Any Iron Fabricator on Here

[street]

Just wondering if there is any person on here that could tell me how difficult it would be to make steel runners for this old sled? I want to rebuild one but some of the steel runners are in rough shape.
So, my question is how hard would it be to make new steel runners. I'm a rookie at iron work but wood part of project would not be a problem.

Thanks

 

[Sunset]

If this sled is for sliding on snow, a runner made of plastic (like the big plastic barrels) would be a huge improvement on the sliding ability.

 

[street]

If this sled is for sliding on snow, a runner made of plastic (like the big plastic barrels) would be a huge improvement on the sliding ability.

That is so true! What I want to do is bring history back to life in this project. I might use it a little when completed but it will be in the most part a piece I would use as show.

 

[Slotracer]

You can bend up to 1/4 x 1 with a tool like the one below. Harbor Freight has a version as well. Or use a vise and a hammer. Or a torch, vise, and hammer. Looks like a fun project!

THE MACHETE Rod & Flat Bar Bender

 

[street]

You can bend up to 1/4 x 1 with a tool like the one below. Harbor Freight has a version as well. Or use a vise and a hammer. Or a torch, vise, and hammer. Looks like a fun project!

THE MACHETE Rod & Flat Bar Bender

Interesting!! I think this rookie could be able to do it. Thanks

 

[Sunset]

I have bent metal by just heating it up to red hot in a small campfire. A torch would be faster, but the fire was no effort for me.
If you aren't going for historical accuracy could use thinner metal than currently on the sled, example 1/2 the thickness as will be easier to bend, and fasten two layers together through the screw holes that the metal probably needs to fasten to the wood.

 

[Elle_N]

I work with older steel automotive parts. My go-to's for disassembly and cleaning up rusty steel:

-- YouTube, e.g. for your sled see the following starting at 3:26:

. Just beneath the video display he gives the tools he uses.

-- If possible dis-assemble fully so that the steel parts have nothing else attached to them. Then soak in white vinegar for 24 hours. Much of the rust will come off.

-- If dis-assembly is not feasible, then use Grade #0000 steel wool on the exposed steel.

-- Use a Dremel with a mini, brass-coated wire-wheel brush to remove rust in hard to reach areas.

 

[street]

You can bend up to 1/4 x 1 with a tool like the one below. Harbor Freight has a version as well. Or use a vise and a hammer. Or a torch, vise, and hammer. Looks like a fun project!

THE MACHETE Rod & Flat Bar Bender

Interesting!! I think this rookie could be able to do it.

Sunset and Elle_N thanks for that information and video. Yep, at some point I will tackle the runners myself and it doesn't have to be blacksmith professional done. I can't wait to get started.

 

[Koolau]

Interesting!! I think this rookie could be able to do it.

Sunset and Elle_N thanks for that information and video. Yep, at some point I will tackle the runners myself and it doesn't have to be blacksmith professional done. I can't wait to get started.

Don't forget to show us the finished project. Best luck with it.

 

[old medic]

Don't forget to show us the finished project. Best luck with it.

Most defiantly

 

[arbeadub]

Your sled looks like its for hauling a single log back to camp. Are the front runners connected to the back runners or is the log chained to the front and the other end of the log chained to the back runners?

If you take it apart, make tracings and measurements of the wood parts so if you want to build one to use for hauling stuf with your snow machine you wont be putting the original at risk.

 

[Ronstar]

I made a drafting table that had metal pieces, I made drawings of the pieces and had a local fabricator make the parts.

But I think you can make some decent runners with bar stock, torch, vise, hammer, and maybe an anvil.

Or if you have a blacksmith nearby, borrow his smithy and hammer out some iron for some period looking sled runners.

Looks like a fun project! Keep us posted with your project.

 

[skyking1]

I would cut a template from paper, then trace that onto some sacrificial wood to use while shaping the metal.
Then you can heat and form the metal on a throwaway piece of wood.

 

[arbeadub]

PBS had a series years ago called "The Woodwrights Shop", he used saws and single edge tools to make his projects, this seems to be on the same level to refurbish the old sled for a display piece, no reason to put new iron on old wood except as needed to make a display and show off the craftsmanship of our predecessors.

A working model would need a tough springy wood like Bois De Arc or in streets area maybe Alder or Cedar. With steam bent runners.

The iron is flat stock, the tough part is the curved pieces on the sides of the runners.