Post by: rollingb on May 16, 2008, 02:47:15 AM
I think such a cart would add to the spirit of modern rendezvous, plus provide rides for the kids.
Post by: SAWMA on May 16, 2008, 10:48:23 AM
http://www.superjakes.com/WOODEN%20WAGON%20WHEELS.htm (http://www.superjakes.com/WOODEN%20WAGON%20WHEELS.htm)
Post by: woodman on May 16, 2008, 11:17:05 AM
Woodman
Post by: rollingb on May 16, 2008, 11:36:50 AM
Post by: woodman on May 16, 2008, 12:26:16 PM
Do a search on Google for wooden wagon wheels and do a little looking around. There was several pages of makers and sources that came up.
A lot of the red river type carts also had solid wood wheels wrapped in iron.
Woodman
Post by: RichW on May 16, 2008, 01:34:23 PM
19:3 Red River and Other Carts
Post by: rollingb on May 17, 2008, 02:11:29 AM
Taking my time and building a nice "replica" Red River cart, might be'a great "project" for next winter,... that'd give me plenty of time to gather the "parts" needed, and work up a set of plans from the drawings.
Thanks fellas,
YMHS
Rondo
Post by: Bountyhunter on May 17, 2008, 03:44:01 PM
They have an annual rondy with a lot of carts. They also have a "trail ride" of sorts for the carts.
If you contact the Metis, they will assist. I got sidetracked before I got my cart done, but it aint rocket science if you have a good shop to work in. Getting all the spokes the same and getting the proper cast on the wheels is the basic part. Amish wagon makers will make the wheels for you.
The Red River Cart is almost identical to the Mexican Caretta, other than the Caretta usually had solid wheels where the Red River cart had spoked wheels. The first Red River carts had the wheels bound with green buffalo hide so that when it dried, it pulled them together very strongly.
I already mentioned it, but if you build one, the rim of the wheels sets out a formulated distance from the center of the hub. There are several reasons for that, mainly the strength of the wheel while turning. Plans are available on the Internet for $10.
Post by: rollingb on May 18, 2008, 12:48:30 AM
Rondo
Post by: Uncle Russ on May 18, 2008, 01:15:03 AM
Post by: Bountyhunter on May 18, 2008, 04:59:29 PM
So, I got to thinking, something there needs to be sacrificial. If you wear both the hub and the axle out, then you have a lot of rebuilding to do. If the hub doesn’t wear but the axle does, it is much simpler to replace.
So, since the second thing that I have a lot of is Burr Oak, big old trees about 300 years old, that are 3’ at the stump and 80 feet tall. Lots of them go 30 feet before they branch. Makes a guys mind just buzz don’t it? So oak axles would be pretty easy to make, several of them while you are at it. They wear and the hub doesnt, and a couple of bolts will let you replace one when it need it. You get a demerit if they find your grease zerk.
So, next in line is Elm, what you call pi$$ elm. Light, tough tangled grain that you can not break or split. I was thinking of making the frame and tongue from Elm, the axle from oak and the wheel hubs from hedge. A lot of the old wagons had cast iron sleeves in the hubs, not the early Metis, but perhaps the later ones. I figured that if the hubs got sloppy, I was going to bore them and put sleeves in them so they could be greased like the prairie wagons.
Lots a So’s here aint there? The Carettas had smaller wheels than the Metis cart, and the ones in this area are either plyed up or cut from like 3’ cottonwood stumps. That’s all they had………The Caretta at Bents Fort has spoked wheels like a Metis Cart. I saw a caretta by Albuquerque that had plyed wheels,,,,planks laid out one direction with a second layer going crosswise with a third layer going like the first. I think they were then riveted together with iron rivets, and had buffalo rawhide “tiresâ€.
If you google metis cart plans, there are some on the internet for $10. I would also speculate that the carts changed with the times. I don’t know how long they were used, but I would opt for a late model with modern accessories………
You might get a contact here.
http://www.itsatrip.org/media/press-rel ... easeID=137 (http://www.itsatrip.org/media/press-releases/detail.aspx?ReleaseID=137)
Post by: RichW on May 18, 2008, 06:24:07 PM
An old guy I once knew said they used to rebuild model T's back in the depression using rawhide bearings... which would last long enough for a hot date Saturday night.
