The wheels are made from 2 disks of 3/4 inch exterior plywood, bias glued, drilled, then fitted with conduit bushings.  The axles are standard galvanized plumbing pipe.  The wheels are mounted with a washer on either side, a bolt and nut through the axle on the back to hold the inside washer, and a key clip through a hole in the axle to hold the outside washer.  The wheels have a rim of stainless attached with cement coated nails.
 
 
 
 
 

The skein tensioning winches are handmade.  They are constructed of 6 inch long pieces of 5 1/2 inch 1/4 inch wall steel pipe, with a ring of 1/4 inch thick steel welded on 1 1/2 inch from one end.  12 holes placed equally around the perimeter were drilled, then tapped to accept 5/16 screws.  These were silver soldered into place, the ends cut off and the bottom side ground flat.  A piece of 1 inch black iron pipe was fitted into holes cut in the large pipe, and welded.  This provides the bar that the skeins fit around, and it also allows a winding handle to be fitted into the winch for easier tensioning.  A plate of 1/8 4042 T-6 aluminum was fit to the side of the frame to provide a running surface for the skeins.  A standard grease fitting was added to the steel ring to allow lubrication on the field.





A closeup of the winch detail
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A length of 1 inch steel angle stock was needed as reinforcement across the area where the winches fit through.  The amount of tension that this engine is capable of generating is quite substantial.