Fw: Tillers' Catalog - Yokes and Yoke Making

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Tillers' Catalog - Yokes and Yoke Making

-

Noma T. Petroff

iscowp

Wednesday, December 20, 2000 12:12 PM

Tillers' Catalog - Yokes and Yoke Making

 

 

I think this information should be of interest to ox power farmers. It

would be good if you could order several items listed here and examine

them.

 

your servant,

 

Hare Krsna dasi

 

 

 

http://www.wmich.edu/tillers/catalog/yoke.html

 

 

 

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Yokes and Yoke Making...

a.. Publications/Plans

b.. Products -

a.. Yokes

b.. Hardware

c.. Bows

c.. Order Form

 

SPECIAL SALE

Yoke Maker's Plans

Yoke Plans, American Traditional

 

 

 

 

 

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Yokes - Publications/Plans

Neck Yoke Design and Fit.1992.

 

-- by Richard Roosenberg

 

This paper gives more detail on how the humble neck yoke works than any

source we know. It analyzes the importance of the draft (or drop of the hitch

point below the neck seats) and describes the consequences of the draft on bow

movement and beam seating on the neck. The depth of draft has varying

consequences depending on the nature of the load. Understanding this helps

readers appreciate different yoke styles and their best uses. Yoke dimensions

common to American neck yokes are described relative to the bow widths. This

paper includes concepts essential for improving yokes along with a bibliography

of traditional yoke knowledge. --rjr

 

TechGuide - 12 pages, Item # 2gnyk, Price $ 3.00

 

 

Building an Ox Yoke

 

-- by David Kramer, 1998

 

This is a thorough how-to guide to making an ox yoke. You will find

instructions on selecting and curing wood, shaping the beam of the yoke, making

the bows, forging the hardware and assembling the final product. This

TechGuide offers good background information for using the plans and templates.

 

 

TechGuide - 19 pages, Item # 2gykb, Price $ 4.00

 

 

 

------------- SPECIAL OFFER -------------

 

Yoke Maker's Plan and Template Package

 

For those who want to make a series of yokes for growing teams, we

suggest a special package of 2 TechGuides (Neck Yoke Design and Fit and

Building an Ox Yoke), a 4" full sized plan, and a series of templates for beams

with bow widths from 4 to 11 inches. For the package we can discount these aids

that would cost $36.50 separately.

 

Drawings - Sizes for 4-11", Item # 2yktp, Price $ 29.00

 

 

 

Yoke Plans, Traditional American

 

-- by Richard Roosenberg

 

These actual sized plans can aid you in making your own yokes. They

include front and top views and along with several cross sections. They also

show bow shapes for oval bows as well as half round bows should your animals

need ovals. The development of these plans is described in the Neck Yoke Design

& Fit TechGuide (item #2gnyk). Their relative dimensions are based on bow

widths and can be extrapolated to larger layouts without buying a complete set

of plans. Indeed, we have discontinued sizes larger than 8" due to high costs

of reproducing copies over 48 inches long. -- rjr

 

Drawings - See "Plans Price List" below, Item # 2ykpl.

 

 

Yoke Templates, Traditional American

 

-- by Richard Roosenberg

 

These actual-size templates of the front and top outlines guide the

shaping of a good yoke. The larger sizes come in reversible half templates with

reference marks to orient the flipside to a straight reference chalk line.

These are an economical alternative to larger yoke plans. --rjr

 

Drawings - See "Plans Price List" below, Item # 2yktm.

 

 

 

 

 

Plans Price List

Actual

Sized Plans Templates

Bow

Width Item#2ykpl Item#2yktm

4" $4.50 $2.75 Full

5" $5.25 $2.75 Full

6" $6.00 $2.75 Half

7" $7.50 $2.75 Half

8" $8.50 $2.75 Half

9" --- $3.50 Half

10" --- $3.75 Half

11" --- $4.00 Half

12" --- $4.50 Half

13" --- $5.50 Half

14" --- $6.50 Half

 

 

 

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Yokes and Yoke Making - Products

Yokes | Hardware | Bows

 

 

Yokes

Economy Farm Yokes

 

-- by Tillers

 

These are very functional yokes built to meet ordinary farm needs. We

also call them English farm yokes since they are pattern on the design common

on established English farms. There the land was clear and there was less need

for the rugged features of most American yokes. They have shallower bellies

(about 20% less draft). They are also a little narrower from front to back and

the curve of the neck seat is somewhat flatter. These features make them

lighter and less time consuming to make. More power tools are used in their

construction. The rings and calabash hooks are arch welded for economy. For

training yokes (4 and 5" sizes), there lightness of being will help your calves

hold their heads up. Sizes 4 -10"

 

Prod - See "Yokes Price List" below, Item # 4ykec.

