Compound angles and dado joints to make a new wagon seat. This finishes the restoration of the homestead International wagon that traveled from Missouri to Montana. Hope you enjoy!
And now boys and girls, we all understand much better how and why buying a new wagon in the 1800's was a real investment, just like it is today. The wagon builder was, and is, a craftsman and so was the blacksmith and others who created pieces and parts for that wagon builder. Be thankful for RU-vid and other resources like it that provide a place to preserve a record of these skill sets. And thank you Mr. Engel.
Dave, I've been watching your great videos of wood wagon repairs for some time now, they're great for historical demo's of the historical ways transportation vehicles were made that allowed our country to grow in the past and previous centuries. Thanks so much for sharing all your skills with us. With the "International" wagon rebuild touched my heart as I was raised on the International Harvester Experimental Farm in the western suburbs of Chicago. I was about a year old when Dad started there as a dairyman milking their herd of some 60 holsteins with the McCormick-Deering milking equipment. Of course all manner of other mechanical equipment was used to clean the barn etc. as needed in that part of the operation. All the lettered model tractors and the early numbered ones were around, and used. Very little if any of the old early 1900's and late l800's equipment were still around. As I grew up in the war years (born in 39) I kinda had free run of the barn, out buildings and shops. Oh my would OSHA and the Co. lawyers have a coniption fit if they knew what we did back then!! You've taught me, as well as many others I'd suppose, a lot of the fine points of wagons, buggies, etc. but the recent (in my viewing) of that International, and to see that it was used by someone to move from Missouri to Montana, yikes those early folks were tough! When you put the chain to hold the two sides together with a load of grain it reminded me that back in my youth I remember seeing those chains on some piece of equipment somewhere; especially that almost question mark looking hook from one side to the other. This 83 year old memory struck back with the image of just that device. Now what was it on? Again thanks for all the work you put into teaching and preserving a lot of the processes and equipment used back then and ushering in use of a lot of modern.tools to boot. Jim Martin now in southern Wisconsin.
I watch these videos of one man dedicating himself to craftsmanship I really start thinking about the people who used these wagons and depended on them for their livelihood. The animals that pulled them, the leather that harnessed them, the hard work of just getting one ready to do a day's worth of productivity was tough enough. There is a book titled "The Worst Hard Time" by Timothy Eagan. It tells personal stories about the Great Depression in the US and the Dust Bowl. It begins with a story about a family moving to Oklahoma- the father is a cowboy, and he has some small children his wife and all they own in a wagon, probably very much like this one, being pulled by two starving horses. Their experience is detailed in a way that just rips your heart out. This really makes one think about how people went through some incredibly tough times back in the day. I was surprised that people still traveled in these wagons as late as the '30s. As a boy in 1952, I can actually remember sharecroppers on my Grand Father's land using these wagons and horses to get product to market. The movie, "Places in the Heart" made in 1984, with Sally Field, Danny Glover and John Malkovich takes place on a 40-acre farm in the era of the Depression days. After their struggles to bring in a crop of cotton, Danny Glover's character brings the first load of cotton into the gin in a wagon just like the one you have rebuilt. It brought tears to my eyes, reminding me of the days when I was a kid playing among these relics of our past with the poor kids who seemed as happy as I was in spite of their poverty. Hard work and struggle seem to make good people!
@@EngelsCoachShop Yes, we are. Not to mention a whole lot of other things we have become "detached" from. You are very much like an anchor, a stay if you will, reminding us of how things once were. Such anchors are sorely needed.
Thank you for taking the massive amount of time that is required to film, edit, narrate and then post these videos. Great job on both the videos and the wagon - highly educational and enjoyable to watch a fine craftsman at work!
i have been laid up with cronic back pain even need help to shower.iwas lucky enough to stumble on to this brilliant show to help pass the hours laying in bed.I like that comment Rick"CRAFTSMANSHIP IS VERY MUCH LIKE ART" and this bloke has mastered his craft
I have been bending nail for a long time myself, but one thing i really like is your shop... With all the old patterns you can go back to when needed. All the old machines you have, they don't make'um like that any more..I watch all these wagon builds, and you never picked up a real HAMMER, you always use that little ball peen. One thing is for sure,its has to right because your not going to pull out any nails with THAT hammer.. You Are truly a Master builder, great video, See ya
One of the best and most satisfying woodworking video series I have seen yet. You have a great work method and I love your tools. That sliding table saw is the best one I ever saw! I only wish I were there working with you. Keep up the great work. Thanks a million!
