Drum Lift Brakeshoes

This double drum lift used in the mining industry requires basswood brake shoes. Basswood is ideal for its low resin content.

Each drum caliper requires 6 shoes 11 inches wide by 14.5 inches long by approximately 3.2 inches thick. A typical double drum lift requires 24 shoes.

Once the wooden stock is dressed & completely squared up the end rabbits get milled before the curves are sawn.

Each 11' wide shoe is milled in two 5.5" pieces & is prepared for doweling with square peg keys for greater strength over round dowels. Again this process is done before the sawing of the curved radius of the shoe.

Each half shoe is weighted for matching density. As basswood can vary in density this is an important step to ensure similar wear across the face of the 11' wide shoe.

At this stage the radius curves are sawn on the band saw. The convex caliper face is sanded to the exact radius to fit the caliper while the concave wear face is sawn to the line and ground to a perfect fit once the shoes are installed.

Finally the shoes are glued together and oiled with Neat’s-foot oil compound for shipping.