Onto a new kick.........sled design

[SwampDonkey]

Well, one sled isn't enough. So here's the deal. A new concept I'm exploring "off the top" and maybe "over to top" by the time I done.  ;D :D :D

I'm building a little sled with steering. The skis will probably be touching 5 feet of surface, similar to last year's sled. But this sled will have a steering column controlling a single front ski mounted on a "board". It will turn left and right, not sure about pivoting on the nose (up and down) yet. I will also install some rear rudder/breaks to aid steering and of course stopping on some fast grades if need be.  ;D

Here's the first ski in the former, today I also bent the second. It was mighty toasty in the shop when it's nearly 50 F outside.  :



I made some blocking by laminating 2-1/2" x 12" scraps of ash. Here I have 4 blocks supporting two cross members with dovetailed ends into the blocking. I stood up a couple braces I'm going to screw into the blocking and cross members for added strength.



Here I laminated 3 ash strips and turned handles for a steering mechanism. The steering post I have not turned yet, but it will be 2" diameter when lathed. I'm thinking of getting some PVC pipe and cutting it length wise for a steering column sleeve and sandwiching it with the steering post to a steering column of wood using a couple thick wooden braces screwed to the column to hold the sandwich in place. The steering post will be slanted back about 10 degrees and you will lean forward when holding the handle bars. I will run steering rods to the front ski, one to each side to pull right or left.





Still a little bit of cogitating. Wish me luck. 


Come on snow and cold, where art thou? ;)

47 degrees on January first, still not below 0 F yet this winter. 

[Magicman]

I guess that you will also have to really lean into the turn?

[SwampDonkey]

The rudders operated by foot should aid in turning, probably only needed on hard surface. Will cause drag on either side of the sled you step on, right or left rudder. There will likely be some leaning just from the motion of turning (rotating) the handle bar. I don't plan on picking one ski off the surface. ;)

[Holmes]

I like your ideas,and hope they work. I am planning to build a basic kick sled, just not sure if I want to do 1" metal runners or 2" skis. Holmes

[isawlogs]

Last time I had any wood strapped to my feet I had surgery and was the proud owner of stainless screws holding my angle together and little weights helping out with heeling .....Now all sledding is done motorised .  ;)

[SwampDonkey]

The key is to not be strapped in.  ;D :D :D

OUCH Marcel!! That's why I would never down hill ski off a mountain. Nope, not for me. ;D

[isawlogs]

  Guess being pulled by the hay burners aint too bad either, sitting on the comfy haybale only having to say gidd-up , jee, haww, whoa makes sledding nice and peaceful !!!     

[SwampDonkey]

Yip. Always nice for a sled ride.  8)

[SwampDonkey]

Here's the steering works for the sled.



Front ski with half inch diameter carriage bolt, six inches long. Nut is accessible by removing a wooden spacer under the steering paddle, held in place by screws.



Over head of the steering column, rear paddle and rods.

[Mooseherder]

You're gonna need a Horse to pull your sled. :D

[SwampDonkey]

 :D :D :D  Marcel?!    ;)

[PC-Urban-Sawyer]

SwampDonkey,

Maybe Marcel could lend you his moose to pull it...

Herb

[SwampDonkey]

Marcel, is user Isawlogs. He has some pet horses. ;)

Mooseherder is Glen, the cold drove him south.  The moose stayed behind to bother his game camera. ;D

For that matter......I have my own herd.
:D :D :D :D :D :D

[Mooseherder]

 :D :D
Yep, the cold was part of it but I was mainly an economic refugee 26 years ago.
If you run out of Moose, I know where you can find more.
My sister was driving by our place a few weeks ago and saw a Bull Moose by the road walking into our field.  He's runnin' the joint in our absence.

[SwampDonkey]

Rudders   ;D

[SwampDonkey]

[isawlogs]

What I hope you have is a helmet\head cam  ;)   oh .. and a long hill for the first run . Horses are available at any time, one is not quite used to a harness  ;D, cam is needed for this one to be in front  ;D

[SwampDonkey]

I'm thinking of installing an emergency hand break to engage both rudders at once. I'll not likely need it unless I get up to 40 mile an hour or more on the crust. You can really sale downhill on crust. Sometimes there is a ditch or terrace in a field that you won't want to go into orbit over. :D

[Stephen1]

Looking good SW , is it to be pulled, or used in freefall downhill

[SwampDonkey]

I hope both.  :D :D

[jim king]

And the mast for the sail ?¿

[SwampDonkey]

No sail for this one Jim. Baby steps before we build and sale an ice boat. ;D

I am working an a hand rail and support for the steering post. I steamed a piece today for the support. Took 3 attempts, couldn't quite cook 1" thick material, they were steaming hot, but wouldn't bend very good. Had to make it around 13/16" and cooked it an extra 45 minutes in the steam chest.

