The Christmas 2007 herd. (Another Rocking horse)

Hi Roz

Great looking herd of horses you got there partner. Very nice job on them.

Did somebody say patterns. Where could I get them? Thanks!

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

Great herd of brumbies there Roz. I like the designs. easy to see why they are popular.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Hello Roz,, And so you should get all kind of Requests, I have to agree They are a Very nice herd of horses. You’ve made quite a few children have a Very Very Merry X-mas or B-Days…Trully Lovely.. I have to keep my Grandchildren away from this site though (ha ha ha), I still have 8 that would fit right into the saddles of these Lovely’s (out of 18) but whose counting. Keep them coming I believe the love of horse’s is on an up swing….your brother in woodworking John

-- Your Brother in WoodWorking John, Pittsburgh , PA.

Wow, that is a herd.

-- Maplewood, MN

Hi Roz,

I can well understand the popularity of these horses. Yours are simply gorgeous. These will be around for generations.

thanks for the post.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

That’s cool. I’ve only built one so far. They’re fun to make.
Those look swell.

if I started in September… I might get one completed by Christmas – not an entire herd!!!
Love the “branding” idea. They are gorgeous

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

I found the first one took twice as long as the other. While I was figuring out how to accomplish the next step I also considered how to make it faster and easier because I knew I couldn’t leave any little cow pokes out and still show my face around family and friends.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

Great job! Where can I get the pattern?

Thanks for the post!

-- Bill, Florida

Just a lovely herd of ponies.
Does it get easier after the first couple?
Any hints for me re the fitting and finishing?
I want to do some of these this year too.

Regards
Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

What do feed all them ponies..lol my grandsons would be in heaven with all them wooden steeds to ride. great job.

Joey

-- Joey~~Sabina, Ohio http://sleepydogwoodworking.blogspot.com/

Here are my sources for patterns.
http://www.newyankee.com/index.php
http://www.woodworking.com/links_show2.cfm?CurrentPage=11&id=21
http://www.furnitureplans.com/
http://www.charmingfairwoodentoys.com/

http://www.rdgplandesign.com/EN/home.asp
http://plans.the3house.com/index.php
http://www.freewoodplans.net/
http://www.binkyswoodworking.com/

Hope this helps. The site I find most useful is http://www.woodentoyplans.com/

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

Here is what I learned along the way.
Yes, they do get easier as you do more of them. I did pick up a few tricks along the way.
The pattern does waste a lot of wood if you follow the recommended layout.
I made a pattern out of luan from the paper pattern by gluing the paper to the board and cutting it out.

I made the rockers in two halves and attached them using a biscuit joint and a strong back across the joint extending about 7 inches either side of the joint. I attached it with glue and screws. It does not show because the deck boards cover it.

I Paired up the rockers into sets and nailed them face to face. This allowed me to sand the edges if both pieces quickly and create two exact copies. Then I place those two rockers so they would be opposite each other when assembled. This insures that the horse will rock and not walk or wobble.

When joining the rockers I drilled holes in the top and bottom edge angled away from the joint. I installed finishing nails into the holes and used the portion sticking up as a place to wrap and tie construction line. The line maintained pressure on the joint while the glue dried. Small clamps work for this too. Once dried I removed the string and nails and attached a strong back as described. The resulting rocker will support an adult man.

I discovered that I would save time by gluing up a block large enough to cut the entire body from as one piece and the mane, tail and saddle center piece as well.(only for 3 piece saddle) This block should be no thinner than 1 7/8 inches for best results and 3” is best.

I discovered I could save time and prolific cursing by adding a block to the legs at the hoof. This made the pair of legs into a single unit allowing me to attach the horse to the rocker with two screws and not in the end grain. It also made alignment of the legs to the body and rocker much easier.

I made the boards that the horse is screwed to 3 ½ inches wide and placed, the leading edge at 7 inches from center (I think) on both ends. The other were 2 ¼”.

Make a jig as a guide to repeat the arch of the neck and rump where mane and tail attach to create the best fit.

Make a jig to hold the rockers with clamps while installing deck boards. Mine are 12” wide and has a right angle piece screwed and glued on each end to receive a clamp. This saves a lot of time. A wide base is more stable and safer for the child.

If you are cutting with a jigsaw cut slowly, it will save work and time later.

Have fun.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

Great links! Thanks.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

I agree with Gary. Thanks for taking the time to post the links!

-- Bill, Florida

Sawdust Joey.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

Roz

Love your horses they really look great. I will be looking for the pattern and will make some I have made about 16 little rockesrs maily for orders and one full hand carved rocking horse which I will post I must say there is noway I would be able to start in September and finish in December

You are great.

-- Nathan South Afirica

Nat,
South Afirica, wow that is cool. It sounds like your horses were a little more detailed than mine. You can really speed things up by looking for time saving changes in repetitive task.

Thanks to all of you for your committs. Terry

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."