Pennsic Project: Cart

topic posted Tue, April 15, 2008 - 2:04 PM by  Summer
I'm thinking of making a small cart to haul things in at War. It needs to be simple to make, lightweight but sturdy, small enough to be handled easily by a small woman but large enough to haul grocery-run items or possibly a cooler, and preferably collapsible so that it can be transported in the trunk or back seat of a car. Anyone have ideas for me?
posted by:
Summer
Cleveland
  • Re: Pennsic Project: Cart

    Tue, April 15, 2008 - 2:44 PM
    We were tossing around the idea of a "war wagon" to haul all our stuff to and from the battle ield. Maybe try to make it look like one of those period deals with the big wooden wheels. I'll post a pic when we get it finished.
    • Re: Pennsic Project: Cart

      Tue, April 15, 2008 - 3:06 PM
      Sounds cool!

      I figure if I can come up with something that has a box perhaps 3' x 3' x 3' with probably 3 or 4 wheels (so it stays upright on its own) and a handle or handles for pulling or pushing it, that will do just fine. If possible, I want to be able to just peg the sides and bottom together when I arrive at camp, attach the wheels and handles and be set to roll, then break it back down to easy packing size when I leave. Packing space is at a premium as our car isn't very large and I'm already asking a friend to haul some of my larger items in her van.
  • Re: Pennsic Project: Cart

    Tue, April 15, 2008 - 3:17 PM
    Well, I couldn't really find something that looks terribly easy, but you might find some ideas here:

    moas.atlantia.sca.org/wsnlinks/index.php

    Or here: (they're wheelbarrows but they seem to be simpler and break down flat)

    moas.atlantia.sca.org/wsnlinks/index.php

    I know I'd sure love to make one for camp, especially for ice and water runs from the Cooper Store.
    • Re: Pennsic Project: Cart

      Tue, April 15, 2008 - 8:35 PM
      Some good ideas there! I'd still sort of like to make something wagonish with 3 or 4 wheels, but I could see doing the wheelbarrow. It would probably be easier to make, if a tad more difficult to use.
      • Re: Pennsic Project: Cart

        Tue, April 15, 2008 - 9:48 PM
        My guess is the wheelbarrow would actually be easier to use once you got off the level paved roads.
        • Re: Pennsic Project: Cart

          Tue, April 15, 2008 - 11:13 PM
          Perhaps. However, what I worry about is the fact that it has a slanted bed and that things may fall out, and that if I need to stop and rest, laying it down means the bed may shift, things may fall out then, etc. A small wagon with a level bed is a bit more my speed, i think.
          • Re: Pennsic Project: Cart

            Wed, April 16, 2008 - 8:42 AM
            I too made a breakdown/dissassembleable periodesque cart. Here is a photo of me pulling it at Pennsic last year.
            www.tinyurl.com/33leom
            I can also be seen (at a distance) pushing it in the first five seconds of this video clip as our unit marched up to the battle field.
            youtube.com/watch


            It proved to be very useful for carrying everyones helms, weapons, shields, etc on and off the battlefield. Mind you, it was a bit alarming going down runestone hill with it filled with gear in the rain. Fortunately I had a couple of people to help prevent it from running away. I found it to be less alarming if I pushed the cart when going up the hill, and pulled it when going down the hill, so that I was always on the downhill side of the cart

            I don't really have plans for it as such, but it is possible to see the evolution of it in my gallery at:
            www.tinyurl.com/2kd9rg

            I went through a couple of iterations on the construction of the wheels. They are currently made using twelve oak spokes which taper from two inches wide at the hub to one inch wide at the felloe. There is a one inch round by one inch long tennon which connects the spoke to the felloes. The felloes are made from 2x4 spruce. There are a pair of six inch wide by one inch thick discs which are bolted to each other on either side of the hub. There is no dish to the wheels. The axle is made from a barbell, and I use the barbells nuts to position the wheels on the axle.
            I'm thinking of reworking the deck of the cart this year, since I had only slapped together something using a couple of scrap pieces of chipboard.
            Wheels are neat and complicated pieces of technology that you really don't get to appreciate until you try to make them. Here's a neat site that documents how to make a traditional light english pattern wheel.
            tinyurl.com/2dnsj2

            Let me know if you have any questions/comments.

            -Thorolfr
            • Re: Pennsic Project: Cart

              Thu, April 17, 2008 - 11:15 AM
              Ooh, very nice! I would imagine I could adapt something like that to a slightly smaller size and possibly a four-wheeled variety, even. I'm going to have my fiance look it over with me.

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