Brokenolmarine

I made this stitching pony a couple years ago from one I saw in a picture, yet added my own mods to better suit my needs. The one I saw was fixed, but I put a swivel base so I could turn the work while sitting on the wings in a chair and sewing or while the base was clamped on the work surface as shown. I also added a pair of rare earth magnets, one on either side, to HOLD the needles when I needed to adjust or change the work's position in the clamps so they didn't drop off the thread. I use them all the time and find them very convenient. I had planned to mount them flush, then realized that would make the needles harder to retrieve. In the original build I had intended to try and find a large wing nut, but then decided to make my own knob and used a large piece of maple and shaped it on the bandsaw and sander, then seated and glued the nut in place. Worked out perfectly. I have used this for years, though now I have the Cowboy 3200 it might see less use. There will still be some things I will sew by hand by choice or necessity.

Thanks, I have saved them.

Very nice. I made a stitching pony a couple years ago, and use it a lot. I often thought it would work better mounted to a proper height bench. I would make one of those if I had the plans.

I am planning on making a nice Gunbelt for myself, with a single action holster for my Unberti Birdshead 357, belt loops, and a Sheath for a knife. I knew that I needed a couple punches to make it look right and ordered good ones, a 1/2" and 1-1/2" CS Osborne pair from Springfield Leather. They came in a couple weeks ago and I tried them a couple times on scrap leather. Nice clean cuts, but they took a number of whacks with the mallet and maul I have. Too light. I looked hard but couldn't find the Nylon 2 pounder in stock anywhere except Barry King... but, Amazon had the BK 24 ounce maul, which is what I prefer, and I ordered that. Double the weight of my current mallet. Came in yesterday. VERY nice. That'll do, Donkey, That'll do.

Thanks. I'll look forward to it.

Sweet. Running a veteran's charity we actually met a group of pro wrestlers touring the state fair circuit. Now these guys and gals weren't top of the heap stars, but the fans knew them.They invited us "backstage" and the whole group signed a couple T-shirts to donate to our charity auction. Nicest bunch you'd wanna meet. "Good guys and Bad guys". Don't tell anyone I said so.

I agree, nice work. Finished yet?

I bought turquoise for knife accents just before my injury. I'd like to see the knife as well.

Outstanding work. I'm sure the covers will be treasured.

Outstanding

Thanks folks, I will continue in woodwork, knifemaking, and leatherwork, and combine all three. Lol.

As soon as I do one that I have sewn on the machine I'll post it up. I have posted some in the member gallery, but those are all hand sewn.

An inside view of the box, before the hinges attached the top. She stores boxed items below the tray.

Miss Tina wanted a Jewelry Box, but asked if I could make it special. I made this one by hand, from a single plank of curly cherry. The trays inside from walnut, were bandsaw box style. The trim outside was formed with antique molding planes, as were the edges on the top. It took a while, but this is truly one of a kind. It's about a foot tall, sixteen inches wide, and eight inches deep.

Splitting firewood, I noticed some nice grain in a piece of walnut and tossed it aside. The wife said we were splitting wood to burn not to save. I ignored her. After a year of drying, I ran the wood thru the band saw, the planer, jointer, and then used the planks to build MY Flag/Medals display box. I have used this original design a dozen times to build boxes for other vets... as well as other original designs when requested. The boss doesn't ask when I save a chunk of wood we come across any longer.

Next grandchild came along and the pendulum cradle was up again. (The oldest daughter this time) Son had the first. This one is Black Walnut, Mahogany, birdseye maple. Same design, with slight mods. She got maple spindles in the edge for a touch of class.

My stepfather was an anal contractor in the Metro Richmond area when I was in High School and taught me to strive for perfection in my work. HE never advertised for jobs, and always had work lined up in the finest homes in the area. Wives called him to build things, spending Rich Husband's money. "Biffy Told me you built her addition, when can you start on a garage and Mother in Law's suite for me?" Every aspect of the job had to be done to his exacting specifications. Even those that the building inspectors would never see. So I tried to do my very best later in life... My best never hit HIS skill levels, but I did MY best... LOL. I used the best materials I could find, and didn't cut corners. I rarely sold my work, preferring to stick to gifts for family and friends, or donations to charity auctions or presentations for the family's of vet's who passed. Here is a pic of the cradle I built for my first grandson.... It's a pendulum cradle built from Walnut and Ash, and breaks down so the legs and spreader bar (underneath) store in the basket when the baby outgrows it to wait for the next. When the baby wakes, and moves, it rocks them back to sleep. Miss T made the mattress and rail pads.

I have knives with the sharp saw teeth on the back, in fact we often carried one in flight vest with massive teeth on the back. Those on the skinning knife are flat and dull and I do ride my finger there when cleaning. Thanks for the input...

Cool, new to knife making, did I explain the use correctly?

People always quip, "If you knew then what you know now... I bet you'd have taken different paths!". Actually, I saw the world, flew in combat aircraft, and met interesting people,. I also got to do exciting things most folks only see in movies, between the two careers. Were there things I would change? Ah, women I wouldn't have asked out, a couple in high school I would have. Cars and guns I wouldn't have sold, and a couple of both I wouldn't have bought. But the price I'm paying now for what I've seen and done... I'd do it again. I can't imagine fifty years in a cubicle.

I'll let Miss T know, she rarely let's me drive the tractor. She makes up work to do from the kabota. Farm Girls.

I know I'm lucky, she's been a keeper. We have been together thirty years, and enjoy many of the same things. Fly tying, kayak fishing, quiet country living. She is a no nonsense farm gal and I trusted her to take care of the kids when I worked Evening and Midnight Patrols. We spent my off time as a family and she appreciated that. She had managed the family budget carefully when their were four kids at home and still runs the budget long after I retired. Neither of us spends on frivolous things, but do buy quality when we buy. Lol. Buy well, buy once.

As this is a skinner, the forefinger rests on those cutouts as the user guides the blade while skinning the deer, goat, rabbit. As the hands are most likely "wet" this helps insure continued contact with / accurate control of the blade while separating the skin from the carcass.

I started in one of those Amish built wooden buildings, dropped at the end of the drive. Modified and upgraded over the years, 12x20. I stored equipment against the walls, rolling it out as needed, until I shattered my femur in a fall and a wheelchair would always play a part in my future. Built my dream shop, sold the house and moved a couple years later.

Very Nice work. I actually enjoy inlays. I ordered some turquoise last year before I injured my left wrist/hand, I intend to do inlays on the knife, sheath, gunbelt, and holster. Moderation in all things, don't want to get tacky.