Kids sled

[Old Greenhorn]

I await the next step with baited breath. Neat project.

[doc henderson]

looks good.  if there is a lot of tension (depends on species, thickness, heat and moisture) it may try to tip the top edge.  if so, you could make a more solid version and use clamps and maybe even make two at a time stacked one on top of the other.

[SwampDonkey]

A steam chest is cheap to build. All I used was heat duct, insulated with spray foam outside, closed the ends, one end with a fitting for a water hose supplied by a boil barrel (metal grease pale). Go for it!!  8) 8) Test the boil time on some test pieces,  then jump in with both feet. Work quickly though, have every step rehearsed to get those suckers in the form. Don't forget the insulated gloves. Hot potatoes. :D :D

[kantuckid]

Using a bench vise as one aspect of a wood bend can simplify the bend. The work bench adds its part to the operation. I bend my chair back slats using pieces of 2x2's and clamping a bunch of slats to a bench top. No jig involved. Your bend calls for some extra length at the extreme bend area. Chair slats I can get by with none. 
If I was building a toboggan I'd do the steam. 

[Don P]

My porch light was misfiring while playing with the new logsplitter. a lot of bending potential there.

[kantuckid]

I sold my 3pt hitch mtd., hyd wood splitter to the guy who bought my tractor last year as my back has decided it lacks bending potential. My porch lights only issue is the birds like to build on the ceiling box above it so I've had a Dr pepper can jammed up their for couple of years. Most folks don't notice the can.  

[Wlmedley]

Bent my first runner today.Made a metal strap out of a old band blade some fool had knocked the teeth off of on his backstops.Larry gave me the idea.Worked out pretty good.Should have made strap a little wider.Runners 3" wide and strap 2 1/2"wide .Had a little splinter on one edge where strap didn't cover.Rigged up a low budget steamer.Got wood hot but only 1/4" thick so it cooled off quickly.Probably will make at least one extra runner in case something bad happens  :laugh:

 

 

  

[Wlmedley]

My steamer isn't working very well.Hard to control fire and keep from burning my hose up.Found a wallpaper steamer at Lowes made by Wagner for $69.I bought it and some end caps for my pvc pipe.Drilled and taped pipe for a 1/4" nipple which is what hose that came with steamer is.I think this setup will work a lot better.This is what I should have done to begin with.Being tight seems to always come back to bite me.Now I have a burnt up $20 tea kettle. :'(

[Don P]

Made a metal strap out of a old band blade some fool had knocked the teeth off of on his backstops.Larry gave me the idea

Looking good!
Glad Larry's idea about knocking the teeth off on the backstops worked out.

[Wlmedley]

Larry needs to be more careful  :laugh:

[Wlmedley]

Took my runners out of jig today.They seem fairly dry and are only 1/4" thick.Fastened them to sled and brought inside to dry some more.Set in front of stove for picture but moved out of direct heat.Still have an extra runner in jig in case I need it.Now have to bend back rest and sand some more.Don't really know what to use as a finish.I have some spar urethane that would probably be okay.

 

  

[doc henderson]

looks great.  our sled like that spent 20 minutes at a time with little kids on it two or three times a year.  then the rest in the basement.  Urethane will be fine.  could add red and green stain and or paint.  should be a family heirloom.

[Wlmedley]

I don't figure this one will get used very much.My son and DIL live in a subdivision and if it snows enough and they happen to be off work they might pull him around the neighborhood a little bit.If it holds up maybe it will give him something to remember his old pap paw :laugh:

[doc henderson]

you will have to find a spot to write something with you name and the date. maybe a message.  i could engrave it but you may find someone closer.
If there is a board that goes across the front, you could send it to me, or draw the dimensions and I could make and engrave it and send it to you.  or just a small plaque to attach.  pm me if you want.

[Wlmedley]

Doc, I appreciate the offer.I have a butane soldering iron that works pretty well for burning letters in wood that I am going to try.If it doesn't work out I'll give you a holler. Thanks again!

[thecfarm]

They will enjoy it.

