A Wheelright Craftsman

[Bill Hudson]

Folks,

I've been spending a lot of downtime nursing a painful back. During this time I found some YouTube videos to be therapeutic. One I found that is truly enjoyable is engelscoachshop.

Dave Engel is a master wheelright and a true craftsman in every sense of the word. An example of his work is the 40 video collection of the "Borax Wagons." A lot of you remember, 20 Mule Team Borax, well, Dave built those two wagons and the attendant water wagon. Wagons that were last built in the 1880s. The borax wagons weigh 8300 pounds each. Each rear wheel weighs 1080 pounds each. The steel tires are made from 1"x8" steel. Imagine setting those tires on the wheel, while they are hot!

Take a look if you enjoy true craftsmanship in a rare art. YouTube search "engelscoachshop."

Bill

[ctltmp]

Thanks Bill. I'll check it out. Sounds interesting.

Hope your back starts to feel better. I suffer from back problems myself. It's no fun that's for sure.

[Bill E Bob]

Have subscribed to his channel. Amazing skills to say the least.

[Peter Person]

What a skilled craftsman.
The knowledge he has for that trade is incredible. Can’t imagine what the two wheels for the 1907 car cost the museum.

[coppersmythe]

Folks,

I've been spending a lot of downtime nursing a painful back. During this time I found some YouTube videos to be therapeutic. One I found that is truly enjoyable is engelscoachshop.

Dave Engel is a master wheelright and a true craftsman in every sense of the word. An example of his work is the 40 video collection of the "Borax Wagons." A lot of you remember, 20 Mule Team Borax, well, Dave built those two wagons and the attendant water wagon. Wagons that were last built in the 1880s. The borax wagons weigh 8300 pounds each. Each rear wheel weighs 1080 pounds each. The steel tires are made from 1"x8" steel. Imagine setting those tires on the wheel, while they are hot!

Take a look if you enjoy true craftsmanship in a rare art. YouTube search "engelscoachshop."

Bill

losing our old skills to time is disconcerting , but , how many of us need " buggy whips " euphemism , yes , but you have to respect the old skills while still relevant . some of my work has " fallen by the wayside " . The work is still there , but , for how long I am tired , my hands hurt when i wake up . But , I AM NOT GIVING UP coppersmythe.........................PS: GOSH , I'D LOVE TO "WORK" THERE ...........................PPS: BILL , We need you , take care of yourself

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

My great grandfather, Charles Puckett, was a wheelwright. He and his brother Ike built 50 wagons for the California Gold Rush in one year. That included going to the woods, cutting the trees, and then cutting them into lumber for the wagons. That was a lot of work.

[clemk]

Yeah, there's a few channels I couldn't help but subscribe. All the standbys. Both Keith's, Adam, those kind of channels. One of the ones I really like besides Engelscoachshop is David Richards. If you haven't seen that one, and like steam and belt driven, check that one out

[John *.?-!.* cub owner]

My great grandfather, Charles Puckett, was a wheelwright. He and his brother Ike built 50 wagons for the California Gold Rush in one year. That included going to the woods, cutting the trees, and then cutting them into lumber for the wagons. That was a lot of work.

Forgot to mention, I have a few of his hand tools including a very basic drill press (no gears, crank on the top of shaft, one round of crank turned the bit one round. Wheel directly on the screw to run bit down.).