’m a Carpenter myself so appreciate the skill and workmanship. Thanks for sharing.

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  Michael Mittleman says:

  Thanks to Harry Bryan for sharing his interesting video. However, in candor, I find both projects somewhat puzzling. The treadle bandsaw and the electric-powered scooter seem to be deconstructing rather than creating; both required the removal of the original power plants (motor and engine) and their replacement by other, less precise and/or less efficient mechanisms. I am not prepared to believe that an operator-powered treadle leads to equivalent cutting accuracy produced by the original motorized bandsaw, especially when multiple cuts or larger workpieces are involved. Then too, I don’t understand the improvement wrought by a lead-acid storage battery connected to a modified drill power plant over the original small gas engine configuration. What is the message?

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    Joseph Ebsworth says:

    The message?

    Chill out Micheal.

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  Chris Noto says:

  ❤️✌️

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  Daniel Culpepper says:

  Thanks Harry, you make us smile!

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  Timothy Case says:

  ‘Old School’ wisdom and ingenuity, off grid and off center. I love the treadle bandsaw. Beautiful and inspirational work, Harry. Thank you!

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  Gary Sloan says:

  Harry reminds me so much of my Dad. Another guy who could make something out of stuff he found in the garage. Thank you for sharing this with us

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  Mason Dyer says:

  Now that’s living life

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  John McCarthy says:

  Brilliant Harry. Both the human powered tools and the ingenious motorised scooter.

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  Jim Tolpin says:

  Bravo Harry! Keeping it fun and inspirational for the rest of us.

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  gregorio cheskis says:

  Maravilhoso!!

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  Keith Magill says:

  Absolute perfection.

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  Joy Phillips says:

  What can you say? the man is a one off wonder.

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    John Burgess says:

    Yesterday, Christmas morning, the kids are grown-up with homes of their own;my wife was still asleep so how better to start Christmas than with Mr Bryan in his workshop? Thank you Sir. I hope you have some sense of the joy that spreads out accross the world from your idyllic workshop. Best wishes to you, yours, and the OCH team.