Woodworking ideas – do it yourself! (DIY)

Rocking Horse Toy is perfectly suited for children aged 3-7 years. It’s a toy that has never gone out of style and can be passed in your family for many generations.

Page 529 in the part1.pdf document

Sample Rocking Horse:

Materials List:

Steps to build a Rocking Horse Toy:

A rocking horse is one of those toys that never goes out of style. The one shown here is designed for sturdiness as well as stability. The runners are spread far enough apart to prevent a small child from tipping over, and the tail is left mostly connected with the body so it cannot easily be broken off. The horse shown in the photo was made from 5/4 Philippine mahogany stepping material, except for the handle, which was formed from a hardwood dowel. Substitute other woods if you like, but always use quality material for a toy that can be passed along in your family for generations to come.

1. Use the pattern provided to make a template for cutting out the horse’s body (A). Tape or glue the pattern to a 23″ length of 5/4×12 stock, then cut out the profile with a bandsaw or saber saw.

2. Whilethe pattern is still attached to the body, bore a starter hole for the teardrop opening in the tail area, then use a saber saw to complete the cut. Also, mark and drill a 1/2″-diameter hole through the head for inserting the handle (F) and two pairs of holes of the same size in the areas where you want to attach the legs (C).

3. Since exact duplicates are needed for the four legs, it is a good
idea to make the leg template out of cardboard. With careful arrangement you should be able to lay out all four legs on an 18″ length of 5/4 x 12 stock. Cut out the legs with a bandsaw or saber saw.
NOTE: The edge of the notch at the bottom of each leg must be angled 12° off square so that all four legs will slope in toward the horse’s middle. If you prefer, cut out the legs without notches first, then figure out the notches during assembly. The length of the notches is not critical, so long as they are the same on all four legs and the tips of the legs remain above the bottom of the runners after assembly.

4. Lay out the two runners (D) on one side of a 31″ length of 5/4 X12 stock. Set them closely together so that enough width remains on the board for cutting out the seat. Use a bandsaw or saber saw to cut out the runners.

Parts and Dimensions

5. Lay out the seat (B) on one end of the board from which the run ners were taken. Cut out the seat with a bandsaw or saber saw, then use a drawknife or other appropriate tool to slope its front so that it ends up only about 9/16″ thick at the point where it will join the middle of the horse’s back.

6. Rip and crosscut the remainder of the 31″-long board into the four runner spacer slats (E). Then sand all the pieces cut thus far and round over their sharp edges.

7. Begin the assembly by drilling holes in the legs for fastening them to the body. Hold a leg in place and drill through the holes already in the body into that leg. Then remove the leg and repeat the procedure with the leg that fits on the opposite side of the horse.

8. Once all four legs are properly drilled, fasten them to the horse using glue and 1/2″-diameter dowels. Be sure to check the relationship of the dowel length and hole depths before gluing.

9. Once the legs are in place, fit the runners beneath them. Fasten the legs to the runners using glue and #8×1-1/4″ flathead wood screws. Counterbore the screws.

10. Measure the distance between runners, then rabbet the ends of all the runner spacer slats so that they fit snugly into that space. The depth of the rabbets is a matter of taste; just make sure all are cut the same. Center the entire group of slats between the legs and space them about 1/2″ apart.

11. Fasten the slats to the runners using glue and #8 x 1-1/4″ flathead wood screws. Counterbore the screws slightly below the surface.

Body Cutting Detail

12. Lay out and drill parallel 1/2″-diameter holes in the seat and in the horse’s back. Fasten the seat in place using glue and 1/2″-diameter dowels.

13. Cut a piece of 1/2″-diameter dowel 7″ in length and run it through the hole in the horse’s head. Center the dowel, then secure it in place by driving a screw down through the head into the dowel. Use a wood rasp and sandpaper to shape the dowel into a form comfortable for small hands.

14. If you wish, fill the counterbored screw holes with wood plugs or putty. Give the horse a final touchup sanding and apply the nontoxic finish of your choice.

Rocking Horse End View

Runner, Leg, Seat Cutting Details