| Project by mot | posted 681 days ago | 882 views | 1 time favorited | 27 comments | ![]() |
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I’ve been documenting this build in my blog, and there are more construction photos with descriptions on my picasaweb album for this project. This horse is from the Family Tradition Woodworking Plans that I purchased from Lee Valley. There are a host of free plans on the web but none of them ever really sang to me until I saw this one. It’s been a big hit with the little cowboy that it was built for, Mot Jr. He’s found that if he rocks it hard enough, he can move it around the room. This delights him and terrifies his mother, both of which bring me joy!
Cheers, and have a safe and happy New Year!
Tom
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)






























27 comments so far
Douglas Bordner
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3415 posts in 943 days
posted 681 days ago
Gidde-up Lil Mot-teroo. Yee-haw!
-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.
TomFran
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2501 posts in 873 days
posted 681 days ago
You did an outstanding job on this, Tom. Beautiful woodwork.
-- Tom, Surfside Beach, SC - Romans 8:28
Grumpy
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14852 posts in 730 days
posted 681 days ago
Great work Tom.
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
john
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1161 posts in 1260 days
posted 681 days ago
Nice work Tom , That seat looks like a lot of work itself but i can see it getting used a lot. Great job!!!
-- John in Belgrave http://www.extremebirdhouse.com ....http://community.webshots.com/user/cranbrook2
Dorje
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1768 posts in 876 days
posted 681 days ago
That came out great!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
gizmodyne
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1658 posts in 969 days
posted 681 days ago
Great project Tom. I enjoyed the progress pics as well. The finish came out great. We need some action shots.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Bob #2
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2991 posts in 900 days
posted 681 days ago
The proof is always in the pudding.
That is one fine pudding M’man!
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
mot
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4901 posts in 915 days
posted 681 days ago
Thanks for the comments, folks! John, the seat did take more effort than most any other part on the project. As with all things, it was the first time I did many of the things on this rocker. First time for inlays, first time for the router trammel, first time for the seat bandsawing and shaping, first time on anything that rocks. There were some things I had to take into consideration that probably made this entire build about 3 times longer than it could have been. However, unlike many of my builds, I was sorry to see this one leave the shop. I really enjoyed every step of it. It gets a lot of use and I’m especially glad that it’s built so robust as there has been up to three kids on it, and there’s been some adult/toddler doubling with the weight exceeding 250lbs without a creak or groan from the horse. I creaked and groaned when I saw it happen, but the horse didn’t.
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
DAN
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6402 posts in 862 days
posted 681 days ago
great work TOM … you have a lucky young’n to get such a sweet gift.
Your horse will become a heirloom for his family, in twenty years or so !
Expertly constructed !
-- work from your heart and your spirit will live forever
Thos. Angle
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4015 posts in 841 days
posted 681 days ago
Let’er buck!! Good one Tom. It came out very nice. I still have “ol’ Red” which my grandpa made for me for Christmas, 1949. Assume it will be an heirloom.
-- Thos. Angle
Karson
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25279 posts in 1279 days
posted 681 days ago
Tom a fantastic Project. The young man will ride many a miles on him.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Lee A. Jesberger
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3709 posts in 858 days
posted 681 days ago
Tom;
Your project and your comments about your wifes concerns sure brings a smile to my face. You did an excellent job building that horse, and I’m certain it is worthy of being a family heirloom.
I’ll bet even Thomas Angle likes the saddle! LOL And if he likes it, it’s gotta be right!
Beautiful.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
rikkor
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11338 posts in 753 days
posted 681 days ago
Some little cowboy is going to be very happy.
Critterman
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545 posts in 689 days
posted 680 days ago
Looks awesome and strong…as you commented…this is one to be past down for many generations. Excellent work.
-- Jim Hallada, Chesterfield, VA
MsDebbieP
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14096 posts in 1039 days
posted 680 days ago
I can see your face as the adult-toddler took a turn! yikes.
Awesome Job. I can feel your pride :)
-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
miles125
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1414 posts in 884 days
posted 680 days ago
Now THATS a rocking horse! Great job.
-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""
TreeBones
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1558 posts in 902 days
posted 680 days ago
Great horse. I made a rocking dragon many years ago and no mater what this kind of toy looks like they will always be a big hit with the rider (and family).
-- Ron, Twain Harte, Ca. Portable on site Sawmill Service http://westcoastlands.net/Sawmill.html http://westcoastlands.net/SawBucks2/phpBB3
Chip
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1058 posts in 971 days
posted 680 days ago
Wonderful work and a great piece Tom. A true heirloom. Did you sign it on the bottom or anything. I don’t recall in your blog you saying you did. If you didn’t you should. Just on the bottom or something. I think your kids and their kids and their kids kids would really like that. Anyway, great piece and thanks for sharing the building with us.
-- Better to say nothing and be thought the fool... then to speak and erase all doubt.
mot
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4901 posts in 915 days
posted 680 days ago
Thanks for the comments everyone. Chip, I didn’t sign it. I’m not sure how I would. I might burn it on the bottom like you suggest. I was hoping to have a brand made. I called one of the custom places. I wanted to have a brand around a canadian dollar coin…they never got back to me. shrug I’ll sign it and finish the blog with it. Thanks for bringing that up.
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
cajunpen
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5970 posts in 945 days
posted 680 days ago
Great job on the rocking horse Mot. It really came out nice. I also like the comment that you made about your wife being concerned about little Mot moving around the room. Isn’t she a Doctor? Tell her to get the band-aids out and relax :-)).
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
mot
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4901 posts in 915 days
posted 679 days ago
I told her, “It’s a rocking horse…there’s been a few million people that have successfully navigated their use without the need for bubble wrap and helmets.” I got the “look.”
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
Blake
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2715 posts in 753 days
posted 679 days ago
Beautiful, Tom! I’ve been following the progress.
-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com
YorkshireStewart
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779 posts in 780 days
posted 679 days ago
Mot junior must have been over the moon with this gift. Oh how our creations beat all the plastic garbage sold as toys!
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems
Jiri Parkman
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602 posts in 691 days
posted 679 days ago
Nice woodwork.
-- Jiri
jockmike2
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7222 posts in 1125 days
posted 678 days ago
Mot, truthfully, who rides it more, you or the kid? Good job, looks like you put some hrs in. mike
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
bigpops0259
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195 posts in 1028 days
posted 678 days ago
Wow. Almost makes me want a little one around. but i’ll wait for grand kids, beautiful work.
-- Marty Ohio
GaryK
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9496 posts in 867 days
posted 675 days ago
Great looking project. I have a baby that’s going to be needing something like that pretty soon.
I’ll have to bookmark this one!
Gary
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.