Sledding is a lot of fun. Making your own toboggan, however, is more fun as it allows you to make your sled faster with some modifications. There are several woodworking blueprints for a wooden toboggan available online.
A woodworking blueprint illustrates the dimensions of each part of a wooden toboggan and the appearance of the sled upon assembly. So, carefully select the blueprint that best fits the toboggan that you want.
Preparing the Slats
Sturdy and elastic wood such as birch, oak, or ash are good options as your raw material. To prepare the slats, check the number of slats indicated in the blueprint.
Check the dimension of the slats. Cut the slats according to the indicated sizes. You may want to cut some extra so that you’ll have no problem in case some of the pieces break during bending.
To prevent breakage, soak the slats in water for three days. Only the part of the wood that needs to be curved should be soaked.
Make a box using the available materials, just ensure that the box is big enough for all of the slats. Bore a hole at the bottom of the box where the steam from a kettle will pass through. Place the slats in the box and let it steam for around 45 minutes. Be careful in steaming the slats so as not to accidentally burn yourself.
A mold or a form is necessary to bend the slats. You can make a mold using other pieces of curved wood, or you may use a water pipe with a big enough diameter that will correspond to the diameter of the curve stated in the blueprint.
Clamp the slats to your chosen mold while letting them dry. Remove the slats from the mold after one week.
Setting the Crosses
While letting the slats take form, it’s time to prepare the cross members. Check the dimensions of cross members in the blueprint and cut accordingly. The groove in the cross member to be placed on top must fit the slats. Sand the cut pieces to make them smooth.
Attach the slats to the cross members using bolts, nuts, and wood glue. Slide the top cross member to the end of the slats. Secure it in place with bolts and nuts. Carefully sand the edges of the toboggan.
You may choose to paint or varnish it after sanding. Remember to use an exterior grade varnish and do this in a well-ventilated area.
Finishing the Project
Drill holes on the cross members and use a washer and nut for backing. Check the diameter of the nylon rope needed from the blueprint. Thread a rope through the cross members. Afterwards, melt the end of the rope to prevent it from splaying. Refer to the blueprint to check if you’ve attached the rope correctly.
To make your toboggan faster, you may apply cooking oil or car wax, or attach a plastic sheet to the bottom.
Now you have your fast toboggan. Just find a hill and you can go sledding. And yes, it’s that easy to learn how to build and make a fast wooden toboggan sled from woodworking blueprints.
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