Meet Stewball

Mike Callihan · 08-09-2008, 11:04 AM

I didn’t know quite where to post this project here or in the carver channel because he is a lot of both general woodworking and carving. Meet Stewball my first carved Rocking Horse. For those of you who are old enough to remember Peter, Paul and Mary you will know where his name came from.

Stewball is a replica of a tradition English platform rocker. His body is a basswood glue-up. The base is made of cherry. All the tack is leather and brass. His mane and tail are real horse hair and he has glass eyes.

A quick antidote while I was building him. My daughter joined me in my shop to watch as I was carving his head. She commented that she didn’t understand how I was able to do that. Being a bit of a smart-*** my response was, it was easy; all I did was carve away the all wood that didn’t look like a horse. She fell silent for a couple of minutes and then commented the difference between you and me is that you can see a horse in there, I can’t.

I have since made several other Rocking Horses of various configurations. Stewball is the only one still in my procession.

TracyP · 08-09-2008, 11:10 AM

Wow, I'll bet that really took some time to complete. It is a really nice piece of craftsmanship. And the stand is beautiful!!!

Bas · 08-09-2008, 11:15 AM

Beautiful work Mike, that is a magnificent horse!. And your daughter certainly put you in your place

What did you use for a finish?

DaveO · 08-09-2008, 11:17 AM

WOW, that is spectacular. I agree with your daughter, some people have it others don't and you certainly do!

:notwo rthy:

Dave

Tar Heel · 08-09-2008, 11:19 AM

Beautiful horse made by a, obviously, very talented guy. Here's to you and Stewball.

I remember Peter, Paul, and Mary but don't remember the connection between them and Stewball.

Glennbear · 08-09-2008, 11:24 AM

Gorgeous work Mike, did you do the decorative painting yourself ? I ask because that is one of my greatest weaknesses.

DaveO · 08-09-2008, 11:25 AM

Stewball -

Oh stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water, he always drank wine.

His bridle was silver, his mane it was gold.
And the worth of his saddle has never been told.

Oh the fairgrounds were crowded, and stewball was there
But the betting was heavy on the bay and the mare.

And a-way up yonder, ahead of them all,
Came a-prancin and a-dancin my noble stewball.

I bet on the grey mare, I bet on the bay
If Id have bet on ol stewball, Id be a free man today.

Oh the hoot owl, she hollers, and the turtle dove moans.
Im a poor boy in trouble, Im a long way from home.

Oh stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water,he always drank wine.

Peter, Paul and Mary 1963

Dave

4yanks · 08-09-2008, 11:26 AM

Really nice job. I associate "Stewball" with a Woody Guthrie song (about a faithful horse) by the same name.

DaveO · 08-09-2008, 11:32 AM

Originally Posted by 4yanks

Really nice job. I associate "Stewball" with a Woody Guthrie song (about a faithful horse) by the same name.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stewball

Dave

Glennbear · 08-09-2008, 11:39 AM

Originally Posted by DaveO

Stewball -

Oh stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water, he always drank wine.

His bridle was silver, his mane it was gold.
And the worth of his saddle has never been told.

Oh the fairgrounds were crowded, and stewball was there
But the betting was heavy on the bay and the mare.

And a-way up yonder, ahead of them all,
Came a-prancin and a-dancin my noble stewball.

I bet on the grey mare, I bet on the bay
If Id have bet on ol stewball, Id be a free man today.

Oh the hoot owl, she hollers, and the turtle dove moans.
Im a poor boy in trouble, Im a long way from home.

Oh stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water,he always drank wine.

Peter, Paul and Mary 1963

Dave

You were 7 years old when this song came out, I was in high school , how come you can remember and I cannot ? Or did you cheat and use Google ?

BTW I did see them in concert a few times back then

Travis Porter · 08-09-2008, 11:42 AM

How do you seal or coat the basswood to make the finish hard so that the basswood doesn't dent as easily? I don't know if I made sense with that question....

Canuck · 08-09-2008, 12:03 PM

Beautiful work there, Mike!!!

(All I can think of is a possible commission to restore merry-go-round ponies for ya!)

I would think that carving a piece like that would take a tremendous number of hours. Your attention to detail definitely makes the piece one of kind!

Well done!!!

Wayne

Mike Callihan · 08-09-2008, 12:19 PM

Thanks to all for the kind words. I'm glad I'm not the only one who can remember the words to Stewball's song.

With regard to the finish I first sealed the basswood with shellac and sanded him to remove the fur. I then sprayed 3 coats of satin white CrystalLac waterborne lacquer. I used my HVLP gun as the delivery system. The dappling was then applied using a course sponge, this time using satin black CrystalLac. I loved using the colored CrystalLac it was easy to spray and it left a hard beautiful finish.

The base was finished using the clear satin CrystalLac finish. I consider that a big mistake. While the finish was easily applied and gave me a hard smooth finish it looks plastic to me with a slightly blueish cast. The wood never really developed the patina that I love in cherry. I suspect that the CrystalLac is acting as a UV inhibitor, protecting the wood from the tanning rays. It was the first and last time I have used a waterborne lacquer on a project.

Thanks again, it is fun sharing here, Great group.

Mike

DaveO · 08-09-2008, 12:29 PM

Originally Posted by Glennbear

You were 7 years old when this song came out, I was in high school , how come you can remember and I cannot ? Or did you cheat and use Google ? BTW I did see them in concert a few times back then

Glenn, I wasn't even a romantic night for my parents yet. That was 7 years before I was born. Yeah, I Googled it, but I am a folk music junkie and am familar with the song and most of P,P & M's work. The reason you can't remember is that you were in HS in the 60's, I've heard those were some wild times

Dave

Mike Callihan · 08-09-2008, 12:49 PM

Hey! I was in High School in the 60's and I remember most of them, Kind-A-Sort-A. Well maybe not all of them. But you know what somehow I made it though without a lot of help from government regulations.

Heck I even rode a bicycle without a helmet and the only seatbelt I ever had was my mother's right arm.

Mike

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