Darin Heltemes
04-30-2009, 08:42 PM
I just wanted to share some pics of our new implements. More than anything I'm just proud of what I/we have accomplished. The following implements I built mostly on my own, with the exception of the stones, which my friend James has contributed substantially. He also pitched in some time on the logs. He gets credit for being an all around helpful guy. You're a good man James! I also want to thank Kelly for lending me his pickup to haul this crap around! This whole project wouldn't have been possible without you guys!
The first image here is our new 12.75" log. It, like the next one, needs to be sand blasted and painted yet. I just finished today and estimate it weighs approximately 115-130lbs empty. Very stout...will definitely be able to take a good beating.
http://img256.imagevenue.com/loc370/th_47039_10_and_13_inch_logs_122_370lo.jpg (http://img256.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=47039_10_and_13_inch_logs_122_370lo. jpg)
This is a picture of both the 12.75" and our 10" logs. All the material is 1/8" thickness. Cost was about $50 each.
http://img252.imagevenue.com/loc128/th_47041_13_inch_log_122_128lo.jpg (http://img252.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=47041_13_inch_log_122_128lo.jpg)
Here are the first two stones we cast. The one on the left is our first and I estimate it weighs around 310. Second stone we cast on the right (you can probably tell we learned how to make a better stone by that time) should come in around 350lb. We used a 20" Slater mold. Next stone is going to be a 370-380lber plus cement circus DBs.
http://img111.imagevenue.com/loc621/th_47043_First_Stones_122_621lo.jpg (http://img111.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=47043_First_Stones_122_621lo.jpg)
Lastly, these are some timber Farmer's Walk implements I made by laminating oak. If I remember correctly, they're 5" wide, 6" tall, and 4' long with a 12" pick. We'll be using these at the North Dakota's Strongest Man competition to help protect the astro-turf floor at the venue. They'll get a urethane finish before they're finished.
http://img257.imagevenue.com/loc575/th_47048_Timber_Farmers_122_575lo.jpg (http://img257.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=47048_Timber_Farmers_122_575lo.jpg)
So there you have it. Hope you all enjoy!
Edit:
I also want to add a little trick I came up with for stone making. We dug a hole in the ground vs using a tire or putting the mold in a bucket with sand. The dilemma I saw immediately was getting the stone out of the hole. What I did was make something very similar to the Spud Atlas Stone Training Handle, but out of rope with a wider spread and with longer handles. The idea is to have something that you can place under the stone mold before you pour, so that when you're ready to take it out of the hole, you just grab the handles and lift. It works beautifully, except with one minor nuisance; the knots leave some small indentations on the bottom the stone. So, I'm planning on getting some 1" or so nylon straps and sewing them together. I think that will end up being a very nice and easy stone retrieval when using the hole-in-the-ground method of stone making. I hope that tip will help someone!
The first image here is our new 12.75" log. It, like the next one, needs to be sand blasted and painted yet. I just finished today and estimate it weighs approximately 115-130lbs empty. Very stout...will definitely be able to take a good beating.
http://img256.imagevenue.com/loc370/th_47039_10_and_13_inch_logs_122_370lo.jpg (http://img256.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=47039_10_and_13_inch_logs_122_370lo. jpg)
This is a picture of both the 12.75" and our 10" logs. All the material is 1/8" thickness. Cost was about $50 each.
http://img252.imagevenue.com/loc128/th_47041_13_inch_log_122_128lo.jpg (http://img252.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=47041_13_inch_log_122_128lo.jpg)
Here are the first two stones we cast. The one on the left is our first and I estimate it weighs around 310. Second stone we cast on the right (you can probably tell we learned how to make a better stone by that time) should come in around 350lb. We used a 20" Slater mold. Next stone is going to be a 370-380lber plus cement circus DBs.
http://img111.imagevenue.com/loc621/th_47043_First_Stones_122_621lo.jpg (http://img111.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=47043_First_Stones_122_621lo.jpg)
Lastly, these are some timber Farmer's Walk implements I made by laminating oak. If I remember correctly, they're 5" wide, 6" tall, and 4' long with a 12" pick. We'll be using these at the North Dakota's Strongest Man competition to help protect the astro-turf floor at the venue. They'll get a urethane finish before they're finished.
http://img257.imagevenue.com/loc575/th_47048_Timber_Farmers_122_575lo.jpg (http://img257.imagevenue.com/img.php?image=47048_Timber_Farmers_122_575lo.jpg)
So there you have it. Hope you all enjoy!
Edit:
I also want to add a little trick I came up with for stone making. We dug a hole in the ground vs using a tire or putting the mold in a bucket with sand. The dilemma I saw immediately was getting the stone out of the hole. What I did was make something very similar to the Spud Atlas Stone Training Handle, but out of rope with a wider spread and with longer handles. The idea is to have something that you can place under the stone mold before you pour, so that when you're ready to take it out of the hole, you just grab the handles and lift. It works beautifully, except with one minor nuisance; the knots leave some small indentations on the bottom the stone. So, I'm planning on getting some 1" or so nylon straps and sewing them together. I think that will end up being a very nice and easy stone retrieval when using the hole-in-the-ground method of stone making. I hope that tip will help someone!