 

 

 

 

Yoke Beam Blanks

 

-- by Tillers

 

These beams are band-sawn to the shape of the economy yokes and have the

holes drilled for bows and staples. Both the front and top profiles have been

cut. You can shape it at your leisure and save a few dollars. Sizes 4 -14".

 

Prod - See "Yokes Price List" below, Item # 4ykbk.

 

 

 

 

Traditional Yokes

 

-- by Tillers

 

These hand-shaped yokes are built to the common American design with deep

bellies and draft and with neck seats having greater surface. They are made of

cottonwood, elm, or your choice of available hardwoods. They include forge

welded hardware and leather bow spacers. The bows are white oak, hickory, or

ash and your choice of "U" shaped half rounds or oval shapes (with sides

angling back inward at the top). There is an extra fee of $12 for yokes with

oval bows given the added difficulties of bending bows and canting the bow

holes in the beam. These yokes are finished to the classic look and shape of

historical yokes. Sizes 4 -14 inches.

 

Prod - See "Yokes Pice List" below, Item # 4yktd.

 

 

 

 

Replica Yokes

 

-- by Tillers

 

These yokes are built to the common American design described in the yoke

plan of the Neck Yoke Design and Fit paper. They have deeper bellies and more

draft and the neck seats have greater surface than the English/economy model.

They are made of elm, cottonwood, or your choice of available hardwoods. They

include forge welded hardware and leather bow spacers. The bows are your choice

of "U" shaped half rounds or oval shapes with sides angling inward at the top.

They show adz and other tool marks and should be dated to distinguish them from

historical artifacts. Sizes 4-14 inches.

 

Prod - See "Yokes Price List" below, Item # 4ykhd.

 

 

Yokes Price List

 

Economy Traditional Replica Kit, Econ.

Bow

Width Item#4ykec Item#4yktd Item#4ykhd Item#4ykbk

4" $115.00 145.00 178.00 80.00

5" 125.00 160.00 195.00 90.00

6" 145.00 180.00 224.00 102.00

7" 160.00 210.00 245.00 110.00

8" 180.00 230.00 280.00 132.00

9" 205.00 250.00 304.00 145.00

10" 230.00 270.00 329.00 160.00

11" 260.00 295.00 363.00 190.00

12" 275.00 320.00 395.00 200.00

13" 305.00 355.00 440.00 220.00

14" 325.00 390.00 490.00 235.00

 

When ordering the Optional Oval-shaped Bows with a Yoke add $12.00.

 

 

 

 

 

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Hardware for Yokes

Yokes | Hardware | Bows

 

 

 

Yoke Hardware Sets

 

-- by Tillers

 

If you are a willing wood worker but unable to forge your own iron, these

hardware sets will help you make a respectable yoke. Except for the training

size, they have the traditional two-stemmed staple design with a 2-5" wide bulb

at the bottom in which the ring and calabash hook hang. The width of the bulb

moderates the pressure on the bows under heavy draft. The table gives the

lengths for the stems on the staples which need to accommodate the top to

bottom depth of your beam plus room for fasteners and any spacers. The rings

have 4.25" inside diameters to accept cart tongues. The calabash hooks are set

for 1/4" chain on the training set and for 3/8" chain on the other sets. These

sets also include a pair of spring steel bow keepers. --rjr

 

Prod - See "Hardware Price List" below, Item # 3ykhd.

 

 

 

 

Yoke Staples

 

-- by Tillers

 

These staples are the double-stemmed design shown on the traditional yoke

plans (except for the training yoke staple). The bulb width at the bottom

ranges from 2-5". This was a late yoke adaptation (circa 1840) to moderate the

pressure on the bows under heavy draft. The table gives lengths of the stem on

the staple which need to accommodate the top to bottom depth of yoke beams plus

room for fasteners and any spacers. --rjr

 

Prod - See "Hardware Price List" below, Item # 3ykhm.

 

 

 

 

Yoke Rings

 

-- by Tillers

 

These rings are 4.25 inches inside diameter. Rings for training yokes

(4-7" bows) are made of 1/2" steel bar, others are of 5/8" bar. The table

prices are for arc welded rings. Add $8.00 for the forge welded option.

 

Prod - See "Hardware Price List" below, Item # 3ykhs.

 

 

 

 

Yoke Calabash Hooks

 

-- by Tillers

 

These pear-shaped rings permit quick adjustment of chain length from the

yoke. While they don't seem to have been common on farm yokes, they were on

many logging yokes. From the front of the team, the teamster can easily pull a

few more links through to shorten the chain and get a little more lift on the

load. For training yokes (4-7" bows), the calabash hooks are made of 3/8" steel

bar and are set for 1/4" chain, others are of 1/2" bar and set for up to 3/8"

chain. The table prices are for arc welded hooks. Add $8.00 for forge welded

hooks. Add $5.00 for 5/8" bar if you are doing very heavy work.

