Just downloaded the plans for the Bowl Horse and I'm headed to Home Depot. Your video has saved me a lot of time and thought my friend. May God bless you and thank you for your generosity!
David, I just found this video and really like the design of both of your horses. I have watched many other 'How to build a shave horse' videos and your versions of shave horses are superior to anything else I have seen. Your designs are very versatile and flexible so they will accommodate various projects.
I love the Log Horse...Brilliant! The other seems easy to construct. Your site is awesome too! Thanks for showing them to us! Wish I had found you earlier!
stoopidly simple and beautiful work horse. David thank you... im in the process of building one and this was a great help.. mant thanks and again. peace
I was fortunate to find a Rockler Jaw Horse for sale for $40 and use it in the same way. It’s not as cool or traditional but I love it and find it useful for many things.
I'm keen on the heavier option, the log. I plan to do my working outside, with the ground as the "floor" but under a roof. I don't have a shop with the expected quality equipment, and am certainly not planning on making Windsor chairs. Rather, my goal is to take odd-shaped pieces of commercially unavailable wood and to produce something that shows off its figure and color. Black-locust is a particularly beautiful wood. Surfing the web, and recalling what I've seen in my travels, I had not seen anything like your log concept. It was an Aha moment when I came across it. Having access to the full length of the workpiece is a huge plus. I have plenty of opportunity in my woodlots to harvest "trash" logs of suitable species (blackgum and sweetgum). I'll make legs of rot-resistant black-locust. Shaping with a chain saw makes perfect sense, and I assume that I can use plunge cuts with a chainsaw for the long central slot. The dowel holes through the log can be made with my old-fashioned "brace-and-bit" that my father used on the job for drilling holes through large diameter power poles. Thank you for a very nice video, and for sharing your concept.
Your plans make sense to me, Steve. And yes, I did some careful plunge cutting to make the central slot, in addition to boring at the ends of the slot with a big T-handle auger. However, you could probably do it by just messing around with the chain saw alone. But take care and wear safety gear.
Looking at it, you could build a removable lower jaw with a curved bottom such thatit would "cam" upward as the swing arm moves toward you. That would make it work like a shave horse.
I've seen other bowl horses but none quite that big. I would love to make one for myself, but I can't lift a log half that size alone. I do have plans to add a crane to the back of my pick-up so Being alone won't be a hindrance. In my area, almost every day there is a listing for free firewood from trees that have fallen or have been taken down. I may weld my own crane, which would be more fun, but I can get one for under $200.00 and I'm afraid the steel would cost more than if I bought one. I will be adding a battery-powered winch to it as well. I came up with the idea just to collect my own firewood, but now that I have seen that beefy bowl horse of yours It will be possible to get a large enough log for one. I have a question for you or any other commenters who know, is there a sealer I can coat the bowl horse in so it will be possible to leave it outside? It would get covered, but I'm afraid the moisture in the air will cause it to crack. Do you think maybe a Marine-grade sealer would work? Any other suggestions are always welcomed. Thank you, Dave!
Hi David, I am a nascent (yet old and decrepit) carver. After trawling through many shaving/spoon/bowl hose/mule videos, I have decided to base my horse mule on your design. I intend to make it distinctly multi-functional through removable heads: an English style shaving horse clamp and a spoon mull head. I have one question: your horse appears unusually long; are you well above average height? I feel that an overall length of about four and a half feet my suit me better. And finally, I think you videos are outstanding due to their directness, your unassuming manner and, not least, your superb craftsmanship. Thank you very much.
not poking any fun at this, but you could turn this clip into a drinking game! every time you hear the word "uh" take a drink :) St. Patties day is coming up so get out your glasses and pour some drinks and get ready! love the channel though! i recently just bought an adze and was learning how best to sharpen it profile wise, i don't enjoy power tools at all between the noise and dust...
The larger ones, which I rarely use, were from Woodcraft years ago. The smaller, greyer, ones are from Tools For Working Wood (Gramercy). They work very well.
Very cool design David! I've been looking at a bunch trying to decide what might work best for me. One question on the newer version, I'm sure I'm missing something obvious. What are the thin narrow strips fastened on the each side at the top for? Thank you sir. Tim
TNTim Bushcraft They widen the surface a bit and provide a little lip (since they are raised a bit above the bed) that helps keep a bowl stable when up on edge. They really aren't an absolutely essential part of the horse. Good question.
Grateful for the free plans, but I just wish you had put some measurements on the cut diagram so I don't have to manually find and match all the pieces and do the math to figure out what the sizes are. But, like I said, grateful I don't have to start from scratch.
Excellent video! I was looking for plans and a video on just such a project! thank you very much ! Organizing my shop and having a place for the various tools used is a on going problem for me, I would like to know how to make what I see on the walls, in your video, like a 'gouge holding rack' and another one just below it. Would you be willing to email me descriptions and instructions on these and the materials you found best to make these from? I would greatly appreciate this!
