Project by footprints | posted 11-23-2009 09:52 PM | 2242 views | 4 times favorited | 15 comments | ![]() |
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I’ve carved three of these for grandchildren. The legs are hard maple for strength and the rest is basswood. The mane and tail are real horsehair from England and add a lot to the horse. It’s is very satisfying to watch the hair being pulled out as the years pass – a sure sign the horse is being ridden.
-- Ray, Lakeland, FL
15 comments so far
RexMcKinnon
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2593 posts in 3160 days
#1 posted 11-23-2009 10:15 PM
Wow great carving.
-- If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail!
LesB
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1682 posts in 3407 days
#2 posted 11-23-2009 10:46 PM
Great job.
You have one wood working skill I seriously lack; carving. I just can’t quite get the 3D proportional thing down.
-- Les B, Oregon
lew
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12017 posts in 3720 days
#3 posted 11-24-2009 12:18 AM
Beautiful!
-- Lew- Time traveler. Purveyor of the Universe's finest custom rolling pins.
gmerteng
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122 posts in 3077 days
#4 posted 11-24-2009 12:21 AM
Nice job on the rocking horse. It looks like one of those carousel horses, really looks nice.
-- Mert,Oshkosh WI,
Loucarb
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2388 posts in 3410 days
#5 posted 11-24-2009 12:52 AM
Fantastic craftsmanship. Well done.
ND2ELK
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13495 posts in 3738 days
#6 posted 11-24-2009 04:14 AM
Very impressive! You did a beautiful job on this piece. Thanks for posting.
God Bless
tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
Loogie
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100 posts in 3744 days
#7 posted 11-24-2009 04:39 AM
What an heirloom Ray. Not just the carving, but the painting, leather work and horse hair too. You outdid yourself. Great Job!
-- Mark
nuzzo
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64 posts in 3081 days
#8 posted 11-24-2009 04:22 PM
I’m impressed. Something like this starts out as a woodworking project but turns into a work of art.
Really nice job.
Bags
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39 posts in 3476 days
#9 posted 11-24-2009 06:43 PM
Nice Job! I have wanted to try to make one of these for a while. One question – have you ever used a glider for the horse rather than rockers? What do you think the pro’s and con’s of both mounting systems would be?
OhValleyWoodandWool
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970 posts in 3085 days
#10 posted 11-24-2009 09:29 PM
WOW!!! Talk about an heirloom
-- "All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence, and then Success is sure." Mark Twain
footprints
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45 posts in 3073 days
#11 posted 11-24-2009 09:29 PM
Bags – I’ve made both types and have uploaded a picture of a larger horse that used swing irons. Swing irons, especially for large horses, are much easier on the floor plus little feet from the bystanders can’t get crushed underneath rockers as they jostle to climb aboard, too. If you do use swing irons, put a piece of teflon under the iron to prevent squeaking. Otherwise, the noise will drive you nuts after 15 minutes!
However….... there is something classic about rockers that I like and they are easier to build.
I got the patterns from a book by Anthony Dew called “Making Rocking Horses”. I believe he has a web site now. His address is The Rocking Horse Shop, Fangfoss, York, YO41 5JH, England and he sells everything you will need right down to the tiny stirrups.
Hope this helps,
Ray
-- Ray, Lakeland, FL
reggiek
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2240 posts in 3235 days
#12 posted 11-24-2009 09:39 PM
Beautiful job….I am sure the child who gets to play with that will truly enjoy such a work of art…...sure puts to shame the so called rocking horse plans in this months Wood magazine…If I hadn’t got a promo on that mag I would unsub….These mag project designers need to look in here to see what people are making and go from there….
-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!
Laserblue
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12 posts in 3210 days
#13 posted 11-29-2009 02:35 PM
wow, that’s not a toy. that’s a sculpture, a piece of art
-- Disturbing the peace since 1975--
Roger
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20923 posts in 2768 days
#14 posted 01-07-2013 01:07 PM
Giddy Up… Very impressive. I know some kids that are very happy.
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. Kentuk55@yahoo.com
sbuckle
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69 posts in 2002 days
#15 posted 01-24-2013 02:43 AM
Very beautiful rocking horse. I would love to attempt one of these for my grandchildren but I too am 3D challenged!!
-- Thanks for looking! Steve B.
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