stevethebeard
14th April 2014, 10:29 PM
Hi there.
I was searching the net for information on restoring horse drawn vehicles and came upon your excellent forum.
I recently acquired an old flat dray type vehicle for a single horse, and mean to restore it and use it. It was last used by a local person, about fifteen years ago, to deliver fruit and veg to his customers, but previously had been the property of a local dairy.The woodwork is totally rotten, full of old worm, and most of it fell away during transportation of the thing to my home. However, the metal parts, wheels, turntable, springs and axles are saveable, and there is enough wood left on it to let me get pics and drawings so that I can copy the originals parts.
I haven't a clue about what type of wood to use, or what tools I'll need to do the work. That's why I'm here. :D
I should use hard wood, I'd imagine, for the 'framework' at least, but I don't know anything about grains and strength and such. A friend of mine used to work with 'tulip' wood a lot. He liked it for musical instrument parts, I seem to recall. I wonder if it would be suitable for my job, as lightness of weight will be a major factor, as well as strength and endurance.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully I'll live long enough to see the job out. :D Thanks.
I was searching the net for information on restoring horse drawn vehicles and came upon your excellent forum.
I recently acquired an old flat dray type vehicle for a single horse, and mean to restore it and use it. It was last used by a local person, about fifteen years ago, to deliver fruit and veg to his customers, but previously had been the property of a local dairy.The woodwork is totally rotten, full of old worm, and most of it fell away during transportation of the thing to my home. However, the metal parts, wheels, turntable, springs and axles are saveable, and there is enough wood left on it to let me get pics and drawings so that I can copy the originals parts.
I haven't a clue about what type of wood to use, or what tools I'll need to do the work. That's why I'm here. :D
I should use hard wood, I'd imagine, for the 'framework' at least, but I don't know anything about grains and strength and such. A friend of mine used to work with 'tulip' wood a lot. He liked it for musical instrument parts, I seem to recall. I wonder if it would be suitable for my job, as lightness of weight will be a major factor, as well as strength and endurance.
Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. Hopefully I'll live long enough to see the job out. :D Thanks.