Thread: Making a rocking horse

Jim,

Camphor laurel is a good option. Not sure how strong it is but I am sure it is OK. It will look beautiful too.

There is no advantage making the head in 1 piece. It is actually harder carve the head out of a big block.

Cross cut the short side of the joint on a table saw. Set the blade to 5 degrees for the front legs. Make sure you set the blade height to cut to the lower point of the bevel and finish the cut with a hand saw.

Now cut the long side on a bandsaw and make sure you make the cut at least 1mm on the waste side of the line.

G'day Wongo,

Keep it coming, this is beaut.

Originally Posted by Waldo

In the third shot there, what's the writing say on the timber there, Silly Wong, Willy Wong or something?

Now now, Waldo that's no way to talk about Scott's daughter Emily

In Dew’s book, he attaches the legs to the lower body block without cleaning up the cut by the bandsaw. 4 years ago I would just accepted it and do it because I did not have the skill nor did I have the tools. But now I think I can do a little bit better.

The pictures will tell you how.

Tomorrow I will attach the legs to the lower body block.

G'day Wongo,

Oops, apologies Emily.

naughty boy Waldo.

Just keep going Waldo until I tell you to stop.

Originally Posted by Wongo

Just keep going Waldo until I tell you to stop.

OK Scott
that's long enough, he thought he was teasing you, you silly.
He didn't realise it was Emily's name.

That is some impressive work Scott. A real work of art.

The legs are now attached to the lower body block. Use 3 screws on each leg and a leg muscle block to cover the screws.

Turn the lower body block upside down. Place the flat surface on 2 pieces MDF. Use another piece of MDF draws lines on the legs. This will make sure the lines are level with the lower body block.

Use a low angle plane to flatten the lower body block. Cut some grooves to break up the surface for easy shaving.

The horse will be mounted to a pair of hoof rails. So we need to cut the hoof notches.


Place the horse on a flat surface. Level the lower body block by adding spacers to legs. It is important to keep the rocking horse perfectly vertical.

The hoof rails are 7cm wide so we want to cut the notches around 6.5cm long. See picture 2.

The distance between the 2 front legs is 29 cm. The distance between the 2 rear legs is 29.5 cm. So the hoof rails should form an virtual block 30.5 cm wide and 7 cm high (see picture 5) to be able to secure the 4 legs.


Cut the notches with a hand saw and trim with a block plane and shoulder plane.

Cut the middle body blocks and glue them to the lower body block.