Help with snowshoes plan

[MercilessMing]

Our archery club here on Long Island has Snowflake league 3D shooting.  This year we have a lot of snow and we feel like doing Biathlon.  So I think of maybe get my feet on snowshoes and try that.  I would like the traditional style, but the price are kind of high.  If I want to make a pair for myself, does anyone have experience making their own and kindly point me for a good plan?  Thanks!

[jhg]

Not in any way to squash the do it yourself plan, but if you want to make a trad set of shoes winter may be almost over by the time they are done, assuming you have to work during the week.

I think making them yourself is a great idea, but just know it might take longer than you think. Using synthetic webbing will make quite a diiference in time. Don't cut corners on wood selection- go to a yard that has green ash available. Avoid KD or  even drryed wood if you can. Easier to work the new wood.

I don't have a plan recomendation- I designed my own.


Joshua

[MercilessMing]

Thanks for the advise.  I should have started earlier last year.  I will take my time to do it the right way.

[lisjak]

If you are in hurry you could try this:
 
Snowshoes on video are to long, but you can make shorter ones.
They work quite good. We tested them on our wilderness living scout school. You could look some photos in:
 http://picasaweb.google.si/mpejovnik  
 under ŽvN2, III.VIKEND
For traditional snowshoes you could look on:
 http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/winter/gear/snowshoes/index.htm

[Shaun]

Ming, if you can make a kayak you can make snowshoes. I learned many years ago from an old man in Maine who made ax handles (2 for a dollar) and snow shoes (15 dollars). He charged me 10 since I was apprenticing.

His method: Take a yellow birch 1x2 about 10' long and thin it near the middle to 1/2" with a block plane. You could use ash or hickory but it should be green not dried. Wrap a towel around the thinned area and pour boiling water over it to steam. Bend around a board form to make shape desired (like a teardrop) and nail in place. Next day pull nails and mark center line then saw around. This makes two identical 1x1 bows for the shoes. Webbing fill was made from rawhide and attached with clove hitches at the sides. Rawhide was from a cow hide tacked to a barn to dry then cut in 1/2" strips and hair shaved off with a scraper curl filed onto his pocket knife blade. Soak strips in warm water and they will pull to 1/8" wide very long pieces to weave. Two thick stays woven at foot area, the rest of the area filled like chair caning. When rawhide dries coat with shellac.

This makes a very serviceable flat style shoe. You could also bend up the tips but his were flat. Adjust size for your weight and use. Look at pictures of traditional snowshoes for pattern ideas and lacing. Good Hunting!

[pronghorn23]

I built a pair of Ojibwa style from snowshoe.com.

The kit is nice, instructions are a little confusing but I did mine in a class so we had an instructor to help out.

Very rewarding. Frustrating at times but very rewarding.

[MercilessMing]

Thanks again guys for the link and the experience.  I will check the yards around here first to see any luck to get the materials.  Or I may have to improvise for the 3 pairs for all my family.

[Jeremy]

I was going to post this link:
 http://www.inquiry.net/outdoor/winter/gear/snowshoes/index.htm
then saw lisjak already put it up.

Brushpile showshoes work surprising well and go together quickly.

[bridog]

I bought this book or a previous version of it, +-10-15 years ago.  Of course I can't find it...  I think I did one of those deals where I borrowed it to someone and can't remember who that someone was???  I did not ever get around to making a set, but from what i remember it was a pretty good detailed book showing the complete process with several different styles and sizes.

 http://www.gilgilpatrick.com/snowshoe-furniture.html

Good Luck - Bridog