Wood skis?

**rsser** · 7th July 2012, 12:36 PM

Hi all,

The prospect of making some has engaged my interest.

I gather that last century there were some local ski makers and hickory was imported but was very expensive. Local timbers must've been used as well.

Any ideas? Spotted Gum would be the tool-handle equiv. of hickory but it'd be heavy, hard to work and maybe hard to bend as well.

European makers used Fraxinus (along with Elm and Birch) and that should also be a possibility downunder.

There was an article on ski making in FWW, 1981. It's not available online. Can anyone help?

...

Of course there's a website: Preserve the Heritage; Ski with Wood

**tea lady** · 7th July 2012, 12:55 PM

Will have to look through my stack of mags. Got a vague recollection I have seen something about it.

Will have a look tonight. Right now I think I should get out it the "shed" while the sun is shining and I can pretend that means its warm out there.

What number edition would it be?

**rsser** · 7th July 2012, 01:08 PM

Thanks TL.

Don't know the number sorry. Only the year.

Sub-zero temps overnight here in Mt Beauty; the lawns are white in the morning.

**Big Shed** · 7th July 2012, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by rsser

Thanks TL.

Don't know the number sorry. Only the year.

Sub-zero temps overnight here in Mt Beauty; the lawns are white in the morning.

Not only in Mt Beauty Ern

Our paddocks didn't clear of frost until after 9am this morning, even our water pipes had frozen up, that brass monkey was in dire straits this am.

**rsser** · 7th July 2012, 01:34 PM

Good grief!

Well the upside here is dry snow and cloudless skies during the day.

Skied up Mt Mackay yesterday and the views were stunning.

**tea lady** · 7th July 2012, 01:48 PM

Must be in number 42 which isn't on my book shelf at the moment.

(Might also contain the meaning of life.

)

**rsser** · 7th July 2012, 01:50 PM

Thanks for looking TL.

Might also be the meaning of WW trouble!

**Big Shed** · 7th July 2012, 01:53 PM

Originally Posted by tea lady

Must be in number 42 which isn't on my book shelf at the moment.

(Might also contain the meaning of life.

)

No article on skis in FWW #42, don't know about the meaning of life

**tea lady** · 7th July 2012, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by Big Shed

No article on skis in FWW #42, don't know about the meaning of life

I did just read the titles. But right now I REALLY am going out to the shed. No more wasting time.

OK! Just one more cup of tea.

**Big Shed** · 7th July 2012, 02:08 PM

There is an article in the FWW book Bending Wood

Fine Woodworking on Bending Wood: 35 Articles - Google Books

Bending Wood by Fine Woodworking Magazine Editors... | eBay

This one is even cheaper

Bending Wood (Fine Woodworking on Series) : "Fine Woodworking" Magazine : 9780918804297

Don't know how they do it, I paid $9.40 to send a similar sized book from Bendigo to Melbourne last week

**rsser** · 7th July 2012, 02:26 PM

Thanks Fred.

The 'bending wood' link also has a piece (the piece?) on making Nordic skis.

Wow. Recommends both lat and long laminating. Interesting.

Dammit; just sold my planer/thicknesser.

But it may be doable by handplane with Fraxinus or Birch.

And modern skis are much shorter.

Plotting and cutting the sidecut will be nice challenge

\

**wolften** · 7th July 2012, 04:34 PM

try issue #31

**springwater** · 7th July 2012, 05:53 PM

King Billy with Coach Wood stringers sound nice

**Big Shed** · 7th July 2012, 06:30 PM

Originally Posted by wolften

try issue #31

Yep, that's the one

**rsser** · 7th July 2012, 07:43 PM

Thanks folks.

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