Sickle Bar Sickle Mower Wood

   / Sickle Mower Wood #1  

MIKE R

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What type of wood for the hitch on a horse drawn mower would you all recommend. I was thinking of using Birch, Maple or Oak as these are available around here. Hickory or Ash would be ideal but are hard to get up here. Any input/ recommendations.
 
   / Sickle Mower Wood #2  
I used to keep a few horses back in the 70's. The 75 year old man across the road, who was originally from St. Johns, fixed up a horse drawn plow and harrows. Then he made a stone boat and wagon, including the poles, just for fun. He rebuilt an old work harness too. Everything he did he made from oak. We would get some nice solid planks and boards from old barns. It was like a rock.
He had a great time plowing our garden for us. It was neat to watch an old guy having so much fun.
 
   / Sickle Mower Wood
  • Thread Starter
#3  
Thanks Gord. I know oak is a very hard dense wood. Birch and maple are a little softer but should still have the strength to handle the fairly light load of the mower.
 
   / Sickle Mower Wood #4  
Birch and maple aren't great in rot situations. Oak is a bit better. If you can be sure to store indoors you'll be fine. Oak would be better for the pitman due to its strength characteristics. Birch is not as strong. Maple is hard and tough but not supple.
Jim
 
   / Sickle Mower Wood #5  
Oak that is straight grain is great. Rub it with oil to keep moisture off it- motor oils works. The shaft is sturdy, not because of the mower (light)- it needs to be strong in case the horse back into it or the mower gets twisted around and it needs to be straightened and the horses pull with their unyielding might. I would never use birch. Maple is probably ok. I prefer oak, ash is best.
 
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   / Sickle Mower Wood
  • Thread Starter
#6  
Thanks for the reply's. I don't plan on pulling it with any horses. It is way to big for our horses anyways. I plan on using a clear sealant/varnish on the wood because it is a restoration, not to see much use other then cutting 1 mile of road shoulder grass. I will see about getting some oak sawin up for it. It will definitely be heavy. I am going to use the cut-down hitch style so it is only going to be 8 feet long for tractor compared to the 14 feet for a horse. If I do go with maple I will use Bird Eye Maple as I have many a trees of it.
 
   / Sickle Mower Wood
  • Thread Starter
#7  
What do you all think about using Elm? I have lots of it available, just has to be cut down.
 
   / Sickle Mower Wood #8  
Elm is a dense wood- supposed to be tough. It is great for anvil stumps set 4' or so in the ground with the anvil on top. I have never worked with it. The link below says wheelwrights used it for wagon wheels- if it holds up for that- it should do fine for a pole. Good luck.

Elm
 
   / Sickle Mower Wood
  • Thread Starter
#9  
Elm is a dense wood- supposed to be tough. It is great for anvil stumps set 4' or so in the ground with the anvil on top. I have never worked with it. The link below says wheelwrights used it for wagon wheels- if it holds up for that- it should do fine for a pole. Good luck.

Elm

Thanks. I think I have decided that I will go with Elm for the pole. I will get pics when the time comes.
 
   / Sickle Mower Wood #10  
No matter what wood u decide on it all will need to be cared for.. Some more, some less, Its pretty easy, U just need to oil it a couple times a year. I recomend using linseed oil,

kubotakid USA
 
 
 
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