The Conestoga Wagon build

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  • #22
Well, lesson of the day. That old saying of measure twice, cut once. Gosh darnit it's true. Didn't abide by the rule and screwed up the first 2 pieces. Oops.
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After the initial screw ups, I managed to get my act together and finish up the tool box pieces.
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Everything is now all glued together and all I need to do is come up with a way to do the hinges. I have an idea, but I'm not sure if it will work.
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I have no idea what a conestoga wagon is? I am following along with the build for the big reveal! Great work Ken.
 
woodtickgreg said:
I have no idea what a conestoga wagon is? I am following along with the build for the big reveal! Great work Ken.

It's the one that "settled the West" as they say. The classic looking wagon you see in all the older westerns. They can vary in look slightly and detail but you've seen a million of them. When the 'injuns' were about to attack the wagon train the trail boss would sound the call to "circle the wagons" for a makeshift fort. Those were Conestoga's.
 
I am REALLY enjoying this thread!
I know what you mean about 'cut it off 3 times and it's still too short!' This weekend I was working on a finger joint box to hide one of those medical Styrofoam coolers in. I did a really nice job, esp. considering its only the second time I've done one. I went to go place it in the cooler into the freshly created box and.....:dash2:. It's precisely 3/4" too short. And only on one axis, too. And me a math teacher. :blush: Oh the shame.
Now I gotta figure out what to do with this new crate.....
At least your boo-boo wasn't revealed after a full day's work!
 
Kenbo said:
Well, lesson of the day. That old saying of measure twice, cut once. Gosh darnit it's true. Didn't abide by the rule and screwed up the first 2 pieces. Oops.



After the initial screw ups, I managed to get my act together and finish up the tool box pieces.


Everything is now all glued together and all I need to do is come up with a way to do the hinges. I have an idea, but I'm not sure if it will work.

Size needed for hinges or hinge? I have some very small ones.
 
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  • #27
Mike1950 said:
Kenbo said:
Well, lesson of the day. That old saying of measure twice, cut once. Gosh darnit it's true. Didn't abide by the rule and screwed up the first 2 pieces. Oops.



After the initial screw ups, I managed to get my act together and finish up the tool box pieces.


Everything is now all glued together and all I need to do is come up with a way to do the hinges. I have an idea, but I'm not sure if it will work.

Size needed for hinges or hinge? I have some very small ones.

I have loads of small hinges Mike. I'm just not sure if I want to use them or not. I'm thinking I might make some wooden hinges for this one. I can't decide. It's a toss up between brass to match the other hardware, or wooden hinges. Maybe even black to look like old iron. I can't decide.
 
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  • #28
woodtickgreg said:
I have no idea what a conestoga wagon is? I am following along with the build for the big reveal! Great work Ken.

This would be a Conestoga Wagon Greg. Kevin's description was pretty good too. :good2:
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Kenbo said:
woodtickgreg said:
I have no idea what a conestoga wagon is? I am following along with the build for the big reveal! Great work Ken.

This would be a Conestoga Wagon Greg. Kevin's description was pretty good too. :good2:
That's really cool! But I coulda waited for the big reveal. :sarcastic: I'm still gonna be watching this, I love build threads! :good::good2:
 
Kenbo said:
... I'm thinking I might make some wooden hinges for this one. ...

I'm sure you've made wooden hinges before, but if not I assure you they are not hard. I made a dozen or dozen and a half pair or so when I was churning out humidors in the early through mid 90's and I never used "kits" or jigs they sell now. All hand work and I didn't own a drill press at that time - I free-handed the brass pin holes. When I first started I thought "This is too hard!" but after about the third pair it wasn't even a challenge. I'd say go for the wooden ones although some kind of miniature wrought hinges would be more period correct. :dunno:

I just think wood would look better for this project since it isn't aiming for museum quality repro.

JMO
 
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  • #31
Kevin said:
Kenbo said:
... I'm thinking I might make some wooden hinges for this one. ...

I'm sure you've made wooden hinges before, but if not I assure you they are not hard. I made a dozen or dozen and a half pair or so when I was churning out humidors in the early through mid 90's and I never used "kits" or jigs they sell now. All hand work and I didn't own a drill press at that time - I free-handed the brass pin holes. When I first started I thought "This is too hard!" but after about the third pair it wasn't even a challenge. I'd say go for the wooden ones although some kind of miniature wrought hinges would be more period correct. :dunno:

I just think wood would look better for this project since it isn't aiming for museum quality repro.

JMO



I've done quite a few sets of wooden hinges and I agree with you that they aren't rocket science. They are kinda fun to make actually. This one obviously isn't time period accurate. I don't think they would have had all kinds of funky brass fittings on their wagons. :sarcastic:
 
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  • #32
Went out to the shop today again. I already had the blanks cut to size. All I had to do was apply the patterns, mark and drill the holes and cut the pieces. There were only 3 simple pieces and it took me 2 hours. I'm not liking this new pace, but for the record, I did enjoy my time out there so that is what matters to me. Here are the pieces.
They still need to be sanded and shaped.
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Kenbo said:
Went out to the shop today again. I'm not liking this new pace, but for the record, I did enjoy my time out there so that is what matters to me.
Any shop time is great! And it's not about the pace, but the enjoyment of the time in the shop, but you already figured that out. :mocking:
Be careful and enjoy your time in the shop, it's supposed to be fun, not a job.
 
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  • #34
Well, this build is still going. I haven't been able to work on it for a while, but I thought that I would try today. I had a few minor setbacks which pretty much ended my shop time for the day but I did manage to get the poplar cut, drilled sanded and installed for the floor of the wagon. And that was it. Hopefully there will be better, more productive days ahead.
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Glad to see you back at it Ken. It's looking great and I can't wait to see it finished.
 
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  • #37
Thanks guys. It's a slow go for me but that's okay. Better slow than not at all.
 
Ken, I am still recovering from my arm injury and cannot work as fast as I would like either. My shop time is even more satisfying now, not fast, but still productive and good for the soul. Your build is looking good and we are all enjoying it at any speed! :praising: :good: :good2:
 
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  • #39
Got to put in one hour on the wagon today. Got the upper and lower bolsters sander for the front axle assembly and got the side brackets cut for the tongue. Doesn't seem like much, but I had fun with it. Tomorrow is another day.
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Your attention to detail is incredible. This is a great build thread- thanks.........
 
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