Woodworker's Journal 1981-5-6, страница 23

Victorian Sled

This sled from the 1880's is a bit of pure nostalgia and the perfect vehicle for a toddler's first winter snow ride. Unscrew the seat portion and bigger kids can have a lot of fun with it too, once they learn the knack of steering with Body English.

Hardwood such as oak or maple should be used for the main parts. The runners (A) can be cut from 8" wide boards but it's less expensive to use 5Vi" wide boards and simply glue and dowel on pieces of 2Vi" x 6" stock to form the horns at the front. A saber saw will do a nice job of cutting the curves. Lay out the hand slots and drill the ends with a ³/i" auger; then cut between the holes. Also bore ³/»" deep sockets for the 1" birch dowel.

Steel strap, available at hardware stores is bent to form a loop over each runner horn and drilled and countersunk at 4" intervals. Fasten the steel "shoes" with ⁵/«" x No. 6 FH screws and trim the shoes flush with the back ends of runners.

The bed (B) is made of two or three edge-joined ³/i" boards (or a piece of plywood). Lay out and cut the curves at each end (see Shop Tips in this issue) and the notches which are centered on the runner slots. Screw the cleats (C) to the underside using lVi" x No. 8 RH screws.

The seat parts are cut next. Note

that the seat back is tilted and fits into a Vi" rabbet in the sides. Join these parts with six lVi" x No. 6 FH screws and glue and bevel off the bottom edge of the back. Sand all parts carefully, putting a generous radius on all upper edges.

Scribe a line lVi" below the top edge of each runner to serve as a guide for locating the corner braces which are fastened with ³A" x No. 6 Fh screws. Turn the sled upside down,

add the front dowel and with pipe clamps holding the bed between the runners, screw the corner brackets to the bed. The seat is fastened centered on the bed and about 4" from the back edge using IVj" x No. 6 RH screws.

Many of these sleds were gaily decorated with bright colors and gold striping but this easily wears away unless heavily coated with varnish. The sled looks fine if left natural and just given two or three coats of urethane varnish.