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132K views 92 replies 51 participants last post by  mafe 
#1 ·
or MaFe's version of the beast at least...

One wild shaving horse
or MaFe's version of the beast at least…

This is not a tutorial, just me playing arround.

Ok I know it, I have a problem with words, yes words, not horses - and even the fact I am retired not ten wild shaving horses can keep me of the wood…
I'll stop now! Not the wood the words I mean.

The shaving horse:
For years I have been looking at this fascinating work horse, at the internet and at museums all over Denmark and on travels, it seems to shop up all over and have a long history.


Here a traditional Danish one from the tool museum in Roskilde.


I made this drawing of what I wanted, or at least something in this direction.
(This version has a 'hold' placed on the bench like a clog maker's bench).


And here the full version with lathe and all the jazz.

The build is done now for the first part, and the shaving horse can be used now, actually I used it to build itself, the lathe will be added when I get the proper branch for the bow that I want to make or perhaps I will buy a bow for shooting, just for the fun of it.

I helped a friend to draw a new roof for his house years back and he offered me some roof rafters that was delivered extra, these have been waiting for a purpose, and here were a really nice one.

So when this summer began I began also playing around with the wood and slowly building the shaving horse that I dreamed of. Slowly for two reasons, one that my health do not allow me so much time with hand tools and only on the good health days and I had decided this should be build with hand tools only. Two that I wanted it to be a pleasure project with no deadline, just me and my tools, wood and sun. And so it went.


Here the rafters.
I made the layout with a square, chalk line, and a pen.


Since I had no drawing with measures I just planned as I went, marked what I felt would fit my body.


Tools out, this is an all vintage tools project, English planes.
Started out with a vintage saw also, but since my sharpening still is only a project I gave in and used a new handsaw.


New day new deal, trying to make the fixture for the slope.


Here it is about to be there, at least the basic idea takes form.


Here drilling with a wonderful old English brace.


The whole way through.


Slope is a reality, now I just need to make it able to be fixed.


And this I decide to solve in the top end with an adjustable version, so I can decide the height after the project.


Ohhh yes and there were time also for a BBQ.
Also you can see the horse resting under the parasol, now with pins and shaped adjusters for the slope.


And to enjoy the wonderful summer in Denmark, and every moment where my health allowed me to work.


Now another step or two ahead, the slope got a hold bar and I am working on the head.


The head are a cut in half piece of tree, you will see after, it is fixed with mortise and tenon joint so I cut a mortise in the head.


And fix it with a wood dowel.
Also first leg is now mounted since I as soon as the head was mounted I could start shaping the legs on the bench with a draw knife.
The legs are fixed to the bench in round holes that are hand drilled into the bench.


And here you see a gift from nature!
Yes that is just wonderful, I found this in the forest by a cut down tree, so I skipped my plans of a dragon head or the duck since this has natures own miracles included.


Made a V in the back end of the bench so it can be used for sawing.
Rounded all sides with a spokeshave.


Nice legs.


Time to play a little with nature, to help smiles arrive.
This side has a natural eye, so I add a nose hole.


Other side an eye and a grumpy mouth.


Time for a break…
My espresso machine went on strike, and I was in panic.
But it was only a plastic part that had gone too hot.
Yabadabadooo…
Nothing like a good espresso.

This will be a natural time for a break, so I will split up the blog here.
I'll be back soon.

Hope this can be inspiring to follow, and that it might lead others to build a shaving horse perhaps.

Best thoughts,
MaFe
 
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23
#3 ·
Sheer bliss. One man and his hand tools under a warm sun working with nature to the sounds of nature. It doesn't get any better Mads. Looking forward to the next part.
 
#5 ·
Looks like your making good progress. I want to build something smaller to shave spoons… Still working it out in my head…. Looks like your due a project to make a couple of saw benches or at least one to go with your horse.
 
#7 ·
While reading and looking at your drawings, it came to me that it would be "cool" to make the horse's head with big teeth to hold down the work and also carve the bottom part with matching teeth as well! Just a thought? Like your post and drawings.
 
#10 ·
That's a fine horse Mads. I know from my chevalet build the feeling of linkage with the past that fills you as you work on this.

On another matter, every time my espresso maker malfunctions I just take it apart and put it back together. I never find anything wrong and it always returns eagerly to service. I suspect they just have a natural need for attention…...........like the rest of us.
 
#17 ·
Great project, description and blog Mads. I'm a few weeks away from building my own shaving horse, something I've been meaning to do for a few years. Need to power up the chainsaw and slab some boards of elm from some of the dead trees in storage.

I've favored this, as you may have some solutions to problems I don't know of yet.

Thanks for posting.
 
#23 ·
Ahhh, thank you, I was thinking you could have pleasure from the info before you start the next one.

And thank you all for the comments, I do not know why I never came back to comment here, but now I do.
i think this one was one of my favorite projects since I started this woodworking travel.
Big size timber, vintage tools, summer, garden, smell of wood and nature and ofcourse BBQ.
Best thoughts,
Mads
 
#24 ·
One thing, Paul. The way I learned that old adage about the bird and the worm goes a little differently.

The early bird catches the worm; which only goes to show the worm should have stayed in bed longer.

As for the shaving horse, I can just imagine the time spent communing with Nature, and with the wood. What a functional, and beautiful, piece of work!
 
#25 ·
Thank yo a lot.
You just took me down memory lane.
&
Ha ha ha, big smile here. - I like to sleep late. ;-)

Furniture Chair Wood Comfort Interior design

It was the first tool, that moved into my workshop, back in 2012.

Wheel Tire Flowerpot Plant Window

It's become a signature for the workshop, a basket of flowers and the shaving horse, when I meet people from the area, they often say; ahhh it's the place with the beautiful bench and the flowers.

Bicycle Wheel Tire Snow Building

Winter.

Tire Wheel Vehicle Automotive lighting Automotive tire

Summer with my Vespa.

Plant Flower Flowerpot Houseplant Artificial flower


Many meals, beers and coffees have been enjoyed there.

Window Plant Automotive lighting Car Shade

Most of the time, I look from inside and some days the view is better than other.
Here my dream car had parked in front of my workshop one day.

Window Car Vehicle Standing Automotive lighting

But of all times, this is my favorite image of it, to old people took a break on it and I was lucky to be there.
 

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#26 ·
Bicycle Wheel Tire Bicycles--Equipment and supplies Plant

Today at the workshop, little Sonja came by with her mother (they live in the building), to borrow the shaving horse for a short break. Sonja come every day and sit at it, to see if I'm there and sometimes have a chat or an ice cream.
That shaving horse could tell many stories, if it could talk. <3
 

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