![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg23zCQYyc4vg3D_kQfl_svyXjShQd5wiUxdWj-X0PpGG3J0FPgc3UKHjivJqsFj-XEDW6zeiX5M9qqLqFFom5ag-8qPI5DzS7zg6XILQ0M1MXpNwmDdtIEbM4nQ6A8E_0wvDE00nPcwiQ/s200/Day+One+-03.jpg)
The priorities for me were:
- Portability - it needed to be able disassemble / fold for minimum space & storage into my tight locker room
- Lightness - weight was an issue for transportation / use
- Cheap - wanted to re-use waste wood for ecological and cost reasons.
So I set up planning a design after checking out sample pics on the web. The ones at the Canoe Museum were "Dumbhead" style that worked on a lever built into the centre of the bench as opposed to "English" style that had a frame style vise which would be more cumbersome while working on a long paddle. Furthermore, most designs I saw required permanent fastening with wood screws that prevented any form of foldability. This wasn't feasible in my limited workspace. But while contemplating ideas to get around this dilemma, I came across a large industrial door hinge left over from another project when looking for tools & scrap materials for the build. The hinge would be the answer I was looking for.
As luck would have it, I had purchased some plastic sawhorse brackets from Home Depot earlier in the month to make a portable sawhorse for use on the balcony, but then scored a great deal at Canadian Tire for 2 folding metal sawhorse ($8.99 each - normally $34.99!). So the brackets sat unused until deciding to use them for the horse. With some old 2x6 and 2x4s, the industrial door hinge, and the brackets I ended up constructing the basic design.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh32MUK5-t4O9IJMVW1BDHYy78q59PuKVcRHSNQftF7DQSIoVYMPSM_ynl8NekyyWDgymo13pX8dqReTzO4gUE5VdrsO4RR4KzP39b-tDAiq1QBASzJ6n5Np8_jDanV5pEUku8aR28n85w/s320/Shaving+Horse+01.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0sy-AQWBU795QwFDf62p3uPiDiAdGXBjNfMGooLz0DW9wnK18RKsJ93Zaw05aZ4lven8b2YD03_8HIiX2PhhjJq5SSRTHH6sgPWQU-eZxVF7m9Q32j14WfbRiHREtMe-SFjlSCuXdZcA/s320/Shaving+Horse+07.jpg)
For the anvil, I had some 1x3 and pressure treated lumber scraps that I screwed together. The base was made with some more scraps joined together to form a foot pedal that attached with some 3 inch carriage bolts found in a bucket full of old nails & screws. To fit the completed vise on the horse, I ended up drilling 4 pilot holes in the 2x6 and cutting out a rectangular slot with a coping saw.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkcRY2mMucBnuNZYLOVBhCoWLzCJdM4XMj_V0p0qfHqIyB4TmUEwdqit4vxdRlj7N5hl9_dTaG0lw8ptQ3mGKXn3AIY6Q7Z5LddbOg_cqG9vcjnGc9a1YLatGFfvD3tL0JmLdT1JGpNI/s200/Shaving+Horse+16.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheD19jeX_okTyBahT330QHtBT2MZXcYo8_GxYRQDppcGdRg9cpS3-cCuApcNrlo8vdVmErE_Be-ZRZV28HpJj-0lJFdRU7ZlQj7P3h1BSdo41vj2senzetT6Y59bBfUOQ_eposyjREttY/s200/Shaving+Horse+19.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCiv0TPbt50y7GlnnNngUOsD25tvvQXND5oOH5tfCZxK2cw7lurpACuUC21qOW7iloMAUTCLH90SibYdmkrYaaLyBHeAjerSqEKa1p18oUbJ7AWwG3NB2Qb8lAxPTsFTzQCMvjFE6XELA/s200/Shaving+Horse+20.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpCbIwzHOZrGyd4dEMjTevaFOplc6P2ThwY1s1rM4dQ5-9CV8Q79KUJiuYEwXZmWPtIA-E2U8cjsgGzbvNcI1ALEagXiSNlbXmpIf3dd-T-phq3JH8uad3SWNEp8y7XvYEa4HIRDc8pHo/s200/Shaving+Horse+10.jpg)
