Obtaining a smooth rocker curve

[robg]

Well I am no expert, but I have had great success with the band saw - when I am using wood that is not a little over 1 and 3/4 inch thick oak. It's hard, it's thick, and I had a lot of difficulty with it. I have made lots of great curves out of plywood and 3/4 inch boards of various types. This wood was just beyond my current abilities. I am sure the band saw can handle it, but it requried more user skill then I have.

The pattern of 1/2" plywood used with the router for the rails worked pretty well. A little bit of sanding later and I am satisfied. Not thrilled, but satisfied. I should have holes drilled tomorrow, assembly started by Friday and staining and fininshing completed over the weekend. Barring any unforseen huge difficulties, it's doable in the time I have left.

[Ed in Tampa]

Well I am no expert, but I have had great success with the band saw - when I am using wood that is not a little over 1 and 3/4 inch thick oak. It's hard, it's thick, and I had a lot of difficulty with it. I have made lots of great curves out of plywood and 3/4 inch boards of various types. This wood was just beyond my current abilities. I am sure the band saw can handle it, but it requried more user skill then I have.

The pattern of 1/2" plywood used with the router for the rails worked pretty well. A little bit of sanding later and I am satisfied. Not thrilled, but satisfied. I should have holes drilled tomorrow, assembly started by Friday and staining and fininshing completed over the weekend. Barring any unforseen huge difficulties, it's doable in the time I have left.

Robg
Now that you mention it I haven't tried cutting an arc in 1 3/4 oak with my bandsaw myself. The rockers on the horse I built were 4/4 pine. I would probably cut a pattern from ply and use a router with an edge guide bit in multiple passes to cut the rockers.
Glad to hear your project is moving along. Keep us up to date. And I'm sorry if I sounded a little heavy handed in my last post.
Ed

[robg]

The body is together. Legs today and finish tomorrow. I only see the flaws and mistakes in what I have put together so far, but I think my daughter will love it.

[robg]

Finished product:





Hannah's first ride:





Proper riding attire of hat and boots:



I know of a dozen flaws, but I think it came out well overall. I don't know if it's b/c the horse is especially front heavy in inch and a half oak or the curve on the rockers is wrong, but it would not sit level. I will add some weight to the rear to fix this next weekend. Other than that, the flaws are not something the (very young) rider will notice, so I will live with them. As you can see from the pictures, the horse's owner has years before she outgrows him size wise.

Thanks for all the advice you guys provided.

[Greenvilleguy]

Nice horse and nice rider. I'm sure she will enjoy the horse for many years to come and then pass it on to future generations.

[john]

Mistakes that we know of, that's one of the downsides of woodworking. Of course the upside is that often only we know of them!

I agree with Doug, nice job and a happy rider.

Cheers

John