Macca Report post Posted September 9, 2013 nice job everyone ! (esp. for a girl ) I've got a growing collection of pony's (mostly very old), will have to post them up, might give people some more ideas Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sona Report post Posted September 9, 2013 Actually there seem to be a lot (!) of people building their own clamps. i like that ^^. And like Macca said: Nice job! (Does it matter if it´s a boy(man or a girl/woman?) @Macca: I´d be very interested in such a collection as I build my own clamp some weeks ago and thought about some other forms to fit other needs while stitching. I´ll look forward to such a thread ^^. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macca Report post Posted September 13, 2013 finally back home long enough to take some pictures first off, a very old French one (use between the legs type) has seen a lot of use ! Next up, a German one mounts to a bench, using a ball joint allows you to angle this any way you like Uses a kind of leaf spring (tension can be adjusted) to clamp, works very, very well this one Next the one I use, another German one, very comfortable to use (another between the legs type) Finally, another German one, picked this up recently for next to nothing, rock solid, large clamp set at a nice angle, can already tell this will be my most used, very comfortable using it I have some more, but would need to dig them out I notice almost all of you use clamps at 90 degrees, have you tried angled ones ? I find it much easier to keep the awl angle consistent working at an angle, 90 degree just annoys me ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Fowlingpiece Report post Posted September 14, 2013 Hi Macca, Some nice pieces. I personally use mine straight up in the English manner as it was how I was taught and what I am used to. I think the angled style to be more continental in origin and use. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sona Report post Posted September 14, 2013 Thx a lot for sharing Macca, you got some really nice clamps for sure. I thought about such a stitching horse (the one to sit on), but actually most you can get on ebay and similar sites are still in the range of 200 and more (in addition, I got no space for it at home ^^). But I believe they might be very comfortable to use. It looks like it´s made out of pine (at least the part to sit on. the clamp isn´t that clear). Do you know how old it is? I would have thought of a different material to use... The spring leaf on the german one looks really nice. I didn´t think of such a solution at all, but it won´t affect the space between the jaws which was kind of a downgrade of other clamps using this springs right between the jaws, because sometimes you might want to stitch quite large stuff where this litle piece is just annoying... I found a new (to me) kind of a clamp used by shoemakers. It´s quite small and hold between your legs, too but it has also a 90° angle while working. Therefore it´s really handy and nice for traveling I think. http://www.ckuit.de/bilder/gross/05.jpg (the thing above the shoe) Personally I like to work in the angled way, but I think it depends on what you are stitching. The 90°-way might be more interesting for other reasons... I don´t know, but I want to figure it out (and therefore I need more ponies *laugh*). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Macca Report post Posted September 14, 2013 Hi Sona Not sure on the age, would say 50 years + looking at the construction & material, pretty sure its home made. I got it from an old leather workers family, they were selling off all his stuff, was rather cheap, 16 Euro The spring leaf is a very clever idea, allows adjustment of the tension for different thicknesses etc, nothing worse than a loose clamp ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GerryR Report post Posted September 18, 2013 (edited) Well, here is my "home made" pony. I made it to set on a folding steel chair, but the front support is adjustable and can be used with chairs of various heights. The clamp can be rotated to any desired angle; I like it a little offset as shown in the picture. The clamping is accomplished by rotating the "nut" between the clamps, which draws in the moveable jaw. All criticisms are welcomed. Gerry Edited September 18, 2013 by GerryR Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sona Report post Posted September 18, 2013 16 Euros? that´s nice. I looked on ebay again just to have a look at the prices... maybe it´s not about 200,- but at least 100,- Euros Hi Gerry, Why criticism? That pony looks really nice and it´s obvious that you thought about the construction before you started. I like it a lot The only thing I´d suggest is, that if you want to get up you´d have to spread your legs, pull the pony through them to the front and put it back on the chair instead of just placing it like half a meter away on the ground. That might be a little uncomfortable for me I think, but if it works for you, it´s just fine! May I ask what material you used as filling for the "pillow" ? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GerryR Report post Posted September 18, 2013 The pillow is 3/16" charcoal closed cell sculpting foam. I glued three pieces together for the thickness I wanted I bought a couple of yards of it for another project and had enough left over for this small pillow. Here is the link on ebay where I bought it: http://www.ebay.com/itm/320819556904?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_3336wt_966 Even at my age, I am still flexible enough to "step over it" (the seat part, that is) to mount and dismount. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
