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What to use for wheels?

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Forum topic by robdew posted 234 days ago 168 views 0 times favorited 7 replies Add to Favorites
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robdew

18 posts in 241 days


234 days ago

Topic tags/keywords: question

I am designing a cartish-sort-of-thing to wheel our trash barrels up and down our driveway for trash days. It will be exposed to the elements 24/7.

I’d like to build my own wheels (about 10” in diameter – finally build and learn to use a router trammel) but I am concerned that neither dimensional cedar nor PT pine/spruce will hold up to the repeated rollings over the rough ground, gravel and concrete.

I’ve got some beech, cherry and lots of oak – should I build the wheels from hardwoods and attempt to protect them from the elements with finish?

Build from softwoods and just expect to replace the wheels every year or so?

Not try to build wheels?

I don’t have a local hardwood lumberyard, so suggesting other woods like cypress or teak are not really feasible. I’d probably just use recycled bicycle wheels or something instead.

Any other inexpensive materials for the wheels that I am overlooking that I can work with in my woodworking shop?

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GaryK

8539 posts in 515 days


234 days ago

You could make them from something like cedar, and wrap something around the outside to take the wear.

A bunch of screws for example.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

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rikkor

8317 posts in 401 days


233 days ago

Maybe bandsaw tires?

-- Maplewood, MN

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Thos. Angle

3402 posts in 489 days


233 days ago

I doubt they will hold up if just wood. That’s why wagon wheels have steel tires. Some outfits like Harbor freight sell wheels similar to bicycle wheels to be used on carts. I think I’d build the box from wood and use those type wheels.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

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8iowa

187 posts in 288 days


233 days ago

If you decide to purchase wheels, the large industrial supply house McMaster-Carr ( www.mcmaster.com ) has hundreds of choices.

-- "Heaven is North of the Bridge"

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flink

95 posts in 247 days


219 days ago

try some solid wheelbarrow tires. Any big boxes will have them.

-- Made lots of sawdust and pounded some nails. Haven't finished anything, though.

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Ad Marketing Guy - Bill

314 posts in 325 days


219 days ago

I agree with all of the above- wood wheels will not move well on hard pavement, and will wear down very fast.

You may try buying lawn mower wheels – they are easily replaceable and travel well, wear long and will not slip when the pavement is well.

Good Luck

-- Bill - - Ad-Marketing Guy, Ramsey NJ

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motthunter

1229 posts in 326 days


219 days ago

i would not use wood. Use big bicycle tires.. the bigger and narrower the tire, the easier to roll.

-- making sawdust....

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