Antikythera Fragment #12 - Files, Saws and Reamers - Constructing The Antikythera Mechanism
Added 2024-05-28 18:54:50 +0000 UTCHey folks,
What can a single Antikythera mechanism component tell us about the cutting tools of the day? Time for a deep dive, do please enjoy!
Cheers,
Chris.
Direct links to the video -
Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/951029124/469310d887?share=copy
YouTube: https://youtu.be/ntsROi3xNS8
-------------- Video Notes: ---------------
Antikythera Mechanism raw CT data source: Antikythera Mechanism Research Project
Antikythera CT Images Copyright © 2020, Budiselic, Thoeni, Dubno, Ramsey. All rights reserved.
References/Further Reading:
The Front Dial of the Antikythera Mechanism by Michael T. Wright: http://hist.science.online.fr/antikythera/DOCS/MTW%20for%20Teun%20formatted%20greyscale%202.pdf
THE ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM AND THE EARLY HISTORY OF THE MOON-PHASE DISPLAY by M.T. Wright: http://hist.science.free.fr/antikythera/DOCS/The%20Antikythera%20Mechanism%20and%20the%20Early%20History%20of%20the%20Moon%20.pdf
Wright, M T. (July 2002). "In the Steps of the Master Mechanic". Proc. Conf. Ancient Greece and the Modern World. Ancient Olympiai. pp. 86–97. University of Patras 2003.
M.T. Wright & A.G. Bromley, "Towards a New Reconstruction of the Antikythera Mechanism", proc. conference Extraordinary Machines and Structures in Antiquity, Ancient Olympia (August 2001)
M.T. Wright, "A Planetarium Display for the Antikythera Mechanism", Horological Journal, vol. 144 no. 5 (May 2002), pp. 169-173, and vol. 144 no.6 (June 2002), p. 193.
The Moon Phase Anomaly in the Antikythera Mechanism by Christián C. Carman and Marcelo Di Cocco http://doi.org/2333.1/3ffbgd1v
The History of the File: https://archive.org/details/fileitshistoryma00henr
Da Vinci File-Cutting Machine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3v9E4D-Z7M
Ken Hawley in action hand cutting files: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FB58hkncznI
Theophilus: https://archive.org/details/ondiversartstrea00theo
Tools & Weapons, WM Flinders Petrie: https://ia803001.us.archive.org/27/items/toolsweaponsillu00petr_177/toolsweaponsillu00petr_177.pdf
The File: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File_(tool)
Bernot’s Patented File Cutting Machine: https://ia600101.us.archive.org/15/items/recordofinternat00lond/recordofinternat00lond.pdf
(fig 363)
Comments
I was pretty exhausted after this video too! Cheers mate :)
Clickspring
2024-06-08 01:19:58 +0000 UTCCheers Bill!
Clickspring
2024-06-08 01:19:31 +0000 UTCSuch remarkable work and scholarship. And patience! I tend to find myself mentally exhausted when I'm finished sharpening a hand saw (for woodworking), and that's far less repetition than cutting these files!
Kenneth Carlile
2024-06-05 02:15:32 +0000 UTCAnother simply magnificent video. Thank you so much!
Bill Noren
2024-06-04 21:34:25 +0000 UTCYes more to come Bob - Cheers :)
Clickspring
2024-05-30 19:42:40 +0000 UTCChris, do you actually have enough information to understand enough of the Mechanism to start making more components anytime soon?
Bob Vines
2024-05-30 19:16:31 +0000 UTCYes, I was also surprised that the oil wick flame was sufficient to temper the files & saws!
Bob Vines
2024-05-30 19:14:24 +0000 UTCThey may have used a plate-making process similar to that shown in the "Silversmith Of Williamsburg" video (Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia, U.S.A.). Also, I believe that there were "Platers" in medieval times (that used basically the same process as shown in the above video) where several Artisans stood around a block of cast material and alternated hammering & annealing until the cast material became a plate. I don't recall what, if anything, was done to get the plate a consistent thickness -- they may have simply used a 'flatter" (type of hammer) to get the thickness close enough for the purpose for which the plate is/was intended.
Bob Vines
2024-05-30 19:12:53 +0000 UTCThank you PJ, so pleased you enjoyed it!
Clickspring
2024-05-30 18:19:50 +0000 UTCThanks Jonathan :)
Clickspring
2024-05-30 18:19:28 +0000 UTCTop 5 videos Chris! The details, history, Macro's, timeline, overlays, CAD and the Epic Patience and attention to every detail...makes it so in my book! The small saws and round files surprised me that they didn't warp on quench and had enough heat with the oil wick flame to temper them. Reamer was a Big Treat on how well it worked. Thanks also for all the reference links! Always First Class and brilliantly executed! Hat Tip, ~PJ
PJ
2024-05-30 16:19:38 +0000 UTCWonderful work~
Jonathan Numer
2024-05-30 04:35:01 +0000 UTCThanks Nick :)
Clickspring
2024-05-29 21:08:29 +0000 UTCMe too! Cheers mate :)
Clickspring
2024-05-29 21:08:11 +0000 UTCIs there any limit to your patience? It is awe inspiring.
