Americano Blue's musher/mushing chat thread

[RezChamp]

No i didn't notice his tail actually.

Black tipped.

 

[RezChamp]

Yeah that's the bridle I made. I was thinking about varnishing/staining it to make it waterproof or at least more water resistant. Maybe next summer.

Closer pic of my bridle

Hey!!! Not bad at all eh.

did you tie a knot at the front stantion or did you actually go through the rope with itself?

 

[RezChamp]

Varnish...NOOOOO!!!!! it sticks to the snow and just makes a nuisance of itself when it starts peeling by slivers and/or little flakes of it stabbing into fingers and other parts, now indeed if a dog ever chews on your sled anywhere. It also helps to retain moisture in the wood so, VARNISH IS ACTUALLY DETRIMENTAL TO PRESERVING YOUR SLED.

Stain is good, if you have/add a water barrier/sealant.
I have found through personal experience oil is best. I like to disassemble my sled as much as easily possible and use warm oil to soak each piece individually. I really like Double Boiled Linseed Oil as a protectant. I had my original Oak toboggan for almost 20 years. That said, I've found coal oil to slide real easy and soak deep to preserve.
But today I use plastic on the runners so I need only Linseed Oil for preserving the wood.
Yes, varnish does look nice and works well for preserving,for a short period, but like I said "slivers", "flakes", "retain moisture"..., a nuisance to hafta sand and varnish every year
In my opinion oil is actually prettier.

 

[charnic44]

Hey!!! Not bad at all eh.
did you tie a knot at the front stantion or did you actually go through the rope with itself?

I went through it horizontily 2x then tied a knot after going throing where it left a little gap. Kinda hard to explain. :/

Varnish...NOOOOO!!!!! it sticks to the snow and just makes a nuisance of itself when it starts peeling by slivers and/or little flakes of it stabbing into fingers and other parts, now indeed if a dog ever chews on your sled anywhere. It also helps to retain moisture in the wood so, VARNISH IS ACTUALLY DETRIMENTAL TO PRESERVING YOUR SLED.

Stain is good, if you have/add a water barrier/sealant.
I have found through personal experience oil is best. I like to disassemble my sled as much as easily possible and use warm oil to soak each piece individually. I really like Double Boiled Linseed Oil as a protectant. I had my original Oak toboggan for almost 20 years. That said, I've found coal oil to slide real easy and soak deep to preserve.
But today I use plastic on the runners so I need only Linseed Oil for preserving the wood. 
Yes, varnish does look nice and works well for preserving,for a short period, but like I said "slivers", "flakes", "retain moisture"..., a nuisance to hafta sand and varnish every year 
In my opinion oil is actually prettier.

Okay, I won't use varnish then.... My sled is fairly easy to assemble but some parts aren't as simple. I will look for oil. How much do you think I need?

 

[SternRose]

Hank

 

[charnic44]

Hank

He is so darn cute!

 

[RezChamp]

I went through it horizontily 2x then tied a knot after going throing where it left a little gap. Kinda hard to explain.

Okay, I won't use varnish then.... My sled is fairly easy to assemble but some parts aren't as simple. I will look for oil. How much do you think I need?

Sorry. Went out to do chores and got carried away being out of house. Stupid move on my part. Made cold worse.
I don't know for sure but if I were you I'd start with a quart.
I would venture to guess that even oil stain would be OK you know. More of a color pallette too.
I mixed dbl boiled linseed oil with some colored oil based paint and thinned it with paint thinner and gas one spring because I was too broke to buy more of anything.
It worked good. ind you that was on oak which is a real tough wood anyway,....except once it starts to get rot.

 

[RezChamp]

char
I can kinda guess what you mean after looking at it again, more or less what I do....I think.

 

[RezChamp]

rose
That Hank is a pretty darn good looking dog. I was looking at angulation and he should make a decent strong puller. He has the feet too.
Never know though...I was wrong once.......LOL...........

 

[charnic44]

Sorry. Went out to do chores and got carried away being out of house. Stupid move on my part. Made cold worse.
I don't know for sure but if I were you I'd start with a quart.
I would venture to guess that even oil stain would be OK you know. More of a color pallette too.
I mixed dbl boiled linseed oil with some colored oil based paint and thinned it with paint thinner and gas one spring because I was too broke to buy more of anything.
It worked good. ind you that was on oak which is a real tough wood anyway,....except once it starts to get rot.

Okay. I will see what I can find.