My $15.00 shaving horse
I always liked the idea of having a shaving horse. A few years back I built a set of windsor dining chairs and shaved the spindles with my draw knife and spokeshaves. Back then I didn't have a shaving horse so I ended up using my woodworking vise to get the job done. While the vise worked, I knew that using a shaving horse would be a lot more comfortable and a lot more fun. I've seen shaving horses for sale on different websites but the problem was that they were over $500 a piece. I knew that wasn't going to fly so I had to make my own.
Then one day I ran across an article Brian Boggs did for Fine Woodworking. The shaving horse he made was simple and straight forward to make. Right then I knew I had my plans. The one problem that I saw was that he used 2" thick material to make his. I wasn't about to splurge big money on 2" thick ash or maple so I decided to make mine out of good ole southern yellow pine.
I went to Lowes and picked out two pieces of 2x10x8's that were as clean as possible without any knots. Total cost was $14.73. While Fine Woodworking showed "plans" for the horse, they weren't exactly what one would call plans. They didn't go into great detail about how to actually build the horse and a lot of detailed measurements weren't even given. So I just eyeballed where I thought edges should be and built the horse as close as possible to Brian's.
Building the horse wasn't complicated at all and it only took me a weekend to make. I milled the body out, shaped the back legs and made an extra long front leg. The nice thing about using a 2x10 is that you can cut both back legs out of one piece that's 21"long. Once the back legs were installed, I leveled them with a compass and shaped the feet so they would sit flat on the floor. Then I took the front leg and leveled the horse, marked where the top of the leg ends and trimmed it flushed.
The only caveat of using 1 1/2" stock as opposed to full 2" stock is that the head becomes narrower. Brian's bench head is 5 1/2" wide due to the fact that he had three 2" wide boards glued together. My bench head could only be 4 1/4" wide due to three 1 1/2" pieces glued together. Fortunately I don't think that's a big concern due to the fact that mostly what I'll be shaving are spindles.
The one thing I did differently from the plan was that Brian used a bicycle tire tube to act as a spring for the key. I didn't have an old tube lying around and didn't feel like buying a new one so I ended up using a big fat rubber band instead. While it works, I'm sure the tire tube would work much better since it would have more spring to it.
I also just shaped the seat using a chair shave and spoke shave then sanded it smooth with a random orbital sander. Brian wrapped his with leather which gives his horse a real nice look. I did however glue a piece of leather onto one side of the hold down bar so that the horse would grip the stock better.
All in all I''m very happy the way the horse turned out and I can even take it apart for storage or to travel with. Now I just need to find me some fresh cut logs to make a chair.
Comments
I just want to invest in a rocking chair needed for my rooftop. Which class of rocker could be described as perfect relating to the garden open space as well as excellent in case that i do in no way wish to bring this chair indoors over cold months?
Posted by: Danette Diruzzo | June 30, 2010 04:27 AM
Israel Montcalm
Posted by: Natalya Dalponte | July 1, 2010 03:48 AM
Pennie Minzy
Posted by: Frederic Pacewicz | July 1, 2010 03:57 PM
Trent Lapsley
Posted by: Teddy Vail | July 2, 2010 01:16 AM
Web Development has always been a passion of mine. I'm always trying to learn more and get better. Thanks.
Posted by: Stacy Menes | July 2, 2010 06:30 AM
Thank you very much for a interesting article. Good job!
Posted by: yourown | July 3, 2010 02:03 PM
I learned a lot from this article. Appreciate it, Mark!
Posted by: Computer Desk | July 4, 2010 01:37 AM
Wonderful to read!
Posted by: Silly Bands | July 6, 2010 09:46 AM
Entertaining site. Many thanks
Posted by: Yoselin parrish | July 6, 2010 03:11 PM
I thought it was going to be some boring old site, but I'm glad I visited. I will post a link to this page on my blog. I am sure my visitors will find that very useful.
Posted by: Albert Grindell | July 7, 2010 02:11 PM
I just wanted to say your blog is one of the nicely laid out, most inspirational I've come across in quite a while. Thx! :)
Posted by: Maria | July 10, 2010 12:17 AM
hmmm i havent thought of it this way... good read though :)
Posted by: teds woodworking | July 11, 2010 05:48 AM
i must have been searching high and low at the wrong places but THIS is what i am looking for. thank you for this brilliant post!
Posted by: natural sciatica remedies | July 11, 2010 06:01 AM
i've been following your blog for a while. i must say your site is a good regular read - kudos!
Posted by: teds woodworking | July 11, 2010 06:20 AM
Pretty good article. I just stumbled upon your site and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed reading your opinions. Any way I'll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you post again soon.
