Make a Living By Any Opportunity

   Visited an Amish friend Paul today at his place of business. He fabricates most anything that will supply him, his family, and his employees work and an income.  Paul showed us some wheels he manufactures. Buggies, carts, wagons, and old cannons need wheels to be moved.

The hubs are custom cast by a local foundry to proper specifications

Hickory spokes ready for assembly

Placing steamed boards in the press

Bending. Wood can be compressed but not stretched

The inner part of the wood outer is actually compressed 

while the outermost part is held steady.

Then bent into a U shape under great pressure and heat

The assembly is held in a steel U 

 It holds this shape until it cools and dries

Two of these are "married" together to complete the each wheel

The steel tires are custom curled by a massive 8 ton press

Final assembly is complete after the tires are welded

Waiting for shipping -all completed

Another product is milled out on a CNC machine 20 at a time

This is for the base of a game

A stirrup formed under pressure and heat

Safety for the cowboy or cowgirl that uses this one

The American Stirrup Company is quite successful

They sell every by-product. Shavings baled for horse bedding.  Scrap wood sold to other woodworkers or for kindling.  Nothing goes to waste. 

All lumber is bought from local mills in Central Ohio

Paul has his private putting green behind his house. 

A bit challenging to keep it in top shape this summer due to the drought

followed by too much rain