10 years ago

[autobodyman]

I started this rocking horse project. This is as far as I got back then.
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My son and I decided we needed to get this thing finished and get it out of the wood shop. He started cutting out some of the parts and fitting them to themselves, and I started carving/shaping them.
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I started carving a few of the flowers and it took me about 40 minutes for each flower, there are over 70 flowers on this carousel horse.
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So I carved the different types of flowers and scanned them today. I'm hoping to have the machine rough out the flowers for me either tomorrow or Tuesday to save some time. I'm sure there will still be a lot of time in sanding and possibly drilling and installing shaped dowels in the centers. If this works I need 8 more out of boxelder burl.
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The board for the plan is 7" wide, 36" long and ¼" thick Aspen. I'm planning on double sided tape to a ¾" thick board, the flowers depth is 3/16".

The photo below is a picture of one of these done by another guy 10 years ago.
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He sold his for almost $4K, I'm not counting on that much for it but you never know.

Thanks ~Mike

[Deolman]

I like it! I can't wait for the next installment.

[autobodyman]

Got a bit more done on the horse project, using the carvewright.
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Ran the board threw my drum sander then just pushed out the flowers.
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More to follow.

[autobodyman]

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Still have to sand them all and drill and insert a section of dowel, but the machine saved me many hours of carving these all by hand.
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Worked on a few parts for the head while the machine was carving.

What do you think?

Thanks ~Mike

[autobodyman]

As with the flowers, there were 94 leaves called for so I had the machine carve those.
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While it was doing that worked on the head pieces.
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Got one side done, still lack the other side of the head. Sitting on the body.
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Sprayed with rattle can lacquer to protect the soft wood while I work on the other side, I'll have to lightly sand it before I spray the entire rocker with urethane when I get that far.

Thanks ~Mike

[autobodyman]

Got both sides of the head and tail done (except for the flowers on the bridal).
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my woodshop is a pit, after I get this done going to have to take a day or two and clean the shop.

Took it apart and fixed the gaps around the legs by grinding out the white filler I put in all those years ago and used some maple and oak epoxy, sanded everything. Son has almost all the parts cut out, laid them out on one side of the base, course they all need fitted, shaped, sanded and glued down.
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Some of the pieces laid out on this side of the body. The weave thing on the left goes between the dark colored wood at the back of the horse, I figured it would be easier to carve before having Son cut it clear out. A bunch of flowers missing too. Still a long way to go but I do think the tail and head were probably the hardest (course haven't really done these parts yet, so I could be wrong )

Decided with all the work son and I are putting into this, even if we do get it sold, I'd put our brands on it:
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What do you think of it so far?
Thanks ~Mike

[Gary Koval]

Autobodyman,
I only wish I had a fraction of your (or your son's) talent. Wow! Nice!
Gary

[Frederick_P]

This is going to be a gorgeous piece! What an awesome prop this would be for our photo studio. No doubt this will become a family heirloom.

[dougmsbbs]

I don't DARE to show this to my wife! She'd want me to make one too, and I'd never get even close to doing it as good as yours.
Real, real nice work!

[Capt Bruce]

OUTSTANDING! What more can we say. I think it's wonderful that the two of you are working on this together as well. Can't wait to see the final project all brought together.

[cestout]

I second Capt Bruce!
Clint

[b.sumner47]

I just figured this carving out,this is is the hood emblemn for the 2012 Ford Mustang.Beatiful work my friend. Capt Barry

[autobodyman]

Thanks everyone for all the nice comments. I got a bit more done tonight, still a long way to go but plugging along. Haven't gotten much done on the horse body yet.
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Woods used, aspen (flowers), mahogany (vines, leaves & trumpet flower) Walnut (birds, trim on ribbon) curly maple (ribbon), oak (center of flowers), boxelder burl (couple flowers)
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Sprayed a couple coats of rattle can satin lacquer on it, I will lightly sand all this when it's all together and re-spray with a satin poly.

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Slow going but pluggin along. Next is to flip this over and do the other side.

Thanks ~Mike

[JDPratt]

Are you designing your own templates and plans on those sheets? What method are you using? Incredible workmanship!

