with this blog I am proposing to make a series describing each tool and its uses. not necessarily in the order that you would use them…
One of the most ubiquitous tools of the green woodworker is the Shaving horse. every region has a different “take” on it. And indeed every person who ever made one made it a little different than all of the others from his area. You may have seen pictures of mine, both before and after it’s rebuild.
(before during and after)
and then the fold up ones I made for the stool class:
but like I said , there are dozens of designs:
I have drawn 17 of them here and I add a new one every time I come across one.
They all essentially do the same thing, hold a piece of rough wood still so that you can use a tool to shape and smooth it. In back there is a bowl horse for holding a bowl blank, in front (center white one) there is one for holding broom handles only.
What they have in common is the foot operated clamping head that holds the part in place. And a “table” to hold the wood up high enough to make sure the tool (like a drawknife) is up clear of your knees so you don’t cut yourself.
You can purchase plans for one, or you can find several plans posted to the internet that you can access for free. Or you can just cob your own together from what you can find so that it works! which is what I did, mind you I read “The Woodwright’s Shop” and there are shaving horses in “the Foxfire Book” series before I dove into it. My very first try was made out of willow and it didn’t work very well. I used a “dumbhead” type of construction. where the head and the pivoting limb are carved out of one piece of wood.
I still have the head:
but the limb broke off fairly soon. Willow was not strong enough, it carves easily though.
the one I’ve used for decades was made from beech and oak barn beams.
I like a working seat @ 21″ off the ground, and a riser @ 5″ at the front of the table. and I angle the legs out @ 20 degrees
Sometimes I think a long seat is wasted space and sometimes I am convinced it is good for long stuff and for doing a little chopping on. Although I do recommend you make a hacking stock for most of your chopping needs.
In use, you sit on it, put your piece of wood under the head, press away from you on the foot pedal, and pull the drawknife or spokeshave toward you. If you don’t brace your foot on the ground. then the harder you pull the harder you push, the harder you clamp.
But sometimes a piece slips and you want a wood bib so that you don’t hit yourself in the gut.
be well
K
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