A person like you should be hired in NASA for your creative brain you have the ability to imagine the hole object in your mind then you use your precise hands to make high value art god bless you because you make me feel good by watching your tubes
After being a carpenter for nearly 50 years my wife doesn't understand my fascination with videos of people building things. I keep telling her that true craftsmen are rare these days and that craftsmanship is very much like art. The end product is beautiful and functional and the process is hypnotic. You are a real craftsman and have obviously mastered your art. Thank you for sharing your work with the rest of us. By the way, whenever I switch to You Tube these days my wife says, "No more Borax wagons!"
lol on the wife's comment on the borax wagon. yes craftsmanship is going down hill all the time nobody cares anymore but, these video's show what it was like and can be if people put there heart in it.
Yes, I can relate - just finished this series and I'm already in trouble for not getting things done. She says, "It's not like you're ever going to build one of those." I said I'm learning stuff. Cue eye roll and heavy sigh.
Seems like fabrication is the furthest thing from most folks minds these days.. They have no clue how long it takes to make a nice kit.. I prefer the "Engels" approach lol..
This is probably my favorite episode of all your videos so far. You take such patient care to explain this artistry of a simple/not-so-simple thing as a wagon seat. Thanks again for painstaking interest in educating the uneducated in these disappearing skill sets.
You must be the last shop in North America still running a Northfield No. 1 tilting table saw. I owned one 40 years ago: 14" blade capacity, 5 hp straight arbor, direct drive no pulleys, no blade guard. A 1000 lb. cast iron beast. In any argument, the saw always wins. I sold it while I still had all my fingers. A fool and his fingers are soon parted. Made a pretty solid work table, though. Got a chuckle watching you do the same. I never thought to use the tilting table to facilitate assembly. Good idea. Good luck to you, sir.
It's amazing to me watching what you can do. I started to laugh at the first video where you showed bringing the old wagon into the shop...calling it a wagon was far too generous. And saying you were going to rebuild it was in my opinion an understatement. Thank you for sharing your expertise with us. I would never get to see this kind of craftsmanship otherwise. I wouldn't have thought there was still anyone around who had that many skills.
Beautiful in every way. Job well done !!!!!!!!! Today's automobiles don't have 1/4 of the class or are they as strong and rugged. A car or truck left to the elements would not stand it, while the wagon would and did.. Thank you again......
It saddens me to realize the great skill, knowledge, know how, experience and capability you possess will be lost in the future unless you clone yourself immediately. Thank you for your historical and totally practical valued videos of a special ART form that displays engineering, architecture, mechanics, metallurgy, materials science, wood science, etc,,etc. May you continue for many years to come. Cheers 🥂
What a fantastic video I learned something today and it's beautiful to see how it all started.. wish if I had a workshop like yours.. please keep on making videos like this.. Ireland..
By reading the comments I see that I'm not the ONLY one that appreciates the older equipment used in your shop! I'm a metal worker ( Welders Helper) that used the compound angles in making chutes, tables etc. for fish processing, in Aluminum and Stainless Steel. A lot of the cuts were roughed by the fitter and left to me to grind and buff to fit. YOU ROCK FELLA!
The whole project has been a great example of reverse engineering. The design was a product of 3 or 4 thousand years of wagon and coach building resulting in an almost perfect wagon, ideally adapted to the needs of the time. What a wonderful talent you have, your videos are a real pleasure to watch, thank you for sharing.
Sr. this library is amazing! Im from Patagonia Argentina; the WildSouth and we also had our local wagons and Im tring to build and fix some. Thanks so much por sharing the art and knoledge. Beautifull work!
It was fantastic to see as an original wagon was borning from wood and iron. Many thanks for your interesting video. I enjoyed each of it moments and thanks for your valuable works. Congratulations.
Wow, it is truly amazing that you managed ro go feom a few scrap bits of wood and some iron work to a fully functional wagon!! You are a true master of your craft, I hope there's someone learning from you so your skills will be handed on to bless future generations. 🙂👍👍👍👍
Thank you Sir it was truly a pleasure watching your craftsmanship, I would think with those tools and your knowledge that this is a trade that has been passed down in your family for generations ? If I’m wrong , then you are a very wise and unique person at your age . It was a pleasure watching your video
I hope people watching this video series realize the amount of knowledge this man has. He is a true craftsman. IMHO a better craftsman than the person who built the wagon to begin with. (No slighting the person one bit). But to rebuild the wagon he has to repair and straighten and blast and paint everything. Great video bud. I could watch them for hours. Thank you very much.
