Build a Shaving Horse with Peter Follansbee

“A shaving horse goes together with a drawknife like peanut butter and jelly,” says chairmaker Curtis Buchanan. In this two disc DVD set, available from Classic Hand Tools, Peter Follansbee shows you how to build an effective shaving horse based on his work with Jennie Alexander and traditional English patterns. Peter’s design features an adjustable work surface and two uprights connected by a foot treadle and crossbar. Pushing forward with your feet makes the crossbar grip the stock tightly to the work surface, leaving your hands free to use the drawknife, spokeshave and other tools. Built with only a few hand tools and some roughly hewn wood, this shaving horse is both simple to make and a pleasure to use.

Peter Follansbee specialises in 17th century period joinery and green woodworking. He spent over 20 years making reproductions furniture at Plimoth Plantation, the living history museum in Plymouth, MA. Peter teaches in craft schools in the US, UK and Sweden and received the Wille Sundqvist and Bill Coperthwaite Slöjd Fellowship in 2016. He co-authored the book, Make a Joint Stool from a Tree: An Introduction to 17th Century Joinery, with Jennie Alexander, and published his latest book, Joiner’s Work, in 2019.

Disc 1 chapters:

1. Introduction

2. Shaping the Legs

3. The Leg Mortises

4. The Hinge Block Mortise

5. Shaping the Bench

6. The Head and Wedge

7. Fitting the Legs

Disc 2 chapters:

8. Level and Trim the Feet

9. The Fittings

10. Boring the Hole for the Pivot

11. The Bridle Joint

12. Fitting the Work Surface and Uprights

13. Final Assembly

Priced at £40 for the set, click here to purchase your copy from Classic Hand Tools today.

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