Thread: Timber for a rocking horse

I used to work in a little workshop for Don Metcalfe making rocking horses here in Northern NSW. He liked using camphor a lot for the grain and effects and carvability. We did a few red cedar, and they always came out awesome even thpough it was a bit more difficult to carve and finish. Silky Oak is great for carving and can be a really good look. Try and avoid hard woods. We avoided hardwoods because there is less damage to little toes and fingers if the wood is light. A not very often seen member of this forum called Clare does awesome painted RH's that are carved a treat. She is in Mullumbimby.
Clare Nicholson

The rocking horse classes near Canberra are at:
Grandfas Rocking Horses

The woodwork shop at kangaroo valley also has some nice horses on display that are good for comparison and are a lot more rounded and horselike than dew's plans.
Their website: Kangaroo Valley Woodcrafts: Rocking Horses


Mine is half built in the shed - did not make santa's sleigh!
Good luck
Dg

G'Day Bill,
There used to be a bloke at Pitt Town near Windsor on the outskirts of Sydney,
but according to the website he's moved.
He's been featured on a number of TV shows a few times.
I've attached both his new info & his "bio". I hope it helps,
Cheers, crowie

http://www.rockinghorses.com.au/PDF_...olcock-Bio.pdf

renaissance rocking horses australia rocking horse maker

Originally Posted by crowie

G'Day Bill,
There used to be a bloke at Pitt Town near Windsor on the outskirts of Sydney,
but according to the website he's moved.
He's been featured on a number of TV shows a few times.
I've attached both his new info & his "bio". I hope it helps,
Cheers, crowie

http://www.rockinghorses.com.au/PDF_...olcock-Bio.pdf

renaissance rocking horses australia rocking horse maker

Hi Crowie.

The guy you are talking about has moved from Windsor and is now, or was heading to the Hunter Valley.

My wife and I met him a few years ago when he was at Windsor. We were looking to buy a Rocking Horse and decided to make a holiday of it visiting as many rocking horse makers as we could in a two week trip from the Gold Coast.

Of the ones we visited, one at Dorrigo and another at Kangaroo Valley plus a few others that I cannot remember for the price and quality we went with the Windsor man.

We had to wait till it was made and we were very happy with it. At the time he also ran weekend courses after which you walked away with a Rocking Horse that you could claim you made yourself.

I had more confidence in him then me so he got the job.

I am happy with him.

Pete

Hi Star, I agree with Movay, Camphor laurel is a local timber that is cheap and easy to come by and it carves great under a chisel.
At the end of the day the rocking horse is to be painted so the timber is not seen.
The stand for the RH is a different story and you would need to make a good choice of timber.
Regards

The rocking horse shop where Anthony Dew is sell packs of wood for rocking horses and that is Tulip wood. Not sure if others know it by a different name but may be worth seeing if you can get something simular where you are.
The web site is Rocking Horses | Rocking Horse Plans and Accessories | The Rocking Horse Shop just for interest.
I built ahorse from their plans have a look https://www.woodworkforums.com/f174/c...-horse-143730/

I believe tulipwood is known as poplar in Australia. Has been difficult to acquire lately due to the matches and paddle pop stick industry moving out of Australia and a wasting disease which spread through the nsw crops.
Can't remember where I heard that though so it could just be rumor.
Dg