Repairing an American Classic

[Don Morris]

My neighbor has an old Flexible Flyer sled made in Medina Ohio. One of the cross struts (7/8" X 13")is broken and he wants to repair it for one of the grandchildren. I'm not sure which wood it is. The question is what wood to use, but probably would be best to use similar if not the same type used originally. Suggestions, or if someone knows what they used, that would be great. Thanks!

[Rod Sheridan]

Hello Don, I have made toboggans from ash, and maple. Both steam bent very well.

regards, Rod.

[Jamie Buxton]

I'd use either ash or hickory. Ash is tough -- that's why they use it for baseball bats. Hickory flexes well -- that's why they used it for sports equipment. Both would have been readily available in Ohio in the early twentieth century.

You may have better luck looking for pecan than for hickory. They're close relatives (actually pecan is a group within the hickory family), and the lumber properties are so similar that the wood industry doesn't keep them separate.