Well, Christmas was a big hit, but I had to put a few finishing touches on the horse. Karson was observant to point out that there wasn’t any place for the little rider to put his feet, it needed ears, and it needed some finish on it.
I mixed up some amber shellac flakes from Lee Valley in a 2# cut. Thanks Bob #2 for the math help on small batches. I was scratching my head a bit.
First I used Dowelmax to align the ear blocks and to centre drill the top for the leather ears. I drilled all the holes before the ear block was profiled. I keep finding more and more uses for this tool. As a doweling jig, it is unmatched in it’s precision and ease. I used it as a precision drilling jig for the ear blocks and was equally impressed with it.
A backer board was used to control blowout with the drilling process.
The ear pieces were doweled and clamped with through drilling, the step was added for security. I think I might add some friction tape to it. It depends on if he crashes too often or not. Two coats of amber shellac and we’ll see how it wears!
Thanks for looking!
Tom
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
10 comments so far
ErsatzTom
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103 posts in 194 days
posted 191 days ago
Man, you did a great job! Your son must be thrilled.
-- Tom, Southwest Florida
TomFran
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2329 posts in 383 days
posted 191 days ago
Wow! That’s no ordinary rocking horse. You did a fantastic job, Tom. That’s a beautiful piece of woodwork.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
Karson
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11544 posts in 789 days
posted 190 days ago
Great Job Tom. A nice addition to the family.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
Bob Babcock
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1809 posts in 475 days
posted 190 days ago
Tom, what a great project. I can see your son’s grandson’s riding this baby! Beautiful work.
I love my dowelmax too….takes precision to a new level.
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
rikkor
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6465 posts in 263 days
posted 190 days ago
Nice horse there pardner! Great workmanship, looks sturdy as a horse.
-- Maplewood, MN
MsDebbieP
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10975 posts in 549 days
posted 190 days ago
awesome.
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Dadoo
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1398 posts in 379 days
posted 190 days ago
Wow Tom, that looks great!
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
Lee A. Jesberger
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2035 posts in 368 days
posted 189 days ago
Tom;
Really great workmanship. Or is it workpersonship?
In either case, a smashing success.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Zuki
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632 posts in 466 days
posted 189 days ago
Really nice work Tom.
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
Ageingwood
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44 posts in 211 days
posted 188 days ago
WOW !! This should stay in the family a long time .
-- Ageingwood - artsplae1@msn.com No time , retired