[Dan-Woodman]

Autobodyman
Great looking horse. Question --- Have you every applied Poly over Lacquer. I have always been taught that Lacquer will stick to anything , but nothing will stick to Lacquer. Years ago I tried putting Poly over Lacquer and it just beaded up.
later Daniel

[autobodyman]

Are you designing your own templates and plans on those sheets? What method are you using? Incredible workmanship!

The "Plan" was one I bought 11 years ago. I cut out the horse body (ash) with my bandsaw, and glued it up, sanded it. All the trim pieces are cut out on a scrollsaw and then carved, shaped, sanded and glued on. Some of the parts like the flowers and leaves required fairly large numbers so I carved one of each, scanned with the carvewright and had it carve those out for me.

Thanks ~Mike

[autobodyman]

Autobodyman
Great looking horse.
Thanks.

Question --- Have you every applied Poly over Lacquer.
I'm a body & paint guy, I've done that for years. Lacquer primer used to be the mainstay of the industry (now it's all 2 or 3 component stuff).

I have always been taught that Lacquer will stick to anything , but nothing will stick to Lacquer. Years ago I tried putting Poly over Lacquer and it just beaded up.
Did you use water based? I would think even water base would be fine if you sanded the lacquer first (sanding creates a mechanical bond). Poly is more impervious (chemical resistant) than lacquer. Almost any solvent based paint reducer will soften lacquer. I used lacquer clear because it dries fast, before I shoot poly over this I will lightly sand it all. It will act as a filler sealer for my porous woods (like the ash and burl) under the poly. On wood with porous grain I used to use a sanding sealer, it was lacquer based. I've never had any issues using lacquer under poly or enamel for that matter.

Thanks ~Mike
later Daniel

[mtylerfl]

Mike, I'm sure enjoying watching this project! I'm going to make my rocking horse someday. I hope I won't have to put it under a "Ten Years Ago" posting title, though! The two grandkids will be too old...by then, they'll probably want motorcycles. <grin>

[autobodyman]

Thanks Michael, yea the whole ten years ago thing might not work out to well for young-ens now, they'd be teenagers by completion ;-)

Got some more done on the carousel horse project.

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The "plan" called for a bunch of flowers on the horse body, son and I decided that even though we have the flowers all made, that we didn't like the look of it so we are leaving them off.

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Lack the horse body on the other side, the vines and leaves on the uprights (both sides) and the top of the rocker, ribbons and flowers (they are just laying there not shaped or sanded yet). Also lack the saddle straps and vine going around the front of the horse body (can't do that till I get the other side done so it all lines up).


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Closer up on the main body. Gettin closer, still probably at least 2 more full days of work, then sand and clearcoat the thing. Got a little busy in the Bshop so not sure when I'm going to get this finished for sure.


What do you think so far?



Thanks ~Mike

[gregsolano]

belongs in an art gallery. Really nice.

[Kenm810]

Excellent! ---- Beautiful Detailed Work!

[mtylerfl]

Mike, your work is simply stunning. Beautiful design details and quality workmanship all the way! "Impressive" is not sufficient to describe what you do - you are well beyond that. Thanks so much for sharing your photos and descriptions with us along the way.

[JDPratt]

Incredible workmanship. Wow!

[autobodyman]

Finally got it done, sprayed 3 coats of satin poly on it last night.
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To many pics, continued.....

[autobodyman]

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Just lack the ribbons on the pole now. The wife is going to keep it in her office for a month or so then I am hoping to sell it for around $4K (though that may be a pipe dream).

What do you think of it?

Thanks ~Mike

[mtylerfl]

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Just lack the ribbons on the pole now. The wife is going to keep it in her office for a month or so then I am hoping to sell it for around $4K (though that may be a pipe dream).

What do you think of it?

Thanks ~Mike

Mike,

I'm having trouble breathing, the project is so AWESOME! I think 4K is a bargain!

[Digitalwoodshop]

My WOW meter is Pegged...... Excellent Work !!!!

AL

[b.sumner47]

My God, Mike. I don't know if there are any words that I can say to you, about the Time that you have spent and the Craftmanship that you have shown to All. Thank You, Capt Barry

[fwharris]

That is a good start price.....

[JDPratt]

That price seems reasonable (maybe slightly low) to me. Especially if you target collectors of merry-go-rounds or amusement rides.

[SharonB]

Mike....I'd be happy to store the horse at my house until you find a buyer. You and your son have done an outstanding job finishing this masterpiece.