Building a sledge questions

I want to build a sledge for my son and give it to him for Christmas. I grew up as an Army Brat in Germany where we had wonderful winters and fantastic sledges. I t looked a bit like this:



I’m pretty sure it was mostly plywood. I did some research and found a similar design which I’d like to make



I’ve only made stuff from regular lumber and plywood. So I have a few questions.

1) What wood should I use?

2) How easy is it to bend wood?

3) If bending is too difficult, what options do you recommend

4) Do you have a better design

I’d also like to build with hand tools only

Edward Norton wrote:

1) What wood should I use?

2) How easy is it to bend wood?

3) If bending is too difficult, what options do you recommend

4) Do you have a better design

I’d also like to build with hand tools only

1. My usual answer to this is - The wood I have or can easily obtain. Most wood is durable enough for most applications. I wouldn't use balsa... but that's about it.

2. If you have a steam box - easy. If you don't you have to make a steam box first. I don't have one yet, and though it's on my to-do list I won't be able to get back to you before Christmas this year.

Popular Woodworking has an interesting suggestion for building one using a kettle for steam - https://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/simple-steam-box/


The basic concept is get the wood hot and wet, put it in a form (you can make one with nails in a board) and let it dry and cool into shape. Some woods can be bent when green without steam apparently.

I found this blog article and am posting it here for me to see later as much as for you! Very useful list of tips - https://paleotechnics.wordpress.com/2013/03/27/bending-wood-what-you-need-to-know/


3. Laminating is an option, but it requires glue.

4. I'm not much of a sled connoisseur, so I don't have much to say about designs.

You may be able to bend willow. Beech and Ash are bent after warming in a steamer, but this may take some practise.
Alternatively, natural wood is never straight! see if you can find a nice bend in some round wood and cleave it to make matching runners. I've never done this , but it might just work!

Old downhill skis are regularly available for free. If you intercept them from the landfill, I think you get permie points. And a good story to tell!

That is a very common design for a sled here in denmark, infact I have 2. BUT the runners and frame are both iron and only the seat is wood. you may be able to find just the metal frame somewhere ready to be refurbished.

Hi Edward.  Great idea.
One of the easiest ways that I know to bend wood is the way my father used to do it.  Best to start with the wood you need but bigger, twice as wide and longer. Dad used to soak the timber in a bath to get it to be thoroughly wet and had a rope that he could stretch around a circle ( a drum of the right radius for example).  He would then bend it as far as he could and keep it going over a number of days.  I have attached a website with some options of sleds but the first picture shows a sled with ropes holding the shape.  The drum would sit between the bend and the rope.  There is an option that once you have the strain on the rope, hit the bending part of the wood with a steam cleaner to heat and relax the fibres.  It will be a slow process but with a little gentle persuasion, the bend may get there within a week.  It is important, in my opinion, to ensure that the fibres are relaxed so the bend does not spring out or the wood break.  https://builtbykids.com/classic-winter-wood-sleds-for-kids-of-all-ages/  Hold the bend until the wood dries or it can be braced.
Good luck with it all.  Looking forward to seeing the finished results.  Best approach is gently does it.  Once you are happy with the shape, cut the wood in half longways so the bends are the same.
Cheers
Paul

Edit:  You asked what wood.  The wood I would look for is the hardest knot free I can find with long fibre structure.  Some folk up your way say to use maple or white ash.  As L Johnson says, use what ever you can get your hands on
Down our way, I would screw a sacrificial runner on the bottom made of iron bark then shape with a draw knife or plane.  It weighs 2.4 times pine and it used to be used as railway sleepers and marine piers so is way harder to destroy.