This is a photo gallery of a rocking horse I built for my friends new bubby. The design came from toymakingplans.com
You can find a bit more info about the rocking horse here.
Have you built something similar or another rocking toy? Let me know, I’d love to see some photos too!
First parts made, the rails.
Drilling dowel holes, both rails at once.
Lots of sanding involved,
The first test fit of parts on the garage floor, looking good I think!
Rocker support – glue-up
Trimming the supports for the rocker
Trimming supports.
The 4 body parts laminated together
Preparing to stain.
‘Maple’ stain. Looks better in real life.
The body with one coat, not over the moon with the ‘project panel’ I used, should have glued up my own panel myself.
I thought 8+ hours sanding would be enough. I was wrong.
A poor sanding job here meant the glue stopped the stain from absorbing properly.
This part was a bit of a fiddly glue up.
The rocker assembly.
Rockers glued and pegged
Oak pegs in place.
First project I’ve made without nails/screws. Dowel pegs fro the win!
I should have masked off glue areas before staining. Live and learn.
Sanding join parts for a better glue bond.
Legs being glued to base.
Couldn’t clamp them, so I put a long pocket screw through to hold in place while drying.
Instructions say to glue up this way. I couldn’t clamp them so I drove screws through from beneath.
Base and legs glued up.
Opening up the holes for dowel.
Then I removed each screw and replaced it with a dowel once dry.
Remove a screw and replace with a dowel, worked well.
I should have drilled the eye holes before assembling the body, would have been easier.
Tas Oak dowell for the eye
I cut the handle hole crooked! Bugger!
Very carefully cut it again with a larger bit. VERY carefully.
Pegs added to the legs to strengthen the joint.
All assembled but for the seat & handle.
Clamping the seat on.
Dowel in legs was impulse decision, hence the sanding and lighter shade of stain.
It works!
Very fulfilling project, great to make something that a child will absolutely adore.
All done, that’s it, goodnight!
