Best wood for rocking horse?

[UNCLE_RICK]

Any one ever carve a rocking/carousel horse? What might a good wood be? I have a 1/3 scale stander plan (one front foot up) that would be the right size for my grand-daughter. I'll be painting it so color is not a problem. Will use oak for the rockers and base. Was thinking about poplar or aspen, don't want to use pine, don't want to deal with that many knots. Size of the horse will be about 27" tall and 29" long, body about 8" thick sise to side. Also would it be better to use "gorilla glue" or "titebond II"?
Thanks for any help, this will be my first big project. I've never done anything that required lamination before.

Rick

[squbrigg]

Rick.....why not use "select Pine", no knots. A little more expensive, but Pine works so well for something like this. What about Mahohany? Butternut would be nice unfinished, or Walnut. How old is your Grand-daughter? Cherry would also be a nice choice.....that wonderful smell, she'd love that. Then you could always use a little of this and some of that....what ever you have laying around, paint covers all, and depending what part of the hourse you need it for. Say a Pine body, Cherry legs, tail, and head.

Have fun with it son.....she'll love it no matter what kind of wood you make it from. Good luck and keep us posted on your progress.

Bob

[AlArchie]

Here's a site that produces kits for carousel horses and they supply clear basswood for their projects. If you have aspen more readily available than basswood in the sizes you need, it carves very similarly to basswood and is just a tad harder.

Al

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I have some aspen I brought with me when we moved from colorado...I carved a walking stick in one and found it chips fairly easily...I just sprayed with rubbing alcohol and seemed to do alright

[Jon Harl]

I'd think basswood would be your best carving wood. I'd glue up with Gorrilla Glue. Follow the glue instructions, glue on one side and water on the other, don't over tighten your clamps.

[Mryooper]

Originally Posted by AlArchie

Here's a site that produces kits for carousel horses and they supply clear basswood for their projects. If you have aspen more readily available than basswood in the sizes you need, it carves very similarly to basswood and is just a tad harder.

Al

Al where is the link? lol

[Fenton123]

Originally Posted by UNCLE_RICK

Any one ever carve a rocking/carousel horse? What might a good wood be? I have a 1/3 scale stander plan (one front foot up) that would be the right size for my grand-daughter. I'll be painting it so color is not a problem. Will use oak for the rockers and base. Was thinking about poplar or aspen, don't want to use pine, don't want to deal with that many knots. Size of the horse will be about 27" tall and 29" long, body about 8" thick sise to side. Also would it be better to use "gorilla glue" or "titebond II"?
Thanks for any help, this will be my first big project. I've never done anything that required lamination before.

Rick

Hi, this is my first post here, but after reading this post I thought I would share this link with you. Rocking horses UK. The Rocking Horse Shop. Makers of the finest rocking horses, rockinghorse plans and rocking-horse books.

I also am interested in making a rocking horse and have just sent for the full scale plans from this site (no, I am not affiliated with the site, I'm from Canada) and would love to hear any problems, suggestions, ideas or tips you may be able to pass along as you proceed with your project. I will also post as mine progresses. I intend to use ash for the main body of my horse (because of the straight grain and easy availability in my area) and cherry for the head.

[Robson Valley]

Best wood? Not in my plans but carvability or durability?
Aspen = poplar = expensive here, for some reason.
West coast yellow cedar (Xanthcyparis nootkatensis) runs less than $10/bf and it carves like cheese.
Harder woods would be harder to carve, obviously.

Softwoods (spruce, pine,fir) come out of the local drying kilns at 22%-24% moisture content. 2 x 12 will dry down to air - 12 - 14% MC in less than a year. Something that big, I'd like to whip one up from cheap wood as practice, first. Laminate with Titebond after extra drying.

[Buffalo Bif]

I'd go with hardwoods for a horse that will be used, poplar, not bass. Aspen maybe. Poplar shoulc be inexpensive, and paints nice. Glue- if your joints fit nice, titebond is fine, if your joinery is not so good, gorilla glue and some screws or dowels would be a good idea.

Anything that rocks undergoes a lot of stress, make it strong to make it last.