 

Prod - See "Hardware Price List" below, Item # 3ykht.

 

 

 

 

Bow Keepers, Hardened Steel

 

-- by Tillers

 

It is very important to secure bows from falling out of yoke beams. These

keepers are shaped to fit into 1/4 inch holes in 4-7" bows and 5/16 inch holes

for larger bows. They are hardened to keep their shape and grip longer. The

small size fits 1 - 1.5 inch diameter bows (4-7" wide) and the large size fits

1.75 - 2.00 inch diameter bows (8-14" width).

 

Prod - Sizes Small/ Large, Item # 3ykkp, Price $ 5.00 per pair.

 

 

 

 

Bow Spacers, Wood and Leather

 

-- by Tillers

 

Spacer are placed under the bow keepers to adjust the bow depth for the

oxen. If set too deep, bows irritate the brisket. Spacers allow fine

adjustments for differing lines of traction and loads. They are easy to make

but we also stock them for your convenience. The small spacers have a 1.5"

dia. hole and the large ones a 2.0" hole. We stock them in wood thicknesses of

1/2, 3/4, and 1", and in leather. Even if you do not need spacers for

adjustment, a leather spacer protects your yoke from the keeper pins. Sizes

Small/Large; in leather/wood (1/2", 3/4", or 1").

 

Prod - Item # 3yksp Price $ 1.80/pair

 

 

Hardware Price List

Full Set

Staple

Ring

Calabash

Sizes

Width

Item#3ykhd

Item#3ykst

Stem Length

Item#3ykrg

Item#3ykkp

Training

4-5"

$30.00

15.00

5" +

10.00

15.00

Small

6-7"

36.00

17.00

7" +

14.00

18.00

Medium

8-10"

44.00

22.00

10" +

14.00

18.00

Large

11-14"

47.00

25.00

14" +

14.00

18.00

 

Add $8.00 for forge welding, and $5.00 for ex-heavy 5/8" stock.

 

 

 

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Bows

Yokes | Hardware | Bows

 

 

 

Ox - Bows: Standard or Oval Shapes

 

-- by Tillers

 

For your animals to work well, they need well fitted bows. If too narrow,

they pinch the neck as they slide back; if too wide, they bruise the shoulders

as the oxen step forward into loads. Tillers makes them in 1 inch increments

from 4 to 14 inches wide (inside opening width). They come in three options:

Standard, Oval, and Unfinished. They are made of steam bent White Oak, Ash, or

Hickory according to availability. Diameters of stock is listed. There is an

added fee for increasing the diameter of stock because of the added difficulty

of bending heavier stock into smaller radius.

 

- Standard bows are bent in "U" shape with parallel sides. These are

great for easy depth adjustment and are preferred by most teamsters in New

England.

 

- Oval Shaped bows were common historically when cattle were perhaps

thinner in the neck. The bow holes in the beam must be angled toward each other

at the top. This limits the depth adjustment of the bows as they bind when they

are pushed upward.

 

- Unfinished Bows, We steam bend bows before finishing the rounding of

the stock. If you have a spoke shave and a little time, this option can save

you money.

 

- Bark left on Hickory was a historical means of bending bows without

steam. The bark on green hickory sap wood kept the bend from fraying. These

bows are prized for their historical authenticity. Yet, we have had to drop

this option because we can not succeed keeping the bark on at a reliable rate.

 

Prod - See "Bows Price List" below, Item # 4ykbw.

 

 

Bows Price List (per pair)

 

Stock Diameters Standard

Bend Oval

Bend Unfinished

Std. Bend

Bow

Width Item#

4bwsd Item#

4bwov Item#

4bwuf

4" 1.00" 30.00 36.00 18.00

5" 1.25" 35.00 42.00 23.00

6" 1.50" 40.00 48.00 27.00

7" 1.50" 42.00 51.00 28.00

8" 1.75" 46.00 55.00 31.00

9" 1.75" 48.00 58.00 33.00

10" 1.75" 50.00 60.00 35.00

11" 2.00" 60.00 72.00 45.00

12"

2.00"

60.00

72.00

45.00

13" 2.00" 70.00 84.00 55.00

14" 2.00" 75.00 89.00 60.00

 

For increasing stock diameters by 1/4" add $14.00 per pair.

 

 

 

 

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Copyright 1998 Tillers International

5239 South 24th Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49002

Call Tillers (Dick Roosenberg, Director) at 616/344-3233 or 1-800/498-2700.

Send email to TillersOx (AT) aol (DOT) com URL - http://www.wmich.edu/tillers/

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