New Bobsled in the works!

[Gabe Ayers]

John Plowden and I just spent three and a half days in his shop in Stow working on a brand new bobsled. My old sled was not in good enough condition to be rebuilt, so we had to basically start from scratch. I have it back here at home now, but still need to do a bunch of work to complete it. We are hoping to have some photos up soon to document the process. I now have three pieces of Plowden built logging equipment, all of which I use at home and for commercial logging work, and they all are excellent tools. If anyone out there is considering having a piece of horse equipment built, John is a great choice (and I received no payment for this posting!).

[Does’ Leap]

@Bradbury Johnson 30993 wrote:

My old sled was not in good enough condition to be rebuilt, so we had to basically start from scratch.

Hey Brad, can you elaborate on this? I am not in the market for a bobsled (yet), but I would like to have a better idea about what is salvageable and what is not. Are you talking wood, hardware, or both?

Thanks.

George

[Gabe Ayers]

George-
This project required new wood (oak) as well as almost all new steel. John and I milled oak for two new runners (4×6″) as well as main bunk (8×8″) and top plate (4×8″). Some of the steel was salvageable, but badly worn. Because this is a tool that I use to make part of my living in the winter months, I decided to spend a bit more and have the steel pieces fabricated. I did resuse pins, reinforcing plates on front ends of runners, some fasteners, and runner steel (which I may use as a second layer tack welded onto the first layer for easier replacement when worn out). I figure that the new steel we shaped will last my lifetime of work and beyond. The other reason that we fabricated much of the steel was that the design was quite different on the old sled and I changed to a design similar to Carl Russell’s, which is a much sturdier design.
-Brad

[Mark Cowdrey]

Brad,
Can’t wait to see the pics and read the article in the DAPNet newsletter!!
Mark

[Ed Thayer]

I saw the photos on facebook, nice work by John and Brad. Almost looked to nice to work in the woods .

[Does’ Leap]

@Bradbury Johnson 31012 wrote:

George-
This project required new wood (oak) as well as almost all new steel. John and I milled oak for two new runners (4×6″) as well as main bunk (8×8″) and top plate (4×8″). Some of the steel was salvageable, but badly worn. Because this is a tool that I use to make part of my living in the winter months, I decided to spend a bit more and have the steel pieces fabricated. I did resuse pins, reinforcing plates on front ends of runners, some fasteners, and runner steel (which I may use as a second layer tack welded onto the first layer for easier replacement when worn out). I figure that the new steel we shaped will last my lifetime of work and beyond. The other reason that we fabricated much of the steel was that the design was quite different on the old sled and I changed to a design similar to Carl Russell’s, which is a much sturdier design.
-Brad

Hey Brad:

Ready for some questions? Here goes:

1. Do you have any pictures of your new sled?
2. Did you make moccasin runners?
3. Is the “top plate” you mentioned just as wear piece attached to your bunk that is meant to be replaced or does it have another purpose?
4. Did you use mild steel for the fabricated pieces? How about the runner steel? I like the idea of tacking a second layer of runner steel on.

I am back out to the woods this morning to finish up a load of logs. Hemlock prices are up – $300/mbf straight through with premiums for long logs.

George

[Carl Russell]

I just visited Les Barden yesterday in Farmington NH to review his innovative design for a lightweight bobsled. He is using 3″ hardwood runners with steel chairs and a walking beam design for the bunk. Using 3″ square tube as the bunk, he welded on 3″ round stock to the ends and set them into rounds welded on the top of the chairs. When pinned in place this will allow each runner to ride independently over the terrain.

Also with this set-up, the height to the top of the bunk will be only about 15″. Instead of the cumbersome and time consuming chaining method that I use on my sled, we worked out a prototype for a potentially simpler method. Welding flat grab hooks onto the top of the steel bunk we intend to create a way to attach the chain quickly (without threading it through a ring etc) to the bunk.

Our theory is to still use one chain for each side, but to run the choker end of the chain under all logs on one side, fixing the length by use of the welded grab, then run the other end of the chain over all of those logs. Then put the chain through the slip hook, and back toward center where each (side)chain can be bindered against the other, securing each half of the load back against the other, and centered on the bunk so that the load can be turned.

Les has also attached chains to the end of the bunk to be used in loading with a peavey, using a rolling lift with the peavey hook in one of the chain links.

This will not be a heavy duty sled for moving large loads of logs, but promises to be another opportunity for teamsters looking for light convenient technology to assist the effective application of their working animals.

I didn’t take any pics yet, but it will be here sometime this winter to get some practical testing, and there will be photos then.

Carl

[Gabe Ayers]

Wow, can’t wait to see some pics of that design…I am having a hard time envisioning it with something to look at.
-Brad

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