[SwampDonkey]

[Just Me]

Very cool!

Larry

[SwampDonkey]

The sled goes nice over the snow, I could coast along on a slow grade pretty easily with hardly any pushing off. Although we need an ice base to what we have because it is quite powdery and the field road has stones which are just under the snow surface. So the snow needs to crust up a bit. I may need a runner on the front ski to, slides a bit sideways on the teflon. We'll see when we get this ice/snow mix coming in a day or two.  It's a bit of a pull uphill though with 90lbs of weight behind ya. ;D

[Mooseherder]

Downhill momentum will require a couple of foot draggers.
Got any lazy folks who need a ride around? :D

[SwampDonkey]

Yeah! :D The front ski is designed to take the weight so the front of the hind skis lift slightly for easier turning. Weight on the front could be the ticket because standing on the rear does create a little lift toward the front. I'll have to get a good slope and steer by foot, no breaks, just free fall. :D :D

Oh, got the teflon this year for $12 bucks. I gave the guy $20 though, keep the change.

[Mooseherder]

Youngsters don't require no brakes cause dey ain't scared. ;D
Just please remember the helmet cam so they rest of us can enjoy the ride.

[SwampDonkey]

Painted the sled up over the weekend with Tremclad water based. Used the air compressor and paint gun, easy cleanup between coats. Two coats of white under coat and a couple ice blue top coats. Should last for 20 years or more. I have great luck with Tremclad, it's good paint.



I solved the steering issue by installing a wooden runner over the teflon on the front ski. It's a temporary fix as I know it won't hold up for very long. I'll replace it with a piece of steel from someone's scrap pile. ;) Only need a foot long piece.



You can see there is hardly anything for snow around here and no base to it. Just look around the barn area. Should change by mid week with a mix of snow and sleet. ;D

[isawlogs]

Lots of snow here Donk , you just bring that thing over, I'll harness up the mare for ya. Give me a day notice so I can go out and rent me a cam  ;D

[Mooseherder]

Donk, Nice color.  My sister used to have mittens in that shade. ;D

[Burlkraft]

Nice job Donk  8)  8)  8)

It's good to get one a them projects out .

I still have a couple cluttering up my shop

[SwampDonkey]

It's good to get one a them projects out .

I still have a couple cluttering up my shop

Yup, my cherry cabinet awaits as well. ;)

Hopefully enough wood and time for a second cabinet I talked about last year. Come H$%$ or high water. ;)

[Norm]

That turned out nice SD. If Marcel can't part with one of his hayburners Patty would just love to loan out the fat horse. ;D

[Burlkraft]

That turned out nice SD. If Marcel can't part with one of his hayburners Patty would just love to loan out the fat horse. ;D

He's gonna need a bigger sled

[SwampDonkey]

Hey now, the horse pulls, the man rides. :D ;)

[isawlogs]

Take a number Norm , I get firsts goes at takin da pics of the Donk going down da road. ;D

[Magicman]

I'll replace it with a piece of steel from someone's scrap pile. 

Looks like a good place for an old leaf spring.

[Don_Papenburg]

Stack up about three to five layers of that plastic about the width of your wood keel , making them narrower as you build the stack .  that will give you bite and slick sliding

[SwampDonkey]

I've got some PVC here, I'll try stacking some strips, or use the wood piece for backing. It's already got a curved edge to it. Don't have any teflon left. Thanks for the insight Don.

[Weekend_Sawyer]

You sure have some talent there Donk.

[SwampDonkey]

This year I'm going light weight. :D


Hand made in Finland. ;D

[Old Greenhorn]

And how far is town from you? ;D :D

[SwampDonkey]

Five miles to the local village.

[thecfarm]

50 years ago I would of jumped on that!!!!  ;)

[SwampDonkey]

They have a non profit groomed trail network near here for skiers, but I've got all kinds of semi groomed trail on the road into the woodlot. Heck, most winter days the main road is kick sled'able. :D