Stitching Pony Design

[sbrownn]

On 7/29/2021 at 1:01 PM, Munday said:

I'm a woodworker and I'm building a stitching pony (I'm starting leather working).  I'm looking for advice about a couple design features. 

How big of a clamping surface is recommended?  Should I add a piece of leather to the clamping surface?

I'll be adding a pair of magnets near the top.  I think a needle will find a natural alignment on the magnet.  Before I glue the magnet in I want to align it so the needle is in a convenient position.  Is there a preferred alignment such as angled at 10 or 2 O-clock off the front or rear; maybe straight out the side (I'm guessing it is s personal preference but I want to avoid stabbing my hand grabbing for it).

I'm test fitting the maple parts in the picture.  It is designed to work on a chair or clamped to a workbench and rotated off the side 100 degrees.

 

I would move the tightening screw closer to the hinge as it's present location limits the width of material you can put in the pony.  Both the handle and the block behind it are places to catch the thread on.  

[Handstitched]

16 hours ago, fredk said:

I was told to leave and never return to the woodwork class because I was so bad, which embarrassed my father no end as he was a fully qualified cabinet maker

Bet that was awkward?   

The scar on my thumb is faintly visible, even after all these years. 

HS

[Tugadude]

My stitching pony doesn't have magnets, but I'm considering adding some now that I've seen them.  They can easily be recessed into the wood, especially if you go with round magnets, just drill a shallow hole for them to sit down in.

I want to echo the statements made about "thread catching".  Amen!  It is so frustrating when it happens.  So anything you can do to help prevent it, the better.  Try to avoid anything that sticks out on the sides if you can.

If you don't want to use magnets, there's another easy solution and that is to just drill a hole in each of the jaws to stick the needles in if you need to pause.  When not used, the holes won't create any issues.  If you want to get really fancy, drill a 1/4" hole and plug it with cork.  Then you can jam the needle into the cork and it will hold fast.

[fredk]

18 minutes ago, Tugadude said:

If you don't want to use magnets, there's another easy solution and that is to just drill a hole in each of the jaws to stick the needles in if you need to pause.  When not used, the holes won't create any issues.  If you want to get really fancy, drill a 1/4" hole and plug it with cork.  Then you can jam the needle into the cork and it will hold fast.

Theres clever, boyo (say with a Welsh accent)

[Klara]

I have never felt any need to somehow fasten the needles to the stitching pony. I just put everything on the table and when I want to continue I find the needles at the end of the thread.

I have however thought about integrating a strop semewhere for the awl...

[Blackjack21]

going way back for this one

StitchingHorse.pdf

[dikman]

You folks are making me think I should re-do mine and make it prettier.

[fredk]

On 7/31/2021 at 12:15 AM, dikman said:

Mine is not as classy, being made from whatever wood was handy, but it works for me. It' swivels on the base so it can be angled and I can put my feet on the base when seated to hold it steady.

But yours is rather nice, especially compared to -

You've even got a spring and a fancy lever. Kinda beats my coach bolt and wing nut

[Spyros]

On 8/3/2021 at 9:07 PM, Handstitched said:

@Klara My wood working skills are , well...... crap. In woodworking class in high school   way back when I was a wee lad, I nearly cut my thumb off.  I think the universe was trying to tell me something  

One of the main reasons I much prefer leatherworking these days.  Woodworking is dangerous, there's just no way around it.  And losing fingers is only one of the worries, most health organisations have upgraded the risk of breathing dust particles as one of the top health risks following latest research.  If you really look into it, and start measuring the invisible (but breathable) flying dust in your workshop, sooner or later you realise that unless you invest thousands of dollars and a lot of research time and workshop space on industrial type 3HP dust extraction with finetuned piping systems, machine ports and shrouds, you shouldn't really be doing any serious woodworking.  People get asthma or lose their sense of smell every day, or worse, and they don't even make the connection in their minds.  Especially Australian native timbers are particularly toxic.

Never mind the noise, the constant sharpening, the huge space you need for machines, the cost...   Screw woodworking LOL

There is of course the option of traditional woodworking, just do everything manually, no machines.  Nice wood shavings instead of dust.  Beautiful, elegant hand tools.  Very little noise.  It's all so pretty and satisfying, until you realise it takes a month to make a friggin table

Edited August 5, 2021 by Spyros

[Klara]

Well, how many tables do you need in a year? If you make them for sale, you better invest in dust management...

Regarding the risk, I nearly took off the tip of my thumb when slicing carrots yesterday. Very annoying when grabbing a needle...

But I'm not a woodworker (or cook), I just make things when I need them.