Complete buggy shafts and shaft kits come with all the wood components and hardware for the shafts. If you choose to include components it comes with steel tips at no extra cost or you can also choose a brass option.
Double bend shafts are for use on surreys and spring wagons. When assembled, the shafts coupler eyes are approximately 42”-43” wide. Shafts come with hold back strap loops. Singletree is sold separately. We also sell Hold Back Straps for Shafts, a necessary accessory on shafts. View Shaft Assembly Instructions
Need a little extra guidance? The book Wheelwrighting: A Modern Introduction Vol II has two chapters on an introduction to building poles and shafts as well as how to assemble them.
Specifications
- Length from the cross member to end of shaft tips: Horse 76”; Draft 88”.
- Width at end of shaft tips: 26”
- Width at eyes: 43”
- Coupler eye - 1" wide (made to fit our 1 1/8" opening shaft couplers)
Q&A
Question: How do I know if drop-heel or double-bend shafts are correct for my vehicle?
Answer: It’s a general rule of thumb that if the body of the carriage protrudes in front of the front cross spring, the double bend shafts would be required to give the necessary clearance to the cross bar when turning. A doctor’s buggy which has the body behind the spring could use the drop-heel shafts.
Question: How do I attach these to my buggy or carriage?
Answer: The hardware on the shafts includes a coupler eye. This fits in to our shaft couplers and can be secured in place with our shaft quick pins.
Question: What comes with the components set?
Answer: The components set would include all that you need to build a set of shafts yourself (wood shafts, cross bar, hardware, fasteners, and assembly instructions.) The Singletree and the Hold Back Straps are sold separately, if needed.
Question: What level of skill is required if I purchase the components set and complete assembly myself?
Answer: The assembly of the shaft component set requires a mid- to high-level of skill. None of the components have been preassembled and fitted. It comes with the steambent wood components, bent iron components (holes are pre-drilled in hardware with the exception of the singletree yoke and shaft wear plate), hardware and fasteners and you will be required to do the actual build assembly process.
Required work to be completed: Fitting and sizing of the mortise-tennon joint. Aligning and fitting the irons to the steam-bent wood. Drilling the bolt holes in the wood and completing the assembly with the fasteners and hardware provided. Trimming the shaft tail length to match the provided irons and profiling the wood as necessary. Assembly instructions are provided as a guide, however the complexity of the assembly is high and previous woodworking experience will be extremely useful.
