Fellas,
I gave up trying to put pics into a post, but anyway here's two links of :
- a homemade cart to move around large timbers by myself:
- and some 4" cherry slabs I got out of a blown over tree earlier this summer. Should make some nice braces for my shed.
http://www.prostreampresent.com/milling/cartCherry1.jpg
http://www.prostreampresent.com/milling/cartCherry2.jpg
Greg
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/gregcartCherry1.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/gregcartCherry2.jpg)
Thanks Tom for grabbing these,
I was following your FAQ,
But Mozilla bombed out with an error for me on the upload step.
Also, 15K file size limit is quite small. Any chance this could bumped up?
Will try another set of pics later, this time with IE.
Greg
QuoteAlso, 15K file size limit is quite small. Any chance this could bumped up?
I am thinking about cutting it to 10. Most of the guys have gotten real good at getting good photos on under 15 so maybe we don't need it that big any more.(https://forestryforum.com/smile/earmuffs.gif)
Check the file size of the photos Tom Fixed for you. Well under the limit
When I made my timber cart, I made it low and wide. I was hoping that when I used it I could load more than one timber on it, that's why I made it wide. I made it low because I figured if it tipped left or right it wouldn't have far to lean before it hit the ground and then the timbers wouldn't fall off and make it hard to reload:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Timber%20transporter-s.jpg)
Making it with one axles and large wheel barrow tires made it very easy to roll. And once a timber was loaded it could be move quite easily by one person:
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Timber%20on%20transporter-s.jpg)
(https://forestryforum.com/images/04_01_03/Timber%20on%20transporter2-s.jpg)
(driver's view)
Now when I went to use this the first time, it worked good for loading a single timber. As I was alone, I chose not to load more than one. It rolled nicely from the driveway to the back yard where the frame was going to be erected.
But, the problems were that the ground I was rolling over was not flat and the timber cart tipped to the left and the timber did slide off center on the cart and it tipped the cart down until the wide base touched the ground. I had to then strap the timber to the cart to stop it from sliding off center.
Another problem I had was once this cart was empty, it was too short. I was difficult to move empty back to the driveway and reload. I figured I needed a removable handle so that I could easily walk it back to the loading spot without needing to bend over and push it all the way. I used the strap to pull the cart back to the driveway. That worked but was not the best solution.
The design of the handle has not been completed, yet.
Overall it worked but needs improvements.
Greg thanks for sharing your design. Jim
How about a fixed handle with a strap on it to fasten up to the timber when loaded. Always there when you get the timber unloaded, not lost in the sawdust/tall grass like mine would be. ;D
Should work, thanks. Jim
QuoteWhen I made my timber cart, I made it low and wide. I was hoping that when I used it I could load more than one timber on it, that's why I made it wide. I made it low because I figured if it tipped left or right it wouldn't have far to lean before it hit the ground and then the timbers wouldn't fall off and make it hard to reload:
Very nice pics Jim.
Maybe if we morphed the elements of both our carts into one, we could solve all the design problems!
I chose to make mine higher, thinking I could easily move a timber from my workspace onto the cart without any lifting or bending. I'm 6'5" so my working sawhorse height is quite tall - probably taller than most would like.
Sounded good in concept, but the result is the cart is very tippy. You really have to baby it while pushing along, and steering is a quite a feat. Putting one set of wheels on the outside helped that quite a bit with stability.
Anyways, its light years ahead of where I was and I can at least now muscle timbers around by myself. A big improvement and no sore backs - just ask my wife ;-)
Next design discussion: Work horses for timbers! My setup in my garage right now is very primitive: stacked concrete blocks with two cut off 8x8s to rest on. I plan on moving "the shop" to the barn this fall, but still need to put in some decent lighting out there, hopefully solar powered...
Greg
Greg:
See my recent post: Saw horses or ponies - Which is best?
Jim
Ps: The design I used was copied/modified from something I saw in a book or magazine. It rolls very nice and with the wheels near the middle it turns very easily.
When I cut my frame I borrowed a 2 wheeled greenhouse
cart from work. It had nice big tires on it. It had a metal
frame so I put wood on it to keep from marring the timbers.
It was the perfect height and they carry a lot of weight.
Jim,
Where did you find a shaft for the axle? I found the tires but no one seems to have rod to fit them.
Thanks
I've been doing a lot of spring cleaning last few weeks. Getting rid of all the stuff I no longer use.
Before I hauled this lumber cart off to the antique auction, for some reason thought I would take a few pictures. This cart came out of a old St Joseph, Missouri lumberyard. I can remember lots of these carts in use at the Frank Paxton yard in KCMO years ago.
The wheel has a pat. date of 1873 on it. When the cart is loaded there is a chain on one side that is thrown over the load and hooked in a chain catch on the other side to secure the lumber.
Maybe it will give somebody an idea or two.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10125/tc.jpg)
Hey Larry,
Great photo!!
What did the cart fetch at Auction, just out of curiosity!?
By the way, have you guys considered using one set of castor wheels on one end of your trolleys, seems that would make it much easier to manouver...
asy :D
Thanks for the pic larry. That is excatly what I had in mind building. I was going to use Bicycle tires & rims. My challenge right now is finding the best axle system. I may have to pull out the welder on this project.
Kirk
We made a deer hauling cart out of bike wheels, and learned that they don't have much strength against side loads. Worked much better to get wheelchair wheels, for us anyway. They seem to have much heavier spokes.
Now the mountain bikes may have better quality and strength than the type of bikes we had access to in the late 60's.
Still, just 'a few' timbers and slabs are going to load up a cart pretty fast.
Kirk,
If you are using wheelbarrow wheels, they should be 5/8" bore. Just go the the closest scrap/steel yard and ask for a few feet.
I just did that for some 7/8" and 3/4".
Larry,
What did the cart fetch, or if ya still have it, what do ya want for it?
The cart sold for $7.00
I also sold 10 old iron wheels....going price seemed to be $5.00 each.
Thought they would bring more money but pretty much my business luck...buy high and sell cheap. ::) ::) :(
:'( :'( :'(
I surely could have done a bit better for ya on that cart.
Looked like an interesting piece!
Oh well, kinda outa space anyways. ::)
To answer Kirk's question.
I just went to the hardware side of the store, where I got the wheel barrow wheels and got a piece of threaded rod, maybe 1/2" in diameter. Something easy to find and use.
A caster wheel on either end or both would work for my design.
Thanks for the idea.
Jim Rogers
Okay here goes my feeble attempt to post a photo. This is a picture of my cart with handle. It is pretty simple and straightforward and works for me.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10112/P3310060.JPG)
JoeyLowe
Your "feeble attempt" was very successful 8) 8) 8).
Looks like a nice cart, stable and easy to handle. Well done.
Ernie
Yep, your "attempt" got it done! 8)
I really like that handle idea, never seen it before.
Thanks!