Hi Engels Coach Shop, It is a joy to behold years of knowledge and experience come together to craft this wagon which is nostalgic in itself. To think these wagons and other types were made by the scores in workshops all over by many craftsmen going to work every morning. Awesome work sir and beautiful end product. Thanx for sharing!
I wouldn't say ruined, rather a much greater appreciation of the skill and knowledge that went into the originals that enabled them to cover such large distances over harsh terrain - thank you.
On RU-vid you can watch John Wayne's first leading role in The Big Trail (1930). If you like Wagons there are plenty, getting washed down rivers falling over cliffs. Its a serious Western and the wagons are the stars.
I am now a subscriber! I just happened upon your video of putting tires on a wagon wheel. Now I'm on the "Building A Wagon Seat" video which is #4 in the series of rebuilding the International Harvester wagon. First I'd like to say that these are some of, if not "thee" most interesting videos I've found on RU-vid. Second, I must say I'm jealous, yes absolutely green with envy! I would be in seventh heaven to have even just the table saw you have! The tools in your shop are amazing. I'm a novice woodworker and I build kind of specialty items but you have a very specialized trade indeed. You also have that shop full of amazing tools that I could only dream about having. I do my woodworking on very simple what I can afford tools that "get me by". Don't get me wrong, I'm lucky to have the tools I do have but I wanted to give the highest praise possible for the tools you have. I can only believe that your shop would make Norm Abrams blush! Thank you for these videos. They're well done and not only are they entertaining , they're educational. I never knew how they built a wagon until now and personally I think that's something very interesting. God bless and keep up the videos- Russ
Thank you very much sir. It was honor watching this restoration. I watched the videos and my wife came in at the end. Her response was, "That would not be very comfortable!'
Thank you for sharing this! You possess such a vast wealth of knowledge. Hopefully there are younger generations coming up behind you eager to learn so these skills aren't lost.
You don't overdo anything at all! Everything perfect! Two things I learned: Table saw tops ( I guess if they are expensive enough) actually tilt! And I learned how to use a table saw top to glue a 90' angle. I am watching your vids everyday, and will be sorry when I am caught up!
As a wood worker I'm fascinated by all of this. My father, who is still alive, lived it. He grew up still using mule driven wagons. And he could care less about this. To him, cars are SO much better.
Por favor con todo respeto por su descanso..jamás permita que se pierda un maestro como UD. me parece un profesional extraordinario y comparable a grandes genios de la carpintería que ¿Que hubiera dado por tener un maestro como UD. Es un honor poder ver sus vídeos nunca deje de mostrarlos. Sus lecciones no tienen precio. GRACIAS MAESTRO.!!!
You are a joy to watch so thank you for the incredible additional amount of work to film, edit, and upload these projects. Some countries have their national treasures embodied paper maker masters, or samurai sword fabrication, etc. but YOU are an American treasure for a dying industry and it pains me to think you will be lost to the coming generations. I know you mentor some lads and hopefully they absorb not only your knowledge but also your attitude. Thanks for your inspiring videos.
This brought me back to shop class at Washington Junior High School in Glendive, Montana in the early 1960s. Excellent craftsmanship as always. But, for safety, you should be using a dowel or wood scrap when removing cutoffs while using the unguarded table saw rather than your gloved hand. I do note, however, that you still have all your fingers.
From what I've seen, you have as much pride in your work as any craftsman. It's so enjoyable to watch. Keep the videos coming, and I know you will have plenty of people who care about your work.
One of finest videos on you tube demonstrating the work of a real craftsman. One of my favorite parts is "no sheetrock screws" I would love to learn the story or history of that wagon and if it is destined for a museum or a working farm. Years ago while hiking in the Nevada desert we came across a similar wagon melting into the desert landscape. We were lost and lucky to escape our situation eventually and i regret not appreciating what we had found at that time.
That old table saw is something. I like the miter gauge adjustment but the rip at 1:18 really made me hold my breath.There is a reason why they only make tilting arbor table saws now.
Thank You so much for Sharing the Work you do with the rest of the World! I am a more recent Subscriber and have truly enjoyed watching. You take the time to explain the process and the reason for certain step, it makes everything so much easier for us to understand and appreciate the skills (many nearly lost to this modern World) of our Forefathers. Beautiful Quality Work!
