Hearse - Wheels

Time to make hubs for the wheels.  These will serve to hide the bolt/pin holding the wheel to the axel and add visual interest.  A plywood circle is cutout and a notch is routed on the rear side to fit over and conceal the bolt.  Decorative carriage bolts are added to the front and also to secure the hub to the wheel.  1/8" hardboard/luan is ripped down to strips, glued and nailed around the perimeter of the wheel. A plastic skull finial is added to the hub and the whole thing painted true black with some gold leafing applied.

New Project = Hearse

If you haven't guessed already, the new project is a horse drawn hearse.  First up are the wheels.  Obtaining a matching set of wagon wheels is easier said then done, so let's make some.  Two sheets of 3/4" plywood get laminated together by rolling out wood glue, clamping and screwing the pieces together.  To make the spokes, a straight edge is screwed to the middle and spun around while lines are marked.  After drilling pilot holes a jigsaw is used to cut out the pie-shaped pieces then the edges are rounded with a router.