Once disassemble and packed, the whole horse takes up little space. The parts fit nicely on the frame and with a couple of velcro straps, everything can be easily transported. Assembly is easy too. The anvil is held in place with a 6" carriage bolt.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJcrbrgIE7Yzps15QaP5_HMq6OM7jMtNf2gVVvc2nfhxgO_Sbkcp6JCuiH6MVdDs8BwGZVDrg7k0uWUz_KgXfbG6Rwe-xswj2xiWw_KPVbXi52mqE3quDLo8eHBCjTQ66pFW4D2Thpawg/s200/Shaving+Horse+23.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQ0n2TslSTSgGvjS7xULUR1PGxR3Qt7IrFUxt0i412LsQh8otXCJvgOJFiysQiZhL4V_TUYC4esX-7k8vBkuFMUw-Nf10g4Lm3_SnnOxI4mT2Yu8sbkiS6GbFf9cX_acW5D2YRCHIcVI/s200/Shaving+Horse+24.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJXxUYlR9AxwOI-tSpkrM8Jjw6-InInjZPiWEG3lZRc-7IIEycBIrB-Tm_HH1cB3McKOUqyeo4ynpF4c6FjIku0X66KR_O4haGFHUT5v63yfptuhg2VXAoHy_6IK5rmOGt6myDfEX279Y/s200/Shaving+Horse+26.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnlFJcyLJ1vxvDJZCQavnxOMl5gW_66TdayS-5mkfrVbfrLxAkXg0olnw6uLI08Mw2Dud-dkSHyGOb3zeIekFfFD_01O_l9PJCAkSPY8dyEkVI-u97GOP6uLY7k4CtkUzf5SsiJxQp3Y/s200/Shaving+Horse+35.jpg)
The height & angle of the workbench can be adjusted with a scrap piece of wood wedged under it. It is held in place no problem once some foot pressure is applied to the vice. So the door hinge idea worked
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUoHbDu9fyrgmoyHrVx1NYOzn1so7ZEFvF25UnX517U6BPbfp1f3509iFR472QI6ce82mtL_gCY0TuEhLtpoCuD3GGoMiU4vrnc891ObPp59qaeDPjLZ_8gJf_cVmrCtAQvlEUzm2SEM/s320/Shaving+Horse+37.jpg)
The final product
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZGe8kM-PnVFIdgU9qKYgxUPDBgRssMFWgTSqj4C4wlAN9aeSCs5oVq9yGhOD_Vcp3V8ewoRpTXNmRDR_bJ7XovN3WC2_MPEDKTx_m2YGHqwBM9iyKTNUo5JUxR_812PVZ4I3A4Oneb4/s320/Shaving+Horse+42.jpg)
Taking the horse for a ride
Overall, I'm quite happy with it. Pretty low cost & labour given that the materials were lying around anyway. The one mistake I made was making the slot for the anvil too wide and as a result, the anvil leans to one side when pressed down with the foot pedal. I'm now working on a solution (a better anvil) using a thicker maple scrap piece cut from making the maple white water paddle this past summer. More on that "upgrade" later.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_4rXsS2OHCvI/S7KmcXnfUQI/AAAAAAAAFVI/xHUYyjB1cWE/s800/paddle_divider.jpg)
4 comments:
Hi Murat. I'm very intrigued by your folding shaving horse. Other than a narrower slot for the anvil, is there anything you would do differently if starting again from scratch?
Cheers,
Bryan
Hi Bryan. I was just working on my post about improving the horse when you wrote...made a wider and stronger anvil to clasp the work better. The one regret I still have is that the anvil leans forward too much so the peddle is a bit of a stretch to reach. I think I would've made an angled tenon on the anvil so that the foot peddle would be closer, kind of like this example or cut out a curved one like here
Greetings,
I like the simplicity and portability of your design. Since you last wrote on the subject have you made any significant design changes or built one of a different design?
As to the problem with the anvil being a bit of a stretch to clamp firmly, did you try putting on a bigger foot pedal that extends further toward the user (rider?)? It my require reinforcing strips to withstand prolonged pressure from your feet.
Finally, are you willing to put up a drawing, perhaps in pdf format of the plans for this?
Thanks much,
--Allen
Hi Allen.
I wrote a post updating the new and improved anvil (also made from scraps). Perhaps you've already read it...if not you can check it out HERE. Haven't changed anything or built a new one since it has met my needs so far.
As far as plans go, I haven't conjured up any and it'll be a while before I can get around to it, but in the meantime, there are some links with detailed design plans and dimensional info in the post mentioned before.
Regards
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