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 698 days
posted 694 days ago
Man, you did a great job! Your son must be thrilled.
-- Tom, Southwest Florida
TomFran
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2509 posts in 886 days
posted 694 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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25794 posts in 1292 days
posted 694 days ago
Great Job Tom. A nice addition to the family.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Bob Babcock
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1808 posts in 978 days
posted 694 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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11338 posts in 766 days
posted 693 days ago
Nice horse there pardner! Great workmanship, looks sturdy as a horse.
MsDebbieP
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14159 posts in 1052 days
posted 693 days ago
awesome.
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Dadoo
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1725 posts in 882 days
posted 693 days ago
Wow Tom, that looks great!
-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!
Lee A. Jesberger
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3710 posts in 871 days
posted 693 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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1232 posts in 969 days
posted 692 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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63 posts in 714 days
posted 691 days ago
WOW !! This should stay in the family a long time .
-- Ageingwood - artsplae1@msn.com No time , retired