My new brainstorm

Hey folks, I finally got the honeydo list down enough to think about this again (quote below).

(quoted from post at 11:26:07 09/25/07) Hi Folks,
I just found and picked up an old wagon that needs some TLC. Everything is solid except the wood sides and floor. Just need to replace the wood and run some lights. Just wondering what kind of wood I should use foor the floor and walls. I have access to oak, pine, and I believe spruce. I was thinking to just buy 3/4" pine tongue and groove from our equivelant to HD but don't know if it is tough enough. I also have plenty of 3/4" exterior plywood. Seems like I read somewhere to stay away from the oak. Any advice would be appreciated. Also, what would be a good paint for the wood? I plan to paint it to match my IHC tractor.

Thanks,

Dave

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Anyway.......

Local sawmill hooked me up with T&G oak as my best bet of what is local.
Not far (I hope) away from the task, but have been brainstorming. Since I'll be stripping to the frame which is already a full frame of angle iron (not the wood runner/joist construction).
3 way dump wagons are common here but I haven't ran across any on my scale (2 ton max 5 x 10 ft).

My idea is to make another angle iron frame that matches and would fit on top of the existing (to keep it simple) frame . Then fasten them together with (lack of better description) drop pin hinges on each side and the back with a hydraulic cylinder in the middle. Remove/replace pins as necessary to dump left/right/back.

What would be the smallest dimension angle iron I could get by with for the weight? Was thinking 2 inch with cross braces in the center where the cylinder mounts of 3 inch. too much/too little?

Thanks,

Dave

I'd use white oak planks. Their the most rot restant and it'll add strenght to the trailer. also if your goin to paint it, only paint the top leave the bottom natural so it will breath. It'll be less likely to warp as well.

I would stay away from the pine.....being an avid woodworker, pine is a great wood too work with, it takes stains and finishes nicely also....and its light! However, depending on what you will be doing with this wagon, it is also very soft and would dent and gouge very easily.
Oak is a great wood too work with also, however, its a little harder too tool out and also it is very heavy!!!. But given the choices of spruce, pine, or oak...and if that's all I had too choose from?......go with the oak!. It will last for years and its hard enough not too dent or get torn up easily.

It depends on what your going to do with it. If it's mostly for show, then Oak will be great. If you want it to last forever - use the YELLOW Pine. The White Pine will be soft, but the yellow can be as hard as a rock. If you are planning to "work" it, the Oak will discolor, dry out, shrink, and warp. If you are keeping it outdoors, you won't like what the weather does to the Oak. Most wooden farm equipment was made from Fir or Yellow Pine.
As for the angle iron - what you have sounds ok (2"). How much weight does it have to hold?

(quoted from post at 06:05:26 04/05/09) It depends on what your going to do with it. If it's mostly for show, then Oak will be great. If you want it to last forever - use the YELLOW Pine. The White Pine will be soft, but the yellow can be as hard as a rock. If you are planning to "work" it, the Oak will discolor, dry out, shrink, and warp. If you are keeping it outdoors, you won't like what the weather does to the Oak. Most wooden farm equipment was made from Fir or Yellow Pine.
As for the angle iron - what you have sounds ok (2"). How much weight does it have to hold?

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at the very most 2 ton but usually less. Primary purpose will be horse manure. Have to figure out what yellow pine translates to here then.

Dave

Oak is very strong, but can easily rot.
I would either treat it with preservative every year for the first three (all boards soaking in all surfaces before build) or as noted below, only the top letting the bottom breath. do not build it with Zero clearance at the T&G. space each along the crack at 2mm to allow expansion/contraction. JimN

Yellow pine id what the wagon bed manufacturs use because it is strong, Horse drown wagon toungs were also the yellow pine, and will last good, the white pine is the soft stuff. The yellow pine weight difference to oak is enough that with the pine you could push the wagon around to get it where you want it but the oak is enough heavier that you would have to hook it to the tractor to move it.

The 2x2x1/4" angle should work fine. Just cross brace it. The wood will help hold it and give it "ridgitity". If you're worried about it, go with something a little heavier. Better to be OVER built, then UNDER built...