I guess I wasn’t finished with what I wanted to say ! Your woodworking was in a true craftsman’s ability but what I was truly impressed with was your knowledge of the old steal wagon parts and all the different brands you had knowledge of . Your different angled jigs you had made up is what leads me to believe this is a passed down art that is so unique. Thanks again
Your workmanship is just incredible. I noticed you left the woodwork all in a raw state. I remember you found some green paint during the restoration of the metal. From old photos I've seen, the colors used by many makers including International were green on the wagon box parts and red on the wheels and undercarriage. Would just be a shame to cover all that beautiful woodwork. I remember my grandfather's one horse wagon was a raw finish. As a kid I got to ride in that one when he worked a neighbor's farm. He had tractors but certain work was better with the horse.
I love your channel. I've been attempting accuracy in carpentry for 33yrs. My mentors and co-workers really were teaching & striving for zero tolerance. I love the way this video shows the help your old table saw provides in this endeavor. Thanks for the close-ups as well as the explanation of what I've defined as "compound miters" for years. I've actually seen experienced carpenters, try to use gauges, w/ little understanding and lack the ability to envision the results of a cut, try these more complicated joints. On top of which, they may ignore common sense solutions, like drawing guide lines to help remember the angles they worked so hard to find. I draw the lines myself :) and feel no humility by using them :) Short story : Once as a helper, early on in my carrier, my journeyman and I were cutting a series of oval 2"x 6"x 12' floating ceiling borders that died off into, what seemed to be Octagonal columns and beams. At least 1/2 an octagon as they were attached on the flat leaving 5 sides. My journeyman tried using bevels and protractors but could not figure the angles. I could see his conundrum and tried to suggest, either visualizing the octagon or even guestimating the angles and cutting them close w/ a test piece, ........ , checking it and adjusting the angles until it fit. He would not hear of it and told me to wait while he went out to the parking lot and get an old protractor that his grandfather gave him. Well, while he was absent, I used a 2"x 4" and cut angles close, by drawing lines to help me remember what I saw on the beams and in 2 attempts, had found that the angles were standard and marked on the slide miter saw :) I was waiting for my co-worker to get back when my foreman walked up. Long story short, my foreman told me to proceed w/ out him and gave me a helper to work w/ and put my journeyman on another project :) Common sense can rule the day if you use it ! Thanks for the video, Steph
That's a gift - to be able to visualize things in "3D". :-) I struggle with it - have had to teach myself the little I know about it. I always envied guys like you that so obviously could grasp the multiple angles coming together in their minds...
Thanks for the kind words Dave Weber :) Everybody's good at something but I find that really listening to others help in areas I fall behind in. Being close minded has never been much help to me :) That journeyman taught me to be more open minded and not too proud to ask or take advice, a much better talent in my book :)
+EngelsCoachShop it's like looking at something in 3 D that figure how to make i guess at least that's the way i look at it. i love video's i am just about done watching all of them thank you.
If I were you I couldn't stand to let it go back ! Very nice work indeed. I find myself wondering about costs as I have always wanted a simple buckboard type wagon to go to feed store with occasionally.. Priceless work really..
Love that compound table saw you have in your shop. The last one I saw of that make was in an industrial museum In Georga And watched the resurrection of the saw after being left in the elements for several years on another Tuber's page Keith Rucker on ventage machinery. They just don't make them of that quality anymore.
What- no cup holders? ;>) As a former furniture maker, I enjoy and appreciate your mix of old and new methods to get the period look in a practical manner.
Agree about the old and new. One second he's cutting parts on a table saw that's 109 years old, the next he's drilling holes with a very modern Makita cordless drill.
Thanks a lot. I very much enjoyed the video with it's all stages, and I almost was back in time on the movies of the wild west from my childhood, with all the stuff from that age.
Very nice work. I just love your attention to detail and your craftsmanship. Absolute joy to watch and learn about our history. Thank You Sir for all of your time and hard work that goes into these videos so that I and others can see history come back too life once more.
Your welcome. I myself and I'm sure others out here in RU-vid land much appreciate you and your company for your great work towards restoring our history.
I could make all the metal parts period correct in appearance . The first piece of wood would stump me. Ill keep watching and maybe Ill learn . It is a joy to watch.
I wish I had this wonderful craftsman for my husband I would have everything done to perfection.i wait and wait to get something done my husband I'm going to but going to never comes.my next life I'm going to marry a carpenter. this man takes so much pride in his work .his wife is a lucky woman.
