Building A Gypsy Wagon--Part 3 / Repairing Wheels And Building A Floor / Work Progresses Slowly...

                     

  

  The wagon work progresses slowly; our farm work and housework have to come first. Even so, we manage to work on it most evenings… Siobhan and I work together well.  We share an easy comradery, laughing and talking as we work.

Siobhan and I both like to work with wood—to saw, sand, and paint.   We often use my father’s old tools, their handles worn smooth from years in his skilled and gentle hands.   I love the beauty of the wood grain on the hammer’s handle, and the way it fits in my hand.  Siobhan has a fondness for his wood chisels, and uses them with a master’s touch…The first time she held one in her hand, she said “I’m not sure HOW I know, but I KNOW that I can do this;  perhaps I have done this before— in another lifetime…”.  Then with confidence and precision, she chiseled a hinge mortise perfectly on her first attempt-- with no help, instruction, or advice. ( It was really quite unsettling-- but a welcome surprise, nonetheless!).

After much deliberation, Siobhan and I decided to use 1" tongue-and-groove lumber for the flooring, and 1/2" tongue-and-groove lumber with 2" x 2" framing for the walls.  We opted to  build each wall in three panels (bottom to top), painting and varnishing each piece before securing to the wagon floor, or to adjoining panels.
 

To date, Siobhan and I have completed the following work:

repair/paint/stencil/varnish wagon undercarriage and wheels;
build/stain/varnish a sturdy floor;

build/paint/stencil/varnish/secure 20" x 14' wall panel, left side of wagon;
paint/varnish/secure 8 wood corbels (12" x 14" x 3") along left wall at 2' intervals;
build/stain/varnish 18" x 14' ledge onto left side wall, secure to corbels;

build/paint/stencil/varnish/secure 20" x 14' wall panel, right side of wagon;
paint/varnish/secure 8 wood corbels (12" x 14" x 3") along right wall at 2' intervals;
build/stain/varnish 18" x 14' ledge onto right side wall, secure to corbels;

build/paint/stencil/varnish/secure lower back panel;
build/paint/stencil/varnish/secure cookery storage cabinet beneath back wall;
build/stain/varnish/secure hay cratch/rack onto lower back panel;

build/stain/varnish/secure framework for sleeping quarters, upper and lower berths, back of wagon;
build/stain/varnish door frame and bracing, front of wagon.



And our work continues...

                                

**For more in-depth details of our wagon construction, as well as an on-going list of building materials and costs, please visit us at our website:  www.just2gypsies.com