I decided to take ice fishing a little more seriously last year, and I bought all of the equipment. After throwing it out there on some Facebook ice fishing groups, I received a lot of replies of "you have to build a Smitty Sled". Needless to say, I started to investigate what a Smitty Sled is all about. I found your video on line, and I decided that was the way to go. I built it last fall following all you directions, and wow I used it a few times and it worked fantastic. Thanks for the great video on how to build it. I'm going to make new 2x4 cross members about 4 feet long, and that way I can put my shanty beside my sled for more room in side of it.
Wow, I've watched most Smitty Sled videos and this was the most comprehensive on the design. Good info on the making the slat holes larger than the carriage bolts and on using caulk to prevent spring time warping from below. Building my first sled now. Thanks for the tips!
Pulled my otter on the river the other day, worst pull ever. Been watching vids to find the right concept. Glad I found this video. Thanks from Minnesota
I like this setup. I am going to make it the same way but have two sets of top boards. One set for my hole hoping sled and one set for my flip over ice shanty.
I just followed your directions exactly and finished the sled but haven’t had a chance to try it out. I really like the detail you put into this. I finished the wood with a primer and an oil based black enamel paint. Do you think that the wood will still swell with water with the enamel paint? Thank you so much for this project.
FYI, downhill skis are wider and have that type of binding. Also having the grain going the other way on your 2x10 will reduce the likelihood of that little piece busting off from the torque of the 2x4 twisting in the joint.
@@hardwaterfreaks1828 Sorry ai didn't read. And I disagree (and every woodworker would too), it will crack along the grain of the wood much easier than against the grain. The broken piece you showed at the beginning, was that grain orientated the same. Wood always breaks with the grain.
Great video Max, I appreciate the insight. It seems as though the 1/2” holes I drilled in 2x10 aren’t totally vertical and my bolts go in but are quite tight. Any suggestions on how to improve for the ideal loose fit. Any insight would be much appreciated, thanks!
So the screws that are in the upright tabs are to prevent cracking? Also...the caulk is that ran all the way around the uprights? Thanks for the vid!! What about using powder skis that have a larger tip to get up and over the snow?
The screws that go down into the upright from the top help strengthen the verticals so they don’t crack off. Caulk all the way around the edge where the upright meets the ski. All skis work
@@hardwaterfreaks1828 - gotcha. I actually did mount rope ends to frame so the force of the rope wasn’t all at the tips of the skis, but I did run the rope through a hole I made in the tips.
Great video Max! Did you also use 4 inch deck screws up through the bottom also? I will be building mine. I thought I was going to have a heart attack last year dragging all my crap out. Thanks!
Any creative, minimal design idea on adding wheels? either esily flip up or taken on/off? For those of who go solo and or need to do some treking on paved surface to the lake? so to not scratch up the sled or skies.?
@@hardwaterfreaks1828 Yeah... I thought of the other way around... instead of trying to add wheels, I thought about trying to add skis to a cart with wheels.
I use all treated. I caulk where the wood meets ski to stop water from getting underneath. I then let it dry, let the wood dry, then paint it to pretext the wood from future issues of absorption. Yes, the fish bite better with painted wood
Took mine out with your design... All worked out except on ski folded under the sled and bent the lag. On lag blew out of the side of the upright. I think i have too much side play.... Any suggestions?
You’d be the first person I’d know of who had this happen evwr. Not sure if it was a weak spot or you just do happened to drill too close to the side wall of the wood
Read the description of the video. I corrected myself. We had just built multiple cross country sets so I had been thinking these were too without actually looking at them 😂😂😂
So apparently you made the wrong choice on cross country skis. Not only are cross country skis thinner than downhill, cross country skis are actually made to not want to slide backwards. To give good forward motion as apposed to rearward motion.
I’m a better skier than you. I corrected myself in the description. The set before we did this was cross country. My mistake. I’m also a better skier than you
Ok guy, but those are clearly downhill skis, not cross country. Down hill skis have a metal edge and are thicker which is what you need. I'm only commenting on this because you've got people buying the wrong skis!
