Set on a mahogany frame of heavy timber, a single flywheel supports two separate treadles, one at each end. The machine is set up with a table saw on the left with an adjustable brass fence mounted on the mahogany table. The elegance of the wing nuts that attach the fence makes them stand out prominently and one wonders at the labor that went into their creation. The saw table tips upward to give access to the blade and the entire shaft is set into adjustable cone bearings which allow it to be quickly and easily removed. The table base is cast iron and made to catch the dust as it falls. The saw is attached to its base with a “D” ring in the same way the tailstocks and slide rests are attached to the beds of their ornamental lathes. The entire saw unit can quickly be removed and replaced with a grinding wheel that can be used either wet or dry.
On the opposite side is a set of two laps which work simultaneously allowing for two different grits of “diamantine” to be used without having to change wheels. On the front of the stand is a set of drawers to store the polishing media and extra wheels. The drawers are dovetailed and the fronts are beaded at the top and bottom.
The table saw/lap’s date of origin is unknown and only the last two owners are documented. The saw came to the Plumier Foundation as a gift from Eric Spatt who purchased it from Gorst DuPlessis, a well-known, American, ornamental turner from the late 20th and early 21st century.