Question please for stitching horse users about clamping mechanisms .

[Tallbald]

Morning everyone. I've been away from the board several days, due to work, family needs, etc. but am off today and will probably get some shop time. I'm making a stitching horse for myself from 2 inch thick barn timber poplar. My wonderful father-in-law kindly gave me these timbers left over from his horse barn, and I hope to create something practical and pleasing to the eye. My question pertains to all the stitching horses I've seen (all have been beautiful in their own right) and the foot operated clamping lever they use to tension the jaws. Is there a reason that (in my research)  only foot operated mechanisms are used? A stitching pony on the other hand may use a screw clamp arrangement. Is the foot lever necessary for speed, versatility  or something else? I can make a quick-release hand operated lever I think, but if there's something I'm missing I'd hope not to find out after I've finished and started to use it. Holsters and smaller projects mostly are in my future I'm pretty sure. An odd, probably over-long question. Thanks so much, Don.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

        Howdy Tallbald

           this is what I use, here is the link, you can find this information in our FAQ/HOW TO thread at the top of the board

              http://wrtcleather.com/1-ckd/tutorials/_stitchpony.html

                   tEN wOLVES 

[Slowhand Bob]

I think the traditional full blown horse allows you to keep both hands at the work, and technique to develop which keeps the needles in hand while the work is repositioned along the jaws.  If the hands must be emptied to handle a manual clamping/tensioning device it becomes like starting over after every few stitches.  A good man with a horse can keep it moving steadily along.  FWIW there have been a fair number of stitching horses showing up on Ebay the last couple of weeks.

[Tallbald]

Thanks again. My horse is turning out to be more of a  piece of almost furniture. My wife would let me set anything in our home she thought made me happy or was unusual (she even for a year or two had my vintage 1970 Honda Trail 70 on our hearth) , and we have a restored, seasonally decorated 1956 manure spreader in the front yard. My thought is if I make the vise with a quick lever clamp on the side of the fixed jaw, I can make it so the entire vise can be removed and set underneath the bench when not in use. The bench then becomes seating. Goofy I guess, huh? Don

[Slowhand Bob]

I was thinking about the need to handle a screw mechanism at the same time you are shifting leather but one of the exclamation type roll clamps should be easy enuff without setting the needles down.  Kinda sit at a chair and replicate what your motions would be with what you have in mind, can it be operated somewhat smoothly and seamlessly ( ) as you continue sewing?  For long sewing runs I actually preferred sitting in a comfortable chair, working from my lap, and I think a couple or several here may still prefer that way of hand sewing.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

  The sewing mule I listed the link to, has worked better than well for me, a good friend made mine for me, and made the height taller so I can work much more comfortably, I have a large quick spin nob that makes adjustment quick and easy, I don't make saddles or very large items, and I find for gun leather and most western gear it is just what I need, since I got this, I've done all my sewing on it, I also like being able to sit in my comfortable chair while I sew,I put my feet on the bottom of the mule to stabilize it and I'm good to go. I'm much to big a man to sit on a sewing horse and be comfortable, and if it isn't comfortable I won't do it, I never did like those stitching horses that you sit on and have between your legs, when I use one of those, I clamp it to my bench, it works much better for me that way.

   tEN wOLVES 

[Tallbald]

Good points all. My living room chair is an old leather Lazy Boy and my wife and I love to set in the same room and watch the History Channel while she quilts as she can and I do my thing. Trouble is we have 4 old wonderful rescue dogs in our home who need frequent trips outside. If I get nestled in to sew, I often have to carefully place my stuff to the side to take my turn at back door duty. I'm a large fella, 6 foot 5 and 285 pounds--an ordeal to get up from my nest. A bench would allow me to unhand my project to do my duty easily. I guess I will try a hand operated quick-clamping method and if I find I want a foot lever instead, I'll change it around. Worst case situation is that I make one of our kids take it and start over! Man that poplar is pretty. Don

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

    I'm 6' 4" so I know where you're coming from, that's why this mule works so well for me, the stitching mule combined with an east chair or office chair and you be in heaven.   good luck with this, and be sure to post a picture when you finish it .


          tEN wOLVES

[Tallbald]

Hmmm. As I was typing a reply, another thing occured to me based on the wonderful quick responses I received.. I can make the vise as a separate, self contained unit with a quick clamp mechanism that could be either set on the horse OR lifted off and  used as a pony while sitting in a chair as the need arises. Don't laugh please, but when not in use as a horse, my wife could display one of her beautiful quilts draped over it. Another Hmmm. Thank you all again so much. Now to the shop, where the kerosene heater should by now have raised the temp to above freezing. Remember. It doesn't get cold in the south. Thanks again, Don.

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

   That's not a bad idea Don, if you're handy, you can make just about anything that will work better for you and your height and girth, what ever you make try to make it work for you, and you'll be a happy pard.

    tEN wOLVES

[Ned Buckshot]

Here is waht I use, I call it a stitching mule because it's not a horse or a pony!

There is a spring between the jaws so it is a one hand operation.

Ned

[WaddWatsonEllis]

Ace Lunger made me a wonderful stiching pony that I have yet to use ...much like TWFS' one, it is extremely tall and is made to sit on the floor and be held under the feet ...

I too was thinking about an exta spring to hold the jaws apart ... I was kinda thinking about the type of spring that used to be used on metal stove dampers ... the type that was  wider in the middle and taperd toward both ends ...

I was leaning toward one of the springs that used to be used on dampers for old pot bellied stoves ...the type that was wider in the middle and tapered towards each end ...

Does anyone have a source for these springs?

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

           Nice set up Ned, I like it

           tEN

[Ned Buckshot]

WWE,

Depending how far back the spring would be, on mine it's not all that far back from the opening so a smaller diameter spring ands to depth. I just used a spring I got from Ace hardware that is only about 3/8" dia. and not very strong but enough to hold the jaws open. I also used cup washers under the ends to keep the sharp end of the spring from digging into the wood.

Ned

[Tallbald]

I just spent the last 2 hours deciding how I wanted to make the cross braces on the horse. At this rate, when I get to make a second holster, I'll be too old to wear it... durn it wears me out striving for perfection. I ought to just learn to relax and enjoy. Don

[Tallbald]

Ned that is really nice! It looks like it is as versatile as a pattern maker's vise. Don