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Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 1:09 am
by 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.
Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:31 am
by Ed in Tampa
robg wrote: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
Posted: Fri Dec 21, 2007 2:04 pm
by 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.
Posted: Tue Dec 25, 2007 4:00 pm
by 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.
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 3:24 pm
by 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.
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2007 5:18 pm
by 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