Posted by: Kelsey Withem | July 11, 2010 03:32 PM
I found your blog on google.I would like to offer my site: [url=http://www.myacaiberryreview.net]Acai Berry[/url]
Posted by: Acai Berry Reviews | July 12, 2010 10:23 AM
This is an extremely good writing, everything is well put together, and this great blog post is very good included, I definitely will return, no doubt about that! Stay doing the good work, and motivate others to write in this fashion! Satellite TV for PC
Posted by: Jaqueline Bohmker | July 12, 2010 09:43 PM
Thanks. some fantasticinfo here, keep it up .I cannot really leave a more constructive commentas i’m a bit out of my gravitybut I will be checkingback here for further updates.
Posted by: รองเท้าแฟชั่น | July 14, 2010 01:34 AM
Do not disturb. Already disturbed
Posted by: Latisha Siglin | July 14, 2010 11:01 AM
This is my first time I have visited your site. I found a lot of interesting stuff in your blog. From the tons of comments on your posts, I guess I am not the only one! keep up the good work.
Posted by: Music downloads | July 15, 2010 01:00 PM
Hiya, Wherever was this website when I started blogging 4 many years ago?! Seriously this blog page would have decreased the volume of research I had to do as I went about my blogging lifestyle. It'd almost certainly also have assisted me to generate a sensible earnings sooner as well.
Posted by: LANORA | July 15, 2010 11:14 PM
I merely came across your website and wanted to tell you that that I've genuinely enjoyed reading through your blog posts.Many thanks for sharing this info ,I truly appreciate reading it.
Posted by: MARYAM | July 16, 2010 05:41 AM
Howdy, Exactly where was this web site when I started blogging 4 years ago?! Seriously this blog would have decreased the volume of exploration I had to accomplish as I went about my blogging lifestyle. It'd possibly also have assisted me to generate a reasonable income sooner as well.
Posted by: SANDY | July 16, 2010 09:27 AM
I merely found your weblog and wanted to state that I've truly enjoyed examining your web site posts.Thanks for sharing this data ,I truly enjoy reading it.
Posted by: THANH | July 16, 2010 11:11 AM
Wonderful to read!
Posted by: Animal Shaped Rubber Bands | July 16, 2010 11:38 AM
Well, if they'll make it like a facebook-twitter dating website, then this may be interesting.If you have time.Please enter my blog free online personalssite
Posted by: david love dating online reviewsdavid love | July 17, 2010 05:39 AM
Every day more money is printed for the Monopoly game than for the US Treasury.
Posted by: Antonia Burlock | July 17, 2010 01:30 PM
Hi and thanks with respect to taking the time to talk about this, I really feel strongly about that and really enjoy mastering more on this subject. If probable, when you gain expertise, would you thoughts updating your blog with more facts? It's really beneficial.
Posted by: ANGELINE | July 18, 2010 04:45 AM
This list is good. I bookmarked the site so I can appear back and look at each and every one. I searched some of the other blogs. I’m surprised you don’t have a higher page rank. I’m heading to make use of you as being a reference!
Posted by: CAREY | July 18, 2010 09:02 AM
insiteful entry. Appreciate you for taking the time to discuss this idea. I was looking for the facebook like button to add this entry to my feed.. do you have one?
Posted by: furniture stores sacramento area | July 18, 2010 09:05 PM
Thank you for a great post
Posted by: Rattan Garden Furniture | July 19, 2010 03:28 AM
That is very ridiculous but I in fact do think that it may possibly have some success. After all, they do have the proper userbase for this new venture.If you have time.Please enter my blog swiss army laptop backpack
Posted by: gary love laptop hard drive to desktop | July 19, 2010 05:38 AM
Hy ...cheers for the informative post .I'm really glad I found it on yahooKeep up the wonderfull work because I for sure will visit for updates
Posted by: cellulite get rid of | July 19, 2010 11:29 AM
Heard any good gaming jokes lately? this one's not really just about games but how does a geek rob a bank?
noclip
Posted by: Fungames | July 20, 2010 07:28 PM
Thanks regarding getting the time to talk about this, I experience strongly about this and really like mastering far more on this subject. If possible, when you gain expertise, would you mind updating your blog with more data? It truly is really useful.
Posted by: Forrest Tine | July 21, 2010 10:12 AM
Adding to my bookmarks thanks. Like your blog design too.
Posted by: Hello Kitty | July 21, 2010 01:12 PM
Tu blog es cojonudo....
Posted by: miramar | July 21, 2010 04:59 PM
I’ve found your blog on aol and I’m really glad about the info you included in your posts. Looks like thissites broken using IE6.
Posted by: merchant account | July 21, 2010 06:19 PM
I definitely enjoyed the post. It proved to be Really useful to me and I'm certain to all the commentators right here!
Posted by: Yoko Bachhuber | July 22, 2010 03:18 AM
Thank you for a great post
Posted by: Teak Garden Furniture | July 22, 2010 05:56 AM
The perfect!These articles written too great,they rich contents and data accurately.they are help to me.I expect to see your new share
Posted by: bad credit personal loans | July 22, 2010 06:24 AM
I have read few of articles on your blog and can say it was really interesting, thanks for sharing that.
Posted by: security training | July 22, 2010 06:41 AM