Sorry I missed this question years ago. I'll try to get some of that information together and post it to my blog sometime, but the racks are pretty simple -- drill holes in a board then saw a narrow slot giving the shank of the gouge access. All depends on what gouges you have.
I do have plans on my website, but in the next few days, I'll be making new plans available for an improved version that is easier to build, more stable, and more versatile. I'll be announcing them with a blog post soon: davidffisher.com Thanks for your interest!
Couldn’t concentrate because my mind was counting all the ahhh, ahhh ahhhh ahhh ahhh every other word, ahhh. Why do some people do that, I just don’t understand has no one ever told them...probably they don’t even listen, if they listened they would hear themselves say ahhh 62 times in 5 minutes
2347JS I sometimes make bowls over two feet long. Believe it or not, even in the last slot, my foot reaches. But you've got a good point, if you know you'll never need that length, then there is no problem in making the horse shorter.
Just downloaded the plans for the Bowl Horse and I'm headed to Home Depot. Your video has saved me a lot of time and thought my friend. May God bless you and thank you for your generosity!
Excellent!! I learn so much from you. Keep them coming.
Chris
David, I just found this video and really like the design of both of your horses. I have watched many other 'How to build a shave horse' videos and your versions of shave horses are superior to anything else I have seen. Your designs are very versatile and flexible so they will accommodate various projects.
I'm in the middle of a trad horse build now. I just found my next project. Thanks bro.
Glad it was useful. Have fun with the build! I now have new plans available on my website at davidffisher.com/bowl-horse-plans/
Takovou stolici jsem ještě neviděl,Zajímavá práce.
Děkuji
Thank you for sharing your plans with us and let us see your awesome shop!
I love the Log Horse...Brilliant! The other seems easy to construct. Your site is awesome too! Thanks for showing them to us! Wish I had found you earlier!
now thats what a call a tool of a True Craftsman, nice to see em still being used. Thanks for sharing
Cheers
Andy
UK
Andrew Smith skibe
Dave, it's great seeing you again, on you tube if not in person! Hope you and the family are doing well! Best, Dave Esposito
Nice, functional horse. Thanks for this, and all your other videos. You make some nice bowls!
Love the log. It actually looks comfortable.
Thanks David! This is great! I am already planning my log version of your horse.
stoopidly simple and beautiful work horse. David thank you... im in the process of building one and this was a great help.. mant thanks and again. peace
This is a solution to a problem I've had for quite a while. I'll figure out a way to adapt the concept. Thank you very much!
Excellent video. I like the sound of train's horn too. Tranks.
Hi David
I heard your name dropped on the Shop Notes podcast, and I'm glad i looked you up! I really enjoy your videos. keep up the good work
Thank you!
I was fortunate to find a Rockler Jaw Horse for sale for $40 and use it in the same way. It’s not as cool or traditional but I love it and find it useful for many things.
I'm keen on the heavier option, the log. I plan to do my working outside, with the ground as the "floor" but under a roof. I don't have a shop with the expected quality equipment, and am certainly not planning on making Windsor chairs. Rather, my goal is to take odd-shaped pieces of commercially unavailable wood and to produce something that shows off its figure and color. Black-locust is a particularly beautiful wood. Surfing the web, and recalling what I've seen in my travels, I had not seen anything like your log concept. It was an Aha moment when I came across it. Having access to the full length of the workpiece is a huge plus. I have plenty of opportunity in my woodlots to harvest "trash" logs of suitable species (blackgum and sweetgum). I'll make legs of rot-resistant black-locust. Shaping with a chain saw makes perfect sense, and I assume that I can use plunge cuts with a chainsaw for the long central slot. The dowel holes through the log can be made with my old-fashioned "brace-and-bit" that my father used on the job for drilling holes through large diameter power poles. Thank you for a very nice video, and for sharing your concept.
Your plans make sense to me, Steve. And yes, I did some careful plunge cutting to make the central slot, in addition to boring at the ends of the slot with a big T-handle auger. However, you could probably do it by just messing around with the chain saw alone. But take care and wear safety gear.
Great video, I've been messing with various designs of bowl holding options and these tick all the boxes, thanks for sharing.
the lat muscles on this man got to be crazy
please make another bowl video. you are a big inspiration
Great idea. Improved design, Thank you very much
Looking at it, you could build a removable lower jaw with a curved bottom such thatit would "cam" upward as the swing arm moves toward you. That would make it work like a shave horse.
I've seen other bowl horses but none quite that big. I would love to make one for myself, but I can't lift a log half that size alone. I do have plans to add a crane to the back of my pick-up so Being alone won't be a hindrance. In my area, almost every day there is a listing for free firewood from trees that have fallen or have been taken down. I may weld my own crane, which would be more fun, but I can get one for under $200.00 and I'm afraid the steel would cost more than if I bought one. I will be adding a battery-powered winch to it as well. I came up with the idea just to collect my own firewood, but now that I have seen that beefy bowl horse of yours It will be possible to get a large enough log for one. I have a question for you or any other commenters who know, is there a sealer I can coat the bowl horse in so it will be possible to leave it outside? It would get covered, but I'm afraid the moisture in the air will cause it to crack. Do you think maybe a Marine-grade sealer would work? Any other suggestions are always welcomed. Thank you, Dave!
