The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1874-11-14
Farm La+sders and How to Make Them

There is no excuse for not having the pre-
misses well supplied with ladders, for any
farmer with even but a very limited knowl.
edge OF the use of mechanical tools and the
application of mechanical rules can make
them of various sizes and kinds For long
ladders it Is sometimes inconyenient to obtain
sawed pieces for The sides, and under such
circumstances they can be made from straight
poles of light wood, such as red elm, bass
wood, etc. The pole should be six inches
through at the butt at least, and allowed to
season before making up. Take it to the
barn. and by the use Of pins on each side
bring it into a straight line; this may be done
on beam or the floor of the building. After
it is seasoned bring into shape by tapering
from the center each way, leaving the pole
five or six inches in the center, according to
length, and about three and a half inches at
the ends. 1t is mistake to taper the ladder
from lower to top end, for the heaviest strain
always comes in the middle.
After the pole is brought into shape cut it
in halves by the use ola coarse rip.saw, then
Law the pieces in the position they are to oc.
cupy; say, if twenty or more feet long, thirty
TO thirty.sx inches wide at the b0tom and
eighteen to twenty at the top; then lay across
the sticks a straight edge once in fourteen
inches, and mark across the edges of the side.
pieces with pencil, which will show the de.
gree of inclination for boring the holes. The
rounds should be of tough, asOncd, white
oak, and the ends immersed IN linseed oil
paint before driven. We should use an inch
aurur for the lower rounds, if there is three
feet spread, scven.eights in the center, and
three.ouartcrs at the top. Drive all of the
rounds into one side first have them project
wedge them up firmly, trim of
then with a cord draw a line
across the ends of the rounds where the other
side piece is 10 come; color the cord with
charcoal, place it eighteen inches from side
piece at top and thirty at the bottom, and
snap the line; then shave the rounds to a
proper size for the holes, paint them over
and drive the second side piece on to place,
and wedge up and trim off as the first. After
it is finished give two good coats of paint
this will add much TO the durability, as rot
will appear in the side where the rounds en-
ter if moisture is allowed TO penetrate.
Where a ladder is to be but ten or fifteen
feet in length the best side-pieces may be
made from sawed red elm, inch or an inch
and an eighth thick, five inches wide IN the
center, and three inches az The ends Wheth.
er sawed or worked out " hand the whole
should be plancd smooth SO. rs to look nicely
and receive paint we'll The rounds should
always be from split timber, and made larger
in the center than at the ends. II sawed,
there is a liability of the timber being cross
grained, which makes them too hazardous
for anyone who values his neck TO venture
upon.
For fruit picking, S'epladders are more
convenient than any other, and can be pur-
chased at less expense than they can he.
made by the farmer \ support, however,
for the common ladder may be made to an
swer good purpose. Two poles nearly as
long as the ladder, with ends crossed and
bolted together so that the other ends may
spread at will, with s,reng hooks ore on
each part near the upper end, in which to.
place the round of the ladder, make cheap
and very excellent Sunnnrf dim knIynrr.