Making a leather stitching horse ( updated )

Baron Conal · Post by **Baron Conal** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 6:24 pm

I guess this is good place to put this.....

I have a commission for a leather stitching horse
I've modified the plans to make it a break-down
pony.

I've got to add the metal parts and do the final sanding
and it's done.... Gotta friend helping with the hardware
for it.....

The bench is pine, the clamp and braces are red oak.

The clamp is 5 1/4" wide.

More pictures later....

Maeryk · Post by **Maeryk** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 7:20 pm

Stunning man, just stunning.

Kilkenny · Post by **Kilkenny** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:46 pm

That's a stitching horse, not a pony

And a damn nice looking one at that.

Distinction is a real one, btw. Pony is a stand alone clamp without the seat part.

Alexander · Post by **Alexander** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:52 am

Servus!

Now, THAT'S a cool idea! Now, I would need to pad the seat for my fat ass (at least for work that lasts more than a few minutes) but otherwise...

Got a tutorial? Could you impart to us how you did it?

Vitus von Atzinger · Post by **Vitus von Atzinger** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:32 am

That is so nice that you made this for my Christmas present.

Corey · Post by **Corey** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:37 am

That looks nice! Can we get some pictures of the mechanism.

Fire Stryker · Post by **Fire Stryker** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:54 am

Do a search on eBay for a title: How to Build a Stitching Horse.

AEiric Orvender · Post by **AEiric Orvender** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 9:33 am

WOW my complements on such WONDERFULL work... now I know what I want for my workshop!

Baron Conal · Post by **Baron Conal** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 10:12 am

the plans can be found here...

Farm Woodworking Book Online

if the link does not work let me know....

I redesigned the base to make it break down ( and simple )
and just read through the plans and used the info that was
transferable to the new bench plan...

This LINK is another forum and in that thread is a link to it also..

I'm still thinking about what I would charge for them if I made more

Baron Conal · Post by **Baron Conal** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 3:36 pm

Kilkenny wrote:That's a stitching horse, not a pony And a damn nice looking one at that.

Distinction is a real one, btw. Pony is a stand alone clamp without the seat part.

The guy that asked me to make it called it a pony,
the plans call it a horse... Thanks! I've edited the
prior posts to correct that.

MJBlazek · Post by **MJBlazek** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:00 pm

Next up, make a shave horse...

Baron Conal · Post by **Baron Conal** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:48 pm

MJBlazek wrote:Next up, make a shave horse...

Had one, never really used it... too small a shop in the last house
to keep it... left it behind in the move....Learned some stuff in the
process of making it... I'll probably make another eventually....

I needed to shorten the..... arm ( ? ) because the foot petal was
at an awkward angle...

Here is a plan for one....

MJBlazek · Post by **MJBlazek** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:15 pm

Thats a nice one!

I've got my eyes on this one at work...

It's actually really comfortable to sit in. I figure with that and a spokeshave I could turn out about 4 ready to be hilted swords in a hour

Jeff J · Post by **Jeff J** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:10 am

Very nice work. I'd be a bit concerned about the corners breaking off under load, though. Pine splits something awful. Have you considered reinforcing them with pegs or countersunk screws?

Baron Conal · Post by **Baron Conal** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 8:51 am

Jeff J wrote:Very nice work. I'd be a bit concerned about the corners breaking off under load, though. Pine splits something awful. Have you considered reinforcing them with pegs or countersunk screws?

Already did that. :wink:

Jeff J · Post by **Jeff J** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 4:24 pm

BaronConal wrote:
Jeff J wrote:Very nice work. I'd be a bit concerned about the corners breaking off under load, though. Pine splits something awful. Have you considered reinforcing them with pegs or countersunk screws?

Already did that.

Great minds...

Tor Magnusson · Post by **Tor Magnusson** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 9:39 am

What are those two "horses" used for?

Thanks

Jeff J · Post by **Jeff J** » Fri Nov 14, 2008 3:50 pm

The first one is used to clamp pieces of leather together when stitching them. You put the leather between the jaws of the upright clamp and step on the pedal which tightens the thong and closes the clamp.

The second one is a shavehorse, used to clamp a piece of wood while you shave it down with a drawknife. It works much the same way, except the pedal works a lever which clamps down on the work.

Baron Conal · Post by **Baron Conal** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 10:32 am

I've given the green light on one set of the hardware I need
for this and gotten some pricing info for the oak for the clamp....

Once I've put the prototype together I'll know where things
stand and if anyone wants one I'll know enough to quote prices....

( once that happens I'll probably ask for this thread to be
moved to the classifieds... )

318 views

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 12:36 pm

And although I don't drawshave much... they're godsends. I saddle stitch pretty regularly, and having that third pair of hands speeds up what is, from the modern perspective, already a slow and finicky process. (though I've yet to see a sewing machine match the best-quality hand-stitching, which is so tight it's waterproof).

AEiric Orvender · Post by **AEiric Orvender** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:37 pm

Russ Mitchell wrote:And although I don't drawshave much... they're godsends. I saddle stitch pretty regularly, and having that third pair of hands speeds up what is, from the modern perspective, already a slow and finicky process. (though I've yet to see a sewing machine match the best-quality hand-stitching, which is so tight it's waterproof).

A friend of mine here in Barony of the Flame (Mistress Bianca) recently gave me some of her husband's (he passed away several years ago) old leather tools, one was a "speedy stitcher" basicly an awl with a stitching needle that allows you to make lock stitiches very quickly and as tight as saddle stitches... I love mine.

