top of page
 HandcartThe wheels have been treated with boiled linseed oil, and shown above is the final assembly of the deck, axle brackets, and wheels. |  WheelcartIt is apparent the unchanging practicality of these simple devices from their contemporary use in rural Cambodia. Picture taken January 2014. |  WheelcartConceptual sketch |
|---|---|---|
 WheelcartSchematic diagrams/doodles |  WheelcartMilling the wood for the cart out of Douglas fir tree trunk. See "Bandsaw Mill" for more details on the mill. |  WheelcartWith rim sections fixed in position, a circle jig is used to layout a perfect circumference. The line is then bandsaw cut and belt sanded to create a continuous surface. |
 WheelcartComponents for two wheels laid out and catalogued, including 28 spokes and 14 rim sections. |  WheelcartThis project is currently under construction, but here the wheels are mocked up to estimate finished appearance. |  WheelcartThis picture represents the two hubs in various stages of production. The left has been cut and squared, the right one has just been turned to shape. |
 WheelcartDrilling hub center on drill press. I created an alignment jig to center and square the hub. Given the limitation of the drill length, the hub was flipped and the other half drilled. |  WheelcartIn this part of the process, the aim was to align the ends of the spokes into a plane while sequentially gluing and screwing each one into its slot. I used this truing jig with an indicator mark to get them all within less than 1/8" of a perfect plane. |  WheelcartFinal attention to the concentricity of wheel on truing stand before gluing and pegging the rim. I used a band clamp around the outside to keep compression while I worked. |
 WheelcartGlued tongue ready to be tapped into rim groves, then drilled and pegged. The circumference of the rim is already defined by pegging to spokes. |  WheelcartUsing pegs and glue to secure the tongue sections in the rim. |  WheelcartI used temporary plates welded to the ends of the strap to tension the strap "tire". The clamps are to put compression on the plates and close a gap before welding the tire together. |
 WheelcartWelding the tire |  WheelcartDeck of handcart assembly. Joists are pegged at to frame, frame assembled with dovetail joints. Planks nailed to joists. |  WheelcartSome students enjoying a shady spot to rest at the open studios exhibition. Many bystanders got rides, as well. |
Handcart
96" L x 42" H x 64" W
Douglass fir, nails, hardwood pegs
Winter 2014
bottom of page