Ox Power Handbook by Paramananda das

Making the Irons

This file is also in the Cow Protection Book 1 PDF file to be found here

Take a three-eighths inch (2.3 cm) thick metal plate and cut it to the size shown in the drawing, about three by six (7.5 x 15.2). First cut the bolt holes. These holes are a half inch (1.2 cm) by an inch-and-a-half (3.8 cm) so that the iron can be adjusted back and forth to compensate for one ox stronger than the other. This gives a little additional leverage to the weaker ox so that he can pull on the load evenly.

Click on picture to enlarge

After these holes are made, then you cut two round holes for the rod that will hold the two rings. This should be at least five-eighths inch (1.6 cm) soft rod. After the holes are cut, then you bend the rod so that it fits right into the two holes, all the way through. The rod ends should stick out the other side of the plate.

Before you insert the rod into the holes, you have to make the rings. As you see in the drawing, there are two different size rings. The smaller one is heavier, made out of a five-eighths inch (1.6 cm) rod and is used for the chain that you use to pull your loads. The thicker ring for the chain fits through the thinner ring. The larger ring can be half inch (1.2 cm) rod since it doesn't take very much stress. (Remember, the larger ring is thinner and the smaller ring is thicker.)

After putting the two rings onto the bent rod, insert the bent rod into the two holes in the plate and weld them. Weld on both sides of the plate all around the rod and then whatever is sticking out beyond the weld on the bottom of the plate, cut it off and grind it smooth.