Fantastic idea
im from vietnam and i very like video of you
best design I've seen yet!
David is great.
Hi David, I am a nascent (yet old and decrepit) carver. After trawling through many shaving/spoon/bowl hose/mule videos, I have decided to base my horse mule on your design. I intend to make it distinctly multi-functional through removable heads: an English style shaving horse clamp and a spoon mull head. I have one question: your horse appears unusually long; are you well above average height? I feel that an overall length of about four and a half feet my suit me better. And finally, I think you videos are outstanding due to their directness, your unassuming manner and, not least, your superb craftsmanship. Thank you very much.
I thought the same, however if it was in the last peg hole, you could lay a board down and push against it and it work.
not poking any fun at this, but you could turn this clip into a drinking game! every time you hear the word "uh" take a drink :) St. Patties day is coming up so get out your glasses and pour some drinks and get ready! love the channel though! i recently just bought an adze and was learning how best to sharpen it profile wise, i don't enjoy power tools at all between the noise and dust...
Great design I will make myself one, thanks
Great Idea, Thanks for sharing,awesome job.=)
thanks for everything
very informative thanks. Are those auriou holdfasts or custom hand forged? They look very fine.
The larger ones, which I rarely use, were from Woodcraft years ago. The smaller, greyer, ones are from Tools For Working Wood (Gramercy). They work very well.
thanks!
Perfect work!
Very cool design David! I've been looking at a bunch trying to decide what might work best for me. One question on the newer version, I'm sure I'm missing something obvious. What are the thin narrow strips fastened on the each side at the top for?
Thank you sir.
Tim
TNTim Bushcraft They widen the surface a bit and provide a little lip (since they are raised a bit above the bed) that helps keep a bowl stable when up on edge. They really aren't an absolutely essential part of the horse. Good question.
David Fisher Thank you so much Sir for taking the time to respond, I very much appreciate it!
Grateful for the free plans, but I just wish you had put some measurements on the cut diagram so I don't have to manually find and match all the pieces and do the math to figure out what the sizes are. But, like I said, grateful I don't have to start from scratch.
Nice design 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Excellent video! I was looking for plans and a video on just such a project! thank you very much ! Organizing my shop and having a place for the various tools used is a on going problem for me, I would like to know how to make what I see on the walls, in your video, like a 'gouge holding rack' and another one just below it. Would you be willing to email me descriptions and instructions on these and the materials you found best to make these from? I would greatly appreciate this!
Sorry I missed this question years ago. I'll try to get some of that information together and post it to my blog sometime, but the racks are pretty simple -- drill holes in a board then saw a narrow slot giving the shank of the gouge access. All depends on what gouges you have.
Wow, I like both designs but have limited work shop space. Do you have or sell download plans for the smaller horse TIA.
Free at my website davidffisher (.com) You'll see the page "Horse of a Different Sort."
Hey do you have plans for the second shave horse??
I do have plans on my website, but in the next few days, I'll be making new plans available for an improved version that is easier to build, more stable, and more versatile. I'll be announcing them with a blog post soon: davidffisher.com
Thanks for your interest!
Keep up the good videos man! :-)
Been waiting to see this!
DFbowlcarver is it fine to use your design, I am a 12 year old wood worker from the Philippines. Thank you for the idea
Yes, Salvador. I hope you enjoy your carving!
+DFbowlcarver I wasn't expecting a reply this early, thank you
Спасибо! Всё очень понравилось. Сделаю для себя что-то подобное. Желаю успехов!
+Леонид Трудов Спасибо.
thanks for posting
Very nice! Thanks!
Are you still using this bowl horse or is there a version 3???
I'm still using my big log bowl horse, and occasionally the more portable dimensional lumber bowl horse. No version three yet!
Great Job thanks
Couldn’t concentrate because my mind was counting all the ahhh, ahhh ahhhh ahhh ahhh every other word, ahhh. Why do some people do that, I just don’t understand has no one ever told them...probably they don’t even listen, if they listened they would hear themselves say ahhh 62 times in 5 minutes
5:15 did that spoon crack?
Thanks.
Very clever
didn't i see you wood magazine at krogers?
Probably. I've written a few articles that have been in Fine Woodworking Magazine recently.
Great design. But why is it so long? If you were to put the lever in the last slot, your foot would not be able to reach. Just curious.
2347JS I sometimes make bowls over two feet long. Believe it or not, even in the last slot, my foot reaches. But you've got a good point, if you know you'll never need that length, then there is no problem in making the horse shorter.
+DFbowlcarver or you can make the foot part of the lever longer... if it doesn't bother your workflow.
Misleading title. I didn't see one horse carving a bowl... or a bowl carving a horse...
Either one would have been cool....