Wooden Push Bike

Very cool design good job

thats really cool

-- -erik & christy-

very nice, can’t build enough toys for the kids and grandkids.

russv

-- yknotwood.com: where to go because you don't want no stinking plastic!

Fantastic,I’m in the process of designing myself a recumbent bike out of various woods,probably Baltic Birch ply for the frame but I did consider laminating up some nice contrasting timbers as you have,in fact,I think I will…
Yours is light years better than the commercial ply bikes & probably a lot cheaper too even although you used gorgeous hardwoods.
Shes going to love it!
Favourited!

-- "Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible." ~ Frank Zappa

yeah some of those plywood bikes range up to $400. I built this one for around $100. And thats in Colorado where hardwood is ridiculous expensive especially the Jatoba.

-- chew it off with your teeth

That thing is to cool. What a great design. I have a little grandson and you just gave me some great ideas. What size are the wheels on there?

-- Mert,Oshkosh WI,

The best way to learn and has style too.
Welcome to LJs.

-- Ain't better or worse than any other woodpecker in the woods.

Very cool! But, where does one put their feet? How do you stop if you’re going fast? Or, is this more like a scooter where you are constantly pushing on level ground?

If you’re in CO, then you’re close to Al Bibbero and he has rosewood for sale!

-- "They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night." ~ Edgar Allan Poe

That is awesome!

-- Z, Rockwall, TX

Thats awsome!! Would you be so kind as to tell us where you got the tires?

-- Jimi _ Measure twice, cut [email protected]#%#[email protected]!!!......measure twice, cut....

The tires are 12 1/2” x 2 1/4” kendas. I think I got them from bike parts USA from there amazon store. The rims were the hardest thing to find and kinda pricey at $17/each. The rims actually measure about 8 1/4”.

But, where does one put their feet? How do you stop if you’re going fast? Or, is this more like a scooter where you are constantly pushing on level ground?

- The kid is supposed to skid there feet on the ground to stop but I have the pieces to add a rear brake in the future when she gets bigger. Not having pedals promotes balance skills. Heard it was better to learn to balance first then learn to pedal. plus you never have training wheels as a crutch. I talked to a guy at the bike shop that said he saw a 2 year old start out on a push bike and by 2 1/2 the kid was riding a small BMX on the local track.

-- chew it off with your teeth

Wanted to make some bent wood fenders. Still might anyone have any experience bending this Jatoba. Tried soaking a 1/4 thick piece in boiling water for about an hour and no bend at all. I will probably build a steam box but was wondering if anyone had advice first.

-- chew it off with your teeth

Not had any experience with Jatoba but I would definitely build a steam box & slightly reduce the thickness of the laminates too,between 1/8th & 3/16th.
You could always make them really thin 1/16th & they would bend round a form without steaming,a lot of waste with saw cuts but the finished fender would be incredibly stable & strong (I have a tendency to over engineer,belt,braces,velcro,popstuds,you name it…)

-- "Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible." ~ Frank Zappa

I am assuming that you would laminate after bending. I’m just curious how well the wood will hold the shape. Iv’e never done any steam bending before. Would I need to make the form a tighter radius than I need. My its just a matter of experimentation.

-- chew it off with your teeth

yup,always make the form slightly tighter than the intended finished form,there’s always a little spring back although the more laminates used for a given form the less spring back will occur.
Here’s a link to a guy using a similar setup to the one I used to bend some Maple (I used a pressure cooker on a camping stove instead of the wallpaper stripper but I’ve heard the stripper is excellent.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OOIJXDZXB3g
I would also advise you to get the steamed wood into the form as soon as possible,less than 10 seconds is best.

-- "Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible." ~ Frank Zappa