I decided to take ice fishing a little more seriously last year, and I bought all of the equipment. After throwing it out there on some Facebook ice fishing groups, I received a lot of replies of "you have to build a Smitty Sled". Needless to say, I started to investigate what a Smitty Sled is all about. I found your video on line, and I decided that was the way to go. I built it last fall following all you directions, and wow I used it a few times and it worked fantastic. Thanks for the great video on how to build it. I'm going to make new 2x4 cross members about 4 feet long, and that way I can put my shanty beside my sled for more room in side of it.
Hell yeah man! Let me know if you have any questions. Always feel free to follow our pages and groups on Facebook and Instagram
Wow, I've watched most Smitty Sled videos and this was the most comprehensive on the design.
Good info on the making the slat holes larger than the carriage bolts and on using caulk to prevent spring time warping from below.
Building my first sled now. Thanks for the tips!
Glad you enjoyed!!!
I’ve had a pair of skis in my shed for over 10 years for this exact project. Think it’s time to get it done. Thanks for the tips.
Get it man
I'm in the process of building my Smitty sled. This is by far the most helpful video about making a Smitty sled for sure.
Thanks man
This is the best, no B.S. how to I have ever watched.
Thank you for not fluffing it up.
Thanks man
Pulled my otter on the river the other day, worst pull ever. Been watching vids to find the right concept. Glad I found this video. Thanks from Minnesota
Glad you enjoyed it buddy
Awesome build. I appreciate all the insight throughout to understand why you’re doing what you’re doing. Might just have to go this route for mine.
Glad I could help bud
Great build! Thanks for sharing your experience with keeping it loose. Saved me a whole bunch of frustration. Awesome vid!!
Hell yeah man! Thanks for the feeeback
Nice design thanks. Have skis sitting for a few years just for this. Will do it finally tomorrow.. I hope!
Hell yeah man!!!!
Very nice...just about to build mine...thanx for the vid...best one so far for the guy who doesn't have a machine shop in his garage...
Heck yeah man! Lemme know if you have any questions
I like this setup. I am going to make it the same way but have two sets of top boards. One set for my hole hoping sled and one set for my flip over ice shanty.
Great idea man!!!!
I think that I’ve finally found the design that I want to attempt! Thank you for the upload!
Hey man! Hell yeah! Feel free to reach out via Facebook with any questions
I just followed your directions exactly and finished the sled but haven’t had a chance to try it out. I really like the detail you put into this. I finished the wood with a primer and an oil based black enamel paint. Do you think that the wood will still swell with water with the enamel paint? Thank you so much for this project.
I put silicone between wood and ski to prevent water from sneaking in to help prevent wood swell
Pulling from the skis and not the frame is the better thing. It causes less friction force as your pulling different
FYI, downhill skis are wider and have that type of binding. Also having the grain going the other way on your 2x10 will reduce the likelihood of that little piece busting off from the torque of the 2x4 twisting in the joint.
Read the description. I corrected myself. Also, the grain going the way you’re talking about causes it to break 10x faster hence why I do it this way
@@hardwaterfreaks1828 Sorry ai didn't read. And I disagree (and every woodworker would too), it will crack along the grain of the wood much easier than against the grain. The broken piece you showed at the beginning, was that grain orientated the same. Wood always breaks with the grain.
@@guitjolin wood worker here. Watch the damn video again. It WILL NOT break with the grain.
In the process right now ,what some great info ,need to make a couplechanges now probobly saved me some headaches for sure.
Let me know if you have any questions
Great video Max, I appreciate the insight. It seems as though the 1/2” holes I drilled in 2x10 aren’t totally vertical and my bolts go in but are quite tight. Any suggestions on how to improve for the ideal loose fit. Any insight would be much appreciated, thanks!
I tweak them by giving the bolt a tap with a hammer in the right direction allowing it to fit better
thanks for the video / great camera work Matt !!
Matt is a stellar camera man!
Nice video! Picked up 190 cm skis today. I have a 66" sled. Should I make the gap between the mounts 16"?
I keep the gap the same so it works for every sled
@@hardwaterfreaks1828 10-4 Thanks...Tight lines 🎣
Would there be any issue making it wider by 1-2 ft? My thought is putting my shelter next to the sled
So the screws that are in the upright tabs are to prevent cracking? Also...the caulk is that ran all the way around the uprights? Thanks for the vid!! What about using powder skis that have a larger tip to get up and over the snow?
