Adventures of an Imperfect Man In Search of a Handmade Life
Just returned from a 10 state 3400 mile shakedown run with the little Snail. Fortunately, about 2/3rds of the trip was work-related so not all of the expense was mine. Lots of ideas for finishing out the wagon over the winter.
Click the photo for the Vardo page.
I put up a few pictures of the nearly finished vardo. Of course, there are many little things I still plan to do and add, the basic wagon is livable now. I hope to eventually find a smaller stove to fit as this one could easily get too hot for the space it’s in.
Also, I published my first Instructable and received some excellent feedback. I tried to put the Vardo build in a sensible order and post it where it can be easily found for a long time. Here’s the link to the “How to Build the Gyspy Wagon”. If you have an Instructable account, you can vote for the best woodworking project. I would appreciate a good vote as I could use the tools being given away.
A view inside the vardo. Put together from three shots. It is so small, its hard to get a perspective through the lens. Enjoy. Also, more photos can found on the Vardo Page including a stove fitting and other fun stuff.
A gaggle of new spear throwers in the Upper Paleolithic tradition. Not ivory, just oak. I have needed a bunch to use as loaners at demonstrations and events. Hopefully these will do the trick.
Here is a couple of photos of the new horse. It is made up of mostly recycled and scrap wood. If I am lucky enough to find time from work, I intend to put it to work on some bow staves and spoons later this fall.
The horse is made of pine and fir dimensional lumber. The working portions are red oak, white oak, hickory, and popular. The large bolts are salvaged from an old Ford spare tire holder.
Another take on the modern Gypsy Wagon. I suspect it is very heavy but looks to be very large and accommodating as well. Lots of decorative details.
http://www.wanderingbookartists.blogspot.com/
They are also fine craftsmen and artists. Check out their site.
I’ve added a couple more photos of the vardo as it came together for our summer vacation to the sea.
Still many things to do but it was also a great learning opportunity to understand the final arrangements of the interior space and how it is used.
I finally put the final layer of roof on the vardo. I suspect this will really help keep it cool in the sun.
I still have quite a ways to go with paint and other exterior trim but my next focus is to finish installing the stove. The plan is made, most of it has been “dry fitted”, now it just needs some cutting to plumb the chimney pipe.
Oak treads, 8″ rise. Nothing fancy but very functional.
It is slow going with details currently but photos will come soon. Little bits and bobs take a lot of time when you are limited to short evenings after work. Here’s a look at the Vardo as she looks today.
Preindustrial Craftsmanship 