BUILD A SLED FROM SHIPPING SKIDS!

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A PERFECT FIT

From here on in, it's just a matter of bolting and nailing the wooden parts together. The handlebar should be mounted square to the front runner assembly (the tubes lf must be precisely parallel) with 1/4" X 2" carriage bolts, and 5/16" rope holes should be drilled and countersunk in the center of each grip.

The three cross braces can now be bolted atop the main side rails . . . one at each end, and the third 18 inches behind the front one. Next, the three decking strips can be tacked in place with 5/8" 18-gauge wire nails. The widest tongue goes in the center, with 6" of it extending forward of the front cross brace, and the other two are placed on either side of the main plank (allow 5/8 inch between slats), with 4" protruding.

At this point, you'll want to fasten the steering carriage to the main body. To do this, lay both sections upside down on a flat surface and position the handlebar beneath the forward end of the center deck plank so its midpoint is 1-1/2 inches behind that strip's rounded front edge, and so that the fore and aft runners are in line. Then drill a 1/4" hole at that midpoint through the two pieces of wood . . . and another through the 25 "-long central spine bar (the only piece of loose wood remaining) about 1 inch from one of its ends. Place the spine against the underneath surfaces of the handlebar and the two foremost cross braces, and lock the handlebar, spine, and center decking plank together with a 1/4" X 2" carriage bolt. (This steering pivot pin will function much more smoothly if you cut 1 "-diameter circles from the sides of a plastic milk jug, bore their centers, and slip the pads between the handlebar and the wood above and below it.) Two more bolts-each placed between the remaining junctions of the spine, cross braces, and center plank-will complete your sled's assembly.

Of course, you'll no doubt want to protect the oak from the effects of snow with a coat or two of shellac or polyurethane . . . and you'll need to thread and tie your steering rope to the handles. But once that's done, you can hit the slopes with a vengeance . . . or simply enjoy a leisurely pull along a well packed (and sparsely traveled) country lane. And by the way, don't forget to bring along your runner wax!

TRY IT ON A SMALLER SCALE

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