Making a Sleigh
Preparing the Wood
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We believe creating antique-quality sleighs requires honoring the traditions of the earlier generations of craftsmen. That’s why we design, build, and finish every sleigh by hand, using many of the same techniques and tools of a bygone era.
We use the finest solid hardwoods, harvested from Vermont’s forests, including birch and cherry. These materials are chosen for both their classic durability and natural beauty, and are as much a part of the artistry as the craftsmanship we apply to them.
Steaming the Wood for Bending
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In making our sleighs, many steps are done by hand, just like they used to do it in the 19th century to create that authentic look and feel. For the Classic Cutter, the runners are bent using a special steam pressure system that we designed. The tops are hand-planed, painted and finished to give them an antique, distressed appearence.
Finishing Up
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It's this painstaking attention to detail that gives each sleigh its own distinct character. No two are alike. They’re all individually numbered and registered in our company ledger, so you know that Vermont Sleigh Company sleigh gracing your family room is truly one-of-a-kind. An heirloom-worthy addition to your home.
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The Art of
the Tradition
Hand-planing is one of the ways in which we make our sleighs. It’s also wonderfully satisfying experience because it involves you in ways power tools can never do. The feel of the plane in your hands. The soft hiss as it glides over the surface. The delicate curls of wood gently falling away. And of course, the unmistakable smell of fresh-cut wood.
Because of this hands-on craftsmanship, similar in many respects to sculpting, every sleigh takes on its own distinct character. So hand-planing not only honors traditional methods, it also makes your Vermont Sleigh Company sleigh truly unique. |
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