Wagons and Wheelwright

"A good blacksmith should be able to make a wagon."

	I took up this challenge and first decided to try and make a 1/3 scale farm wagon. The entire wagon was made from scratch out of red oak. Wheel hubs and spokes were turned and the hub mortises for the spokes were drilled and then a rectangular shape was burned through with a piece of hot iron the size of the tenon. The iron tires were made 1/4 inch smaller than the felloes (rims) and heated before installing. The brakes actually work. I made my first wheel for the small wheelbarrow.

I took up this challenge and first decided to try and make a 1/3 scale farm wagon. The entire wagon was made from scratch out of red oak. Wheel hubs and spokes were turned and the hub mortises for the spokes were drilled and then a rectangular shape was burned through with a piece of hot iron the size of the tenon. The iron tires were made 1/4 inch smaller than the felloes (rims) and heated before installing. The brakes actually work. I made my first wheel for the small wheelbarrow.

I happened to find the remains of a farm wagon on my cousin-in-law's farm. It basically consisted of a pile of twisted rusty iron and rotton wood. However the wheel hubs were miraculously in good shape (someone had painted them long ago) as were the steel axles. Why not rebuild it using only the original hubs and axles? The following images show some of the rebuilding steps.


Partial Front Assembly.	Burning a hole through the "hounds" for a tongue pin. Notice red hot rod coming through the hounds.


The rear assembly which connects to front assembly via the Reach which runs down the middle.	A hub with spokes installed. Note the brace tools for cutting tenons on the end of the spokes.


The felloes (wooden rim) were steamed and bent by a local amish wheelwright's shop. They could have been sawn out in sections.	Putting the iron tire on a wheel. Note flame and smoke from heat. (Henry is to the right in blue shirt and hat. I'm in the yellow shirt)


The final results !	Using some leftovers !