Mike,

Looks like you picked a good one. Can't wait to see it when you have it completed. Wife has been after me to attempt one for the grandboys, but not sure I can handle the complexity right now.

 

Hi Mike

Looking forward to seeing your "Bronco" finished.

Enjoy the build.

 

Got started on the horse

The plans were delivered last week, but since I'm spending close to 8 hrs/day on a stage production (set making and lighting) I didn't have time to start until this weekend.

First thing I did was to joint, glue, and plane the head and body stock. They are made of 1" cherry that will be doubled up for 2" thickness.

I transferred the drawings to my template stock using transfer paper, cut them out, and got started on the head. Hopefully I can get the body done this week as I'll be working on the play set again this week.

The legs and rockers will be made out of maple.

 

Really nice project Mike. Your grand daughter will love it.

 

Mike that is really a neat plan. A friend of the family made one like that for my son. We still have it and he is now 23 years old. He loved it and he used maple and walnut for his. The maple really made it nice and strong. Looking forward to seeing it finished.

Corey

 

Looking good Mike,,,,,,, one can never have too many clamps.

 

Hi Mike,

Looking good so far. I agree with Glenmore, really nice project.

 

Thanks for the pics Mike and I do hope you will consider more so we can follow the entire process of this wonderful project. My day is near and I want to see what all is involved

 

Worked all day on the production set and lighting today so I didn't get anything done on the horse. Tomorrow is free, so I'll be in the shop.

Actually, Bob, this plan is very simple compared to others we looked at. The legs are held away from the body with some simple spacers. Others require a diagonally cut attachment. It should be finished well before Xmas.

 

Got the body pieces cut out and glued together. Can't have too many clamps.

In order to clamp the head and body together while gluing, it is necessary to leave a surface on the top of the head, parallel to the glue surface. To get that done I used the bandsaw to cut as close to the top line as comfortable. I then ran the head on the table saw, against the fence, to bring the joining surface true. The same will be done to the body. The extra stock will be cut off after gluing.

I'll be using dowels to connect the head and body. Picked up a doweling jig for that job. It's a Dowel-it brand made 40 miles away in Hastings, Michigan. If I can buy something that's Made in the USA, that's what I'll get, especially if it's made in the state. Very good quality.

The shoulder joints are small egg shaped pieces that go between the body and legs. 2 screws will go through the legs and shoulders, then into the body.

 

I have the body glued, and the top and bottom trimmed for the glue and clamp surfaces. I then drew a couple pencil lines to mark where the dowels will go. Transferred the lines to the glue edge, mounted the dowel jig and drilled the 3/8" holes. A test fit shows perfect alignment. Tomorrow I'll glue the parts together.

The dowel jig is a pretty handy tool. You can use it to make mortises if you use the drill and chisel method.

 

Looking good Mike

By the way I didn't know you had a OP router table


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You're not wasting time Mike, at this rate it wont be long before it's finished. I think that I'm almost as excited as you no doubt are to see it finished and am sure you will include a shot of Jasmine riding it.

 

I glued the body and head together today, then after several hours I trimmed the excess away and shaped the horse.

Next, I used a 3/4" forstner bit to place the hole for the hand hold dowel in the head. The dowel is made of some cherry scrap that I ripped to 3/4" square, then used a 3/8" roundover bit in the RT to make it round.

Using maple, I traced the leg templates I had made earlier, cut them out and shaped them.

 

The seat came next. After measuring the depth of the cutout on the body, I used the bandsaw to cut fingers close to the final line. Then the chisel took the rest of it out. When I had the length dimension for the seat, I was able to determine the final pattern for the seat. The plans had it rounded front and back, but I didn't like that, so I redesigned it to be squared off for the width of the body.

I got the centerline of the seat and marked the dowel holes. Using the drill press I made 2 3/8" holes then used a punch to transfer the places to the body, and drilled those holes. The seat fit nicely and I will glue and trim the dowels when I am sure I'm ready for that.

As you might be able to see, I was watching the Kansas NASCAR race at the time.

 

Now for the rockers. The available stock I have isn't wide enough to make these out of 1 piece, so I glue-line ripped the edges of the boards, traced my template to them, and cut out the top sides. That waste will be doweled and glued to the bottoms of the rails to give me full width. That will be done tomorrow or Tuesday.

 

Hi Mike
You are moving along, I am sure Jasmine will love it.

All ahead full steam,,,,,,, looking good!

 

I'm looking for a spot to mount a servo. Just for the hell of it.

 

Great going Mike. Are you going to make the horse a paint? I hope not a yellow and green paint!!!!!!!LOL

 

Maize and Blue..

M go blue!!!

 

OK Mike,, not a problem,,,,, green and yellow makes "blue"

 

I got to do some work on the rockers today. The play is taking up a lot of time, so the rocking horse is shoved in when I can get to it.

After gluing a wider board I cut out the rockers with the bandsaw, and am now sanding them to size.

I got a new cell phone with a camera so I don't have to track saw dust around the house looking for the Kodak. Looks like the pics are coming out ok.

 

Mike,

No matter what Harry might say, the photos are great......

Thanks for taking the time to set up this 'work in progress'
thread.

James

 

Hey Mike, the cell phone pics are great. So is your work. Keep it commin'.

 

"No matter what Harry might say, the photos are great...."

James, that suggests that I wouldn't be happy with Mikes project or photo-shoot, nothing could be further from the truth, this has to be one of the best photo-shoots ever on this forum, we can follow exactly how Mike is making this rocking horse, in fact it's so good that I'm sure there will be some members making these without obtaining the plans.

 

Time for the hip boots.

 

Looking good Mike!

Corey

 

Good morning Mike

Do I notice a vechicle in the workshop,,,,, us with "garage shops" have to have priorities

The rockers looking great, but has Bj not mentioned we are not suppose to use our table saw for a bench...

Moving forward and looks great, your place will be "rocking" soon.

Off to work, have a great day