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Mon Nov 17, 2008 2:54 pm

Yeah, I got started on those, and used them for about six months. Imho, they're crap. Sewing awls like that are GREAT for a fast stitch if you don't care about the durability of the stitch -- fixing your sandals or backpack, for instance, they're just fine. But because neither thread in the "lock stitch" never actually crosses both sides of the leather, but merely meets in the middle of your stitching hole, it's got no durability. Cut any piece of the thread, and it will not merely unravel, but literally start to fall apart. By comparison, because a saddle stitch has each side of the stitch running back and forth on alternate sides of the leather, it's much more durable if one bit gets nicked or frays.

Which, again, if you're not worried about your stitch -- and there are many applications where it's a non-issue -- then these aren't too bad. But doing a relatively quick saddle-stitch is no more difficult, and MUCH longer-lasting.

Baron Conal · Post by **Baron Conal** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 7:28 pm

It's fully assembled ( still needs sanding and clear-coated )

I had to make a small change to the overall plan. The
metal plate on the foot pedal with not stay in place so I
Added a block of wood so that I could move the toothed
plate closer to the hole the leather strap passes through...

I'm statisfied with the result.... but I was not expecting that.

more pictures....

all the individual parts....

parts stacked up neatly....

the hardware....

I've got four more sets of hardware now and can have more
made if I need to....

I have to pick up some screws and bolts for the final assembly
once I've sanded and clear-coated it.....

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:32 pm

looks awesome.

Baron Conal · Post by **Baron Conal** » Sat Nov 22, 2008 5:15 pm

Sanded it and started on the poly clear-coat...

Looks pretty nice.

I'm happy with it so far....

More poly tomorrow....

Hrolfr · Post by **Hrolfr** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 9:57 am

Conal, do you have an idea how much a shave horse would cost to build?

Russ Mitchell · Post by **Russ Mitchell** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:08 pm

Oh, Aeric, I don't want to come off as a real asshole. If you'd like a quick primer on how to do the kind of stitching that this pony uses, in not much more time than the awl-stitcher requires, I'll be happy to write you something in PM.

My apologies, with internet emotional clarity(tm), I just realized that my post probably comes off WAYYYY harsh.

Baron Conal · Post by **Baron Conal** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 1:45 pm

Completely finished!

I'm very happy with it!

Classifieds thread HERE

AEiric Orvender · Post by **AEiric Orvender** » Mon Nov 24, 2008 3:12 pm

Russ Mitchell wrote:Oh, Aeric, I don't want to come off as a real asshole. If you'd like a quick primer on how to do the kind of stitching that this pony uses, in not much more time than the awl-stitcher requires, I'll be happy to write you something in PM.

My apologies, with internet emotional clarity(tm), I just realized that my post probably comes off WAYYYY harsh.

Oh no need! And no worries! I do A LOT of saddle stitching, esp on things that need a good DURIABLE stich, (sheaths, leather bottels etc...) but for something like simple pouches and the like I love the awl-stitcher.

Baron Conal · Post by **Baron Conal** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:17 pm

bump....

just got some feedback on the Horse....

Erich wrote:Conal,
I FINALLY got a chance to clamp something up on the pony and stitch it.
The pony works GREAT. This is certainly going to be a great help when
I finally get a chance to actually make something again.
-Erich

I've got hardware for at least four more.

The only thing he said I needed to do was
glue some leather pads on each half of the
clamp.....

Steven H · Post by **Steven H** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 12:44 pm

Man! More stuff to make when I have a house (instead of an apartment).

Thanks for sharing,
Steven

Mikhail_Voronov · Post by **Mikhail_Voronov** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 1:48 pm

Does anyone know of a period version of this kind of thing?

Kilkenny · Post by **Kilkenny** » Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:37 pm

Mikhail_Voronov wrote:Does anyone know of a period version of this kind of thing?

I wanted to say yes, that I've seen them more or less in some period illustration, but I can't pin down where.

However, whether my mind plays tricks on me or not, looking through Karen's links and first checking saddlers (nothing at all related and a surprising - to me - paucity of leather working tools in their shops) I went to the shoemakers images and hit on something I think is quite interesting.

There is clearly represented a clamp used to hold shoes while being stitched.
It's a U-shaped thing that goes over the cobbler's knee and pins the shoe against the cobbler's leg, with a strap running to the ground that the cobbler holds down with his foot. I can't tell if the thing is attached to his stool at one end, or if the strap is just loose, or has a loop for the foot, or is attached someplace (the bottom of a stool leg ?).

What I can tell is that cobbler's had a clamp for holding their shoes whilst stitching. There's even a pic of one fellow with his awl in hand, looking for all the world like he's following Al Stohlman's instructions on how to do saddle stitching

http://www.nuernberger-hausbuecher.de/75-Amb-2-279-64-v

There are several images showing these clamps, a couple clearly showing the strap and foot holding it.

Fun stuff

Jon · Post by **Jon** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 8:10 am

That is a simple strap that goes over the last and under the foot. You can tighten or loosen the last against your thigh by the angle of your foot and or leg. Modern shoemakers that do high end handmade work still use them.

Jon

Kilkenny · Post by **Kilkenny** » Tue Jun 09, 2009 10:23 am

Jon wrote:That is a simple strap that goes over the last and under the foot. You can tighten or loosen the last against your thigh by the angle of your foot and or leg. Modern shoemakers that do high end handmade work still use them.

Jon

Cool! Thanks for the information.