Shave horse, scruffy but it works.

[crosslandkelly]

Just finished the shave horse.
Now to find me a project.

 

[Mesquite]

Very nice work Colin, I can see you have loads of projects going forward with that

 

[Broch]

Tidy!

I find that using the frame without mechanical advantage (so with the pivot on the top holes) rarely holds the piece tightly enough but it looks like you have plenty of room to lower the frame and footrest.

 

[Sundowner]

Niiice job!!!

 

[John Fenna]

Looking good!

 

[bobnewboy]

Looks good. What is the opinion on putting a piece of leather under or around the top rod to help with gripping the workpiece?

 

[crosslandkelly]

Tidy!

I find that using the frame without mechanical advantage (so with the pivot on the top holes) rarely holds the piece tightly enough but it looks like you have plenty of room to lower the frame and footrest.

Thanks.
I'll need to have a proper play with it, then I can adjust to suit.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Looks good. What is the opinion on putting a piece of leather under or around the top rod to help with gripping the workpiece?

Thanks.
There doesn't seem to be any info on that, but I imagine it could help.

 

[Muddypaws]

Not scruffy at all! Very tidy job, and if it works well for you then that is all good.

 

[Robbi]

nothing scruffy about that mate, cracking job.

 

[Tiley]

Great stuff! A shave horse is something on my 'to do' list, so seeing yours is a further spur to my intention. However, mine will be genuinely scruffy, unlike yours! I've just got to figure out how best to create the long bit of wood from the trunk of a recently felled ash tree...

 

[Broch]

I've just got to figure out how best to create the long bit of wood from the trunk of a recently felled ash tree...

Yep, that's the difficult bit. In the end I had to give up using a froe because all our ashes twist in growth for some reason; In a 2m length the grain can twist by as much as 90 degrees. So, I reverted to chain-sawing them in half and, because that was an effort, used the log in the half-round instead of making a plank. Even using wedges and trying to force the split in a straight line didn't work. Luckily, I have plenty of material to work with

However, if your ash is straight grained then an axe and some wedges is probably the easiest solution. I find a froe quite hard work for logs over 8" in diameter.

 

[crosslandkelly]

Yep, that's the difficult bit. In the end I had to give up using a froe because all our ashes twist in growth for some reason; In a 2m length the grain can twist by as much as 90 degrees. So, I reverted to chain-sawing them in half and, because that was an effort, used the log in the half-round instead of making a plank. Even using wedges and trying to force the split in a straight line didn't work. Luckily, I have plenty of material to work with

However, if your ash is straight grained then an axe and some wedges is probably the easiest solution. I find a froe quite hard work for logs over 8" in diameter.

I had the same trouble with ash when I made a shave horse for my bushcraft group. Took a hell of a lot of work to flatten it with an axe.

 

[Wayne]

Nice shave horse.
I need to make a few more for the woods.