[kantuckid]

My cross country skis have plastic on the bottom. It might be easier to make a plastic runner from sheet plastic. My skis were repairable surface using hotmelt plastic sticks so a PVC plastic? Also no rust to deal with. 

[SwampDonkey]

Teflon, countersink some small bolts from the underside in thin stock. Teflon is used up here on potato harvesters along the sides of the elevator beds. I put Teflon on my sleds, I countersunk screws because there is lots of meat to go into. Someone said it will degrade or something. Can't see why (and never did degrade in 10 years) if they can take rocks and mud scraping them up on a potato harvester. :D

[SwampDonkey]

Forgot to mention it, saw one just like it in the hardware store last week. ;)

Kids wooden winter sleigh.

[Wlmedley]

SwampDonkey, I like the idea of putting Teflon strips on bottoms of runners.Do you think it would bend okay?It might make runners a bit stronger as I am a little bit concerned about them breaking.Did you just bolt them or use some sort of glue also.Wish you hadn't posted hardware link.I didn't know they sold them that cheap :laugh:Wonder where I could get strips.

[doc henderson]

I do not think that one will last.  look at the uprights ect.

[Old Greenhorn]

Teflon is quite expensive, if you have a cheap source I am all ears. I used to to a lot of plastics work in a prior career. If you can find HDPE or UMHW they will be cheaper substitutes by far and are tougher than Teflon, which is quite soft. Often all three materials are confused because they all look similar. Teflon is pure solid white and the other two are more of a milky white. Back when I was using and buying, you could get a whole sheet of UHMW for what a square foot of Teflon cost.

When you attach whatever you get, I suggest using countersunk screws to spread the load out to hold them on better. Just get the head a bit below the working surface and use stainless if you can.

I think you've built a mighty fine sled there and if it's not too late, I would use Exterior oil based poly to hold up to the snow. Make sure there are no bare wood spots left because that is where the moisture will enter and do it's thing. The design reminds of those sleds everybody used to have in the Scandinavian Countries and now you seldom see. Similar design, but a bit larger and the back frame comes up to the height a standing adult would rest their arms at. They were for pushing and used trips to the store for groceries, etc. Like a snow shopping cart. Most just had a low seat on the front.  Officially called a 'Nansen Spark' they are also called kick sleds and have a bit of a following. They even have a world cup race for the spark. https://www.norwegianamerican.com/sparks-fly-across-norway/ and it appears you have just enough time to build one and enter this year's race. :D
Somebody is going to have fun the next few winters!


EDITED TO ADD: I just took a quick look at Teflon (PTFE) prices and yeah, it will still knock your socks off. Of course if you can get it like SD did and drop offs or scrap you might get lucky. For bending of UHWN or HDPE you can soak it in really hot water  or soften with a heat blanket (be careful!) and just wrap it. Don't soak Teflon. Fist, it is soft enough to make those bends cold, and second, it will soak up a lot of water.

[SwampDonkey]

Teflon is very flexible, I used 1/4" I think. I got it at a local fab/welding shop. They have all kinds of scrap. I live in an area that makes potato farm equipment, like conveyors, roller tables, and grading tables.

Like Doc said, the one in the link doesn't have solid jointery like yours. Then again, it is mainly for pre school sized kids. But might depend on what you can't see. There are bolt joints used sometimes, toward the inside face unseen. Basically a hole up through the end of the upright and the bolt end goes up through the base and into the upright. A hole is drilled 90 into the upright where a nut is placed and the bolt threaded up through. See it on backs of old rockers, into the arm. Nut is hidden on the underside. Tension of the nut is on the end grain of the wood, side grain on the bolt head side. Easily hidden behind that steel back piece in the linked sled. ;)

[SwampDonkey]

You can buy those kick sleds here in NS or Quebec. You usually have to pre order like in November. They come from Europe in January.

Esla Kicksled T6 (Large) | maritime-mushing

[Wlmedley]

You're right Doc,they didn't do a very good job fastening their uprights.I didn't notice.Makes me feel better about mine.OGH,thanks for the compliment and info.I don't know anything about plastic.It will be awhile before I put any finish on it.I've learned one thing,it's hard to turn an old mechanic into a woodworker.