Making
Wheels Easy #1
Making Decorative Wooden Wagon Wheels is Easy
Softcover,
conebound
215 x 280mm
Published by Windy Hill Woods, Kansas City, Mo, USA
R.R.P.$34.90
ISBN 1-58404-000-9
As reviewed in The Australian Woodworker Issue 139
There was a time when you only had to drive out of town to see an old store with a couple of weatherbeaten wagon wheels for sale.
Now, the supply seems to have all but dried up and the only way you're likely to get a wagon wheel is to make one yourself. That's not a bad thing because making wagon wheels can be a lot of fun.
These two books, Making Wheels Easy (#1 & #2), will help. Each is plastic comb bound and printed mono (black on white stock).
About one-third of Part #1 is devoted to the techniques and methods involved in wheel making which includes details of the necessary jigs. All of the cutting for the wheels can be done on a bandsaw.
The rest of Part #1 consists of full size patterns for a range of wheels: 406mm (16") and 457mm (18") with 8 and 10 spokes, 508mm (20") and 559mm (22") with 10, 12, 14, and 15 spokes.
If you need larger wheels, Part #2 continues with plans for 610-914mm (24-36") in 50.8mm (2") increments.
There's
a comment in Part #1 that explains the intentions of the authors:
Many hours
have been spent designing and re-designing the wheels and the procedures with
you in mind. It was the desire to have a wheel that looked real but that could
be made without the need for special tools and procedures for its construction.
The number of pages has been omitted from the details left since it is not relevant because of the many folded plans. A better notion of the size of the books is conveyed by their thickness - each is about 6 or 7mm when compressed.
While the wheels are presented for use as decoration, they might also be employed as functioning wheels on wheelbarrows, flower carts etc.. The authors are cautious about suggesting their use for applications in which their strength may be critical to people's safety since this will depend on the woodworker's skill and type of wood used to make the wheel.
Photos: Black & White
Units of Measurement: Imperial
Contents
Introduction
Index
Definition
of Terms
Auxiliary Table
Option
#1
Option #2
Laying Out Pivot Points
Table #1
Table Insert
Rim
Cutter
Using The Rim Cutter
Rim Trimmer
Using The Rim Trimmer
Putting
The Rim Together
Shop Aid #1
Drilling And Finishing The Rim
Making And
Using The Spoke Cutter
Making The Spoke Trimmer
Cutting And Fitting The
Spokes
Shop Aid #2
Making And Assembling The Hubs
Rubber Trim
Drawings