Nick Palliser
2024-05-29 12:43:11 +0000 UTCI *love* experimental archaeology like this. I can't tell you how much.
Gert Sønderby
2024-05-29 09:57:42 +0000 UTCThanks Grant, I have had a lot of requests for that so will definitely cover it - Cheers :)
Clickspring
2024-05-29 05:30:08 +0000 UTCBeautiful as always Chris. I had a thought while watching this one. Have you covered how the ancient artisan might have fashioned the thin flat brass plates much of the mechanism is made from?
Grant Pluntze
2024-05-29 05:00:15 +0000 UTCThank you mate. It has definitely been helpful to get a genuine understanding of the time involved, I can feel it influencing a lot of my choices in how to go about things - Cheers :)
Clickspring
2024-05-29 04:30:52 +0000 UTCYour macro photography at this point might be TOO good. My brain just refuses to accept that those slots and tools are around 3mm in size, even with how big your fingers appear in frame! More seriously though, I'm amazed at your patience hand cutting those round files. So many cuts! I'd never have that patience. A lot of people will try using a historical process for a limited part of a project just to prove it can be done, then switch to modern tools to speed things up. I think your commitment to actually using these tools and techniques for practical jobs is important, because ancient makers also had limited time and limited patience, and knowing what it took to actually finish making something with these tools is quite different from just proving that they work.
Tarsen
2024-05-29 03:17:16 +0000 UTCYes I've definitely improved a bit with the file cutting since the start of the project. Ready to start building the thing now! Cheers mate :)
Clickspring
2024-05-29 01:53:43 +0000 UTCIt's a *good* day :) Thanks for this Chris. I noticed the sound of the new files seemed to be 'sweeter' than your first batch from 6 years ago (just looked it up; can't believe it's been that long). The amount of work that goes into a round file..... And, Oh, the enjoyment and satisfaction of making your own tools :) I found the saws particularly interesting; even though I own a couple of Japanese saws, with pull set teeth, and several Jewellers saws in which you set the blades up likewise, I would probably have made a keyhole saw with push set teeth, completely missing the better way. Thanks for 'setting' me straight :) Brilliant as always.
Duncan Luddite
2024-05-29 01:22:27 +0000 UTCYes you're exactly right, the round ones take several multiples longer than the others to cut. I've now had a lot of practice, so I can cut and dress something like the square needle files (eg the one at end of the vid) in under 10 minutes. The round ones currently take me more like an hour. As I understand it, the file cutting anvils were typically lead faced, as were the hammers. I've gone for tin for the anvil face and copper for the hammers to avoid personal lead exposure and since they're both known materials of the day and perform essentially the same. I've also kept the hammer design basic, just a block, again to remove any requirement that the cutting hammers necessarilly had to have the 'modern' form we see in the more recent record - Cheers mate :)
Clickspring
2024-05-28 23:54:48 +0000 UTCCheers mate :)
Clickspring
2024-05-28 23:43:34 +0000 UTCThanks Adam!
Clickspring
2024-05-28 23:43:25 +0000 UTCWhat a deep dive this one is! As usual I am blown away by your attention to detail. It prompts the question of time. I know that did not matter - too much - to the ancient craftsmen. So; how long did it take to make each file? It looks like the round ones would have taken several times more time than the saw blades and flat ones. I am also wondering about the anvil you were using while punching the teeth of the files. It looks like a soft metal - a lead facing perhaps? I don't remember you mentioning it in the file making video.
Jeff Armstrong
2024-05-28 23:41:09 +0000 UTC...the amount of patience is unfathomable .... Making something complex in the most complex way possible .... brilliant to watch - and learn
SA Sampson
2024-05-28 22:31:05 +0000 UTCThe level of detail that you're going into on reproducing this with contemporary tools is truly astonishing. I'm in complete awe at you've managed to do so far. It's so easy these days to get caught up in the mindset of what brand tools are the best, but this really demonstrates that what's important is knowledge, skill, dedication and perseverance. All the thumbs up mate!
Adam Wesley-August
2024-05-28 22:29:53 +0000 UTCCheers Jay :)
Clickspring
2024-05-28 20:43:34 +0000 UTCThank you Sam, so pleased you enjoyed it :)
Clickspring
2024-05-28 20:43:19 +0000 UTCIt is amazing the work that you put into these videos, so cool to think about the history and techniques. Thank you for all your effort!
Jay Holmes
2024-05-28 19:39:39 +0000 UTCBlimey, you’re really having fun with the little ancient workshop segments, aren’t you? Your editing has always been great with the likes of the quick graphics showing what a given part will look like after the operation etc. You’ve still managed to step your game up with this series, kudos. Hope you and yours are well, mate. See you on the next one.
Sam Bishop
2024-05-28 19:35:30 +0000 UTC