The screws that go down into the upright from the top help strengthen the verticals so they don’t crack off. Caulk all the way around the edge where the upright meets the ski. All skis work
Does running the 4” deck screw add strength? Great video man. Starting mine really soon. 👍
Big time!!!!
Why not tie rope to tips of skis? Seems like it would steer better for turns? Thoughts? I'm making one now!
Seems that way hur completely unnecessary and actually pulls the skis together more than when you tie to frame
@@hardwaterfreaks1828 - gotcha. I actually did mount rope ends to frame so the force of the rope wasn’t all at the tips of the skis, but I did run the rope through a hole I made in the tips.
Great video Max! Did you also use 4 inch deck screws up through the bottom also? I will be building mine. I thought I was going to have a heart attack last year dragging all my crap out. Thanks!
Yessir!!!! Super easy. If you have a counter sink tool use it in the bottom of the sled just a tiny bit
Do you think making the cross-boards longer (hang over) each side will work. If i use my small sled need more room for the pop up.
We have some like that and it works just fine
Any creative, minimal design idea on adding wheels? either esily flip up or taken on/off? For those of who go solo and or need to do some treking on paved surface to the lake? so to not scratch up the sled or skies.?
Ive never done it but when I’ve needed to I’ve used a foldable wagon from Walmart
@@hardwaterfreaks1828 Yeah... I thought of the other way around... instead of trying to add wheels, I thought about trying to add skis to a cart with wheels.
Thanks for the info that is an amazing build. It will definitely be a project for me and the little man one day.
Heck yeah man! It’s actually a lot of fun building them because there are hundreds of ways to do it and you can customize it all you want
I assume that is all treated wood? or does that not matter if painted etc?
I use all treated. I caulk where the wood meets ski to stop water from getting underneath. I then let it dry, let the wood dry, then paint it to pretext the wood from future issues of absorption. Yes, the fish bite better with painted wood
And the first pair of skis you tear apart are downhill, not cross country skis. Cross country skis don't attach in the rear of the boot.
Don’t care. Both work great
Could u make a parts list?
Omg, dude, never let that guy use your tools again. What a slap-happy wood butcher! Otherwise nice build.
Took mine out with your design... All worked out except on ski folded under the sled and bent the lag. On lag blew out of the side of the upright. I think i have too much side play.... Any suggestions?
You’d be the first person I’d know of who had this happen evwr. Not sure if it was a weak spot or you just do happened to drill too close to the side wall of the wood
Cool! Are the lag bolts, eye bolts stainless?
These ones were yes
Awesome boys great ideas help me to make a bitchin one. Peace tight lines!!!
👍👍👍👍👍
Those Olin skis are Downhill not X-Country.
Read the video description bud
Exactly cross country skis are narrower and do not a hill clip
It looks like you are in WI. I am in Eagle River. I’ll pay you $100 over costs to build me one of these
We actually build them for like $80
@@hardwaterfreaks1828 thanks for the reply! How can I get one?
Those are down hill skis. Cross country are narrow
Doesn’t matter. Both work equally
Sweet I got a new project
Heck yeah man! Super simple too!!!
Totally i can whip this thing out on my lunch at work lol
those are downhill skies
Read the description of the video. I corrected myself. We had just built multiple cross country sets so I had been thinking these were too without actually looking at them 😂😂😂
So apparently you made the wrong choice on cross country skis. Not only are cross country skis thinner than downhill, cross country skis are actually made to not want to slide backwards. To give good forward motion as apposed to rearward motion.
Both work great
I’m a skier what he used were downhill skis not cross country skis
I’m a better skier than you. I corrected myself in the description. The set before we did this was cross country. My mistake. I’m also a better skier than you
Ok guy, but those are clearly downhill skis, not cross country. Down hill skis have a metal edge and are thicker which is what you need. I'm only commenting on this because you've got people buying the wrong skis!
False. Name the people who bought the wrong skis. Both kinds of skis work equally as good.
check it b4 u wreck it
Lol
*downhill skis.
Yup we corrected ourselves in the description. Thought had grabbed the downhills as that’s what we had the most of that day hahah