How to Make an Ancient Chinese Wheel Barrel
The wheelbarrow is an invention that originated in China around 100 B.C. The basic principle for the wheelbarrow consisted of a single wheel in the front of a wooden platform. An ancient Chinese wheelbarrow was made entirely out of wood and used animal fat as a lubricant for the axle. You can make your own ancient Chinese wheelbarrow but you'll need a few construction supplies before you get started.
Things You'll Need
- Wooden planks
- Ruler
- Saw
- Chisel
- Hammer
- Piece of hardwood
- Mallet
- Nails
- Long pieces of wood
- Grease or animal fat
Instructions
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1
Lay two pieces of wood planks that are at least 24 inches wide on top of one another and nail them together with hammer and nails.
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2
Mark out a circle on the wheel using a small piece of wood and nails. Measure a piece of wood that is 12 inches long with a ruler.
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3
Attach one end of the piece of wood to the planks with a nail and secure it with a hammer. This will act as a pivot to turn the piece of wood in a circle around the planks. Place a nail at the opposite end of the piece of wood with the hammer.
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4
Turn the piece of wood and etch the outline of a circle into the wood planks.
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5
Cut around the outline on the wood planks with a saw. Smooth the edges of the wheel with a chisel and a hammer.
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6
Make a square outline in the center of the wheel with a nail. Use the hammer and chisel to cut out the inside of the outline to make a square hole.
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7
Construct the axle from a dry piece of hardwood about 12 inches long and 2 inches square. Round 3 to 4 inches from both ends of the piece of wood using the chisel and the hammer.
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8
Insert the axle into the square hole in the wheel. Place small blocks around the axle in a square shape. They will then need to be secured to the wheel and the axle with nails using the hammer.
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9
Set two pieces of 6-foot sections of wood that are 2 inches square on the ground to use as the handles of the wheelbarrow. Make sure that they are with width of the axle at the front and 3 feet at the rear where they are held.
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10
Place planks of wood over the top of the handles and secure them using nails with the hammer. The planks should have a total length of 4 feet and a width of 3 feet.
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11
Make legs for the wheel barrow using four pieces of wood; two 4 feet long and two 2 feet long.
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12
Place the two 4-foot-long pieces on the ground and attach wood planks that cover 1 1/2 feet of the length and nail them in place. This is going to be leg and front platform section.
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13
Place the section over the platform on the wheelbarrow so that is sits at an angle and nail it to the handles.
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14
Attach the 2-feet-long pieces to the ends of the front piece and the bottom of the wheelbarrow. These will act as the back legs of the wheelbarrow.
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15
Place the wheelbarrow upside down and set the wheel and axle on the end of the handles.
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16
Nail a block of wood behind each end of the axle on the handle poles. The blocks of wood will keep the axles from sliding and act as bearings.
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17
Place pieces of wood over the end of the axle, the block for the bearing and the side of the handle and nail them into place. This will enclose the axle and hold it in place.
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18
Place grease or animal fat on the inside of the block that covers the bearing. This will help to lubricate the axle so that it will spin freely.
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Tips & Warnings
Modern tools can be used to make the assembly process easier.
If the axle is not properly secured it can fall out.