Post by: cb on May 18, 2008, 07:36:11 PM
The carretas of the SW used mostly cotton wood in their construction including the huge wheels which were often 6-8' in diameter.
You can get the plans for a Red River cart here http://www.ruralheritage.com/plans/planlist.htm (http://www.ruralheritage.com/plans/planlist.htm)
and here's a pic of one built from the plans http://www.wildhorsebooks.com/Plans/Col ... _River.JPG (http://www.wildhorsebooks.com/Plans/Collin's%20Plans/Red_River.JPG)
Post by: rollingb on May 19, 2008, 01:31:03 AM
Quote from: "RussB"
Rondo, Now we both know ol'Molly ain't going go for hauling a bunch of yellin kids around in that fancy cart, but iff'n it wuz that ya could stop by and give an old man and his dog a ride into town, I bet ol'Molly would find that right proper!
Russ,... I think ol' Molly might just maybe tolerate them yell'n kids,... if the driver'll let her have a cup of "apple pie" between rides. (she gets "purty mellow" after about 4 cups :laffing
Post by: rollingb on May 19, 2008, 01:44:01 AM
I don't know if I'll ever get such a project (as building a Metis cart) started, but it sure is interesting just think'n about it.
Post by: rollingb on May 19, 2008, 01:57:04 AM
Post by: Minnesota Mike on May 19, 2008, 11:43:54 AM
Quote from: "rollingb"
Bountyhunter, this "think'n" about the Metis carts is something fairly new to me, but I tend to agree with your think'n in the way of using different woods for uneven "wear". A person sure wouldn't want the wheels and axle BOTH, wear'n out at the same time.
I don't know if I'll ever get such a project (as building a Metis cart) started, but it sure is interesting just think'n about it.
If you ever do - please post some photos. It should be really be something to see.
r/
MM
Post by: sse on May 20, 2008, 08:57:48 PM
Post by: rollingb on May 21, 2008, 12:39:22 AM
Quote from: "sse"
Sounds like a neat project, rollingb, and I want a ride when you're done with it... :))
Post by: Sir Michael on May 21, 2008, 09:03:38 PM
Post by: boardilly on December 21, 2008, 07:40:30 PM
Post by: rollingb on December 21, 2008, 07:51:22 PM
Quote from: "boardilly"
I always heard they used red gum tree wood for solid wheels. Dilly
We don't have Red Gum trees in this part of the country (the Great Plains), but we do have some Cottonwood trees, which are heavy and soft when "green",... but light-weight and hard when dry.
Post by: woodman on December 22, 2008, 12:41:05 PM
Cottonwood would work fine for some solid wheels. After looking at some carts that are still around over in the San luis Valley. Looked like they used what was readily available. Some had Cottonwood, some where Doug Fir.
But what they all had in common where the wheels we're constructed out of planking sawn out to around 2"-3" ,layed at a 45 degree to each other pinned with pegs, some where nailed and clinched with square nails.
Woodman
Post by: Riley/MN on January 07, 2011, 06:49:46 PM
You ever build that cart?
Post by: Riley/MN on November 13, 2011, 11:13:54 PM
(http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/hh83/RileyMN/Winnipeg%202011/th_DSCN1784.jpg) (http://http)
This is the home of the Red River cart - they are all over the place! I got lotsa pictures, but was not able to measure, etc. I still hope to find some plans on line....
Oh, the axles were maple, the hubs were elm, and the felloes were oak, as were the tungs. The rest of the cart was made from whatever was handy, and could be repaired on the trail....
Post by: sse on November 14, 2011, 09:08:20 AM
Post by: Riley/MN on November 14, 2011, 10:52:26 AM
Post by: cb on November 14, 2011, 04:02:38 PM
http://ruralheritage.com/plans/planlist.htm (http://ruralheritage.com/plans/planlist.htm)
Post by: Riley/MN on November 14, 2011, 05:27:35 PM
They got a lotta stuff! http://www.wildhorsebooks.com/ (http://www.wildhorsebooks.com/)
Post by: Uncle Russ on November 14, 2011, 07:01:20 PM
I ain't heard nothing from him in something like a Coons age..him and his old Mule Molly, I think that was her name.
Miss them two sumpin awful bad. Sure would like to hear from the old boy.
Uncle Russ...