You can't call this a Pony

[Ace Lungger]

 I just wanted to show you Pards what I just finished! I call it the MULE I make these Stitching Pony & Mule's. When you see the pic you will tell why! Thiis a custom ordered MUle It is 32" high. The person that order it wanted it to stand on the floor so when he was in his Leather shop and was sitting in his chair he could put his feet flat on it am it would be more comfortable for him to work!
Those of you that sent me gift's please pm me if you want one? I am going to make a few changes , only in the lower hinge sytem and a spring added.I just wanted to show this to you all.

Thanks ACE

[Dalton Masterson]

Ace thats a fine looking pony/mule. Looks like you may have found a way to afford some tools, with a little bit of wood working there. DM

[Ace Lungger]

Thanks Dalton for the Kind words about the mule    Wood working use to be my stress reliever, and i loved doing it, but i just can't stand up much, so i don't and can't do many. the person that I made that for helped me get my starting tools, so i did it out of passion from the heart. i was allways tought when I was a child, that you allways give back to those that have gave to you. That is why I this is the only forum I spend anytime on, I feel at home, and I went and reworded my first post on this topic, I just wanted those that gave me gifts, and there was several, I was trying in a suddle way to get the point acrosssed that it would give me great honor to make those Pards that helped me, because i have the lumber, and I am not out much cash to make them.
I sure would like to meet you at that place you mentioned the other day.

Later Pard
your friend Ace

[Dalton Masterson]

We will work on it one of these days Ace. Hill City is a good fun shoot, and close to my hometown as well. Lets get a few of these big shoots coming up out of the way, and I will get you the measurements you were wanting as well. Take care. DM

[knucklehead]

Your mule looks great.

i have one small design suggestion to make to you though.

do you have the sewing leather by al stolhman book yet?
reason i ask this is there is a pattern for a stitching pony in the back of the book.
and the design suggestion i am trying to describe is in the pattern.
instead of using an all thread bolt/wing nut for clamping jaws shut use a adjusting bar that way you can adjust the tightness by moving a bar instead of a wing nut. however the wing nut may work out just fine.
if you dont have the book i will try to scan the pattern and post it if you want.

[Ace Lungger]

Knuckhead, i don't have that book yet, and i would like to see the design. Just to see how it diff's, I don't expext to make anymore. Unless, Like I stated, some of those that gave me tools, when i was starting, was willing to make then one., but my back just can't take the standing!
ACE

[Marshal Will Wingam]

I have a stitching horse that's made with the slide lever. The notches are a bit apart, so the thing was always too loose when it was closed in the closest notch. I put a spring in the cable to help, but finding a stiff enough spring has been a challenge. My small pony is actually better because it has a threaded bolt for tensioning with a door-knob sized ball on it to tighten. I can crank it down to exactly the right tension. I think the best would be to have both so you could quickly make adjustments on the jaws for proper tension. Here's a photo of it with an insert that kind of shows the lever and the notches it catches on when you step on it. The cable runs up and through one jaw and pulls the other jaw toward it. The photo was taken before I put the spring in it. I suppose someday I'll convert it over to a screw adjustment of some type. I hope this picture helps some.

[Ace Lungger]

MW,
That is AWESOME You mdid a HECK of a job there Pard! If I didn't have this bad back,i would make me one like that!! But I have to have back support, I have this real good 1960's office chair that I can sit the tension so it leans back how ever soft or hard I want it to be! And even then there are a lot of times I have to go in the house and just lay down!

Thank you for showing me that, i like it a lot, and i like it that you have places for your tools!

ACE

[Marshal Will Wingam]

Thank you for showing me that, i like it a lot, and i like it that you have places for your tools!

A friend of mine gave it to me so I can't claim the credit for making it. It not only has a place for tools, but that piece sticking out above the tool holders has a recess in it that just fits one of those round cakes of beeswax. There's a pin that lifts out and the jaws rotate 360° for easy use. You can pin it in about 20 different positions. It was really thought out.

[Ace Lungger]

MW, You are absolutely correct, i build mine of the one Chuck Burrows uses! I can see that with it having several different spots to lock it in place that would be a plus, when your arm, shoulder or other parts get uncomfortable!! That is 
MW, Thanks for sharing the info to me, i might make me another one, putting a lot more thought into it. I have had a couple pieces of special wood, that I was saving for the right project (Red Locust) hard to come buy, because most people will not cut it or saw it because of the long Throns!! Only the female tree (they tell me) have no sticky's, and many years a go I cut and sold fire wood and did cut one big Locus that didn't have any throns!

Thanks MW

ACE

[Marshal Tac]

Ace,
I like that idea of yours... being able to stand up (or sit on a chair with my feet on the base of the pony) seems like a good way to avoid the problem I have, which is a sore back after stiching for more than 20 minutes at a time.

I have a standard stitching pony that I bought at a Tandy store, and it sits on my chair/stool with my legs over the base for stability, but because it's short in the length of the clamping arms (or I'm too tall.... which ever may be the case) I have to "hunch" over it to get my work done. This leaves me with an aching lower back after about 20 minutes. A couple of times I thought I wasn't going to be able to walk right for a while after I got done with a holster. If the clamping arms were about 4-6 inches longer, I wouldn't have to stoop over it so much and I am sure my back wouldn't hurt nearly as bad afterwards.

The pony I use has the wing nut/bolt set up and it works fine for my purposes. I did cover the jaws with some leather to help reduce the chance of an impression being left on the project by the jaws.

If you want to consider making another for a pard, let me know what your costs are (with shipping and all). If it helps my back and makes my sewing easier I am sure it would be worth the cost.

-Tac

[HorsePen Henry]

I have the same problem with those short little stitchin' ponies form Tandy and elswhere.
Question:
Does anybody have the blueprints for a stitching horse like Marshall Wingham has in those pictures? Maybe not exact but similar?

Many thanks,

X Horse Pen (I'm tall too!)

[Dalton Masterson]

I have a set of plans for a sit on stitching Horse, but not the pony. I would also be interested in plans for a good pony, as the Tandy one I flat dont care for much. DM

[HorsePen Henry]

Howdy Dalton,

You have mail.

X Horse Pen

[R.T. Rangebum]

I have a Tippman Boss, but find myself using my stiching pony quite a bit, especially for repair jobs. I used to mount the pony to my bench using a couple of clamps, but I've since attached it semi-perminant with deck screws (which can easily be removed and returned if I need the space). Mounting the pony to my bench gets my work a) directly under my work light and b) at eye level, two items I had great trouble with in the past. JMHO, YMMV.

Rangebum

[Ace Lungger]

RT,
You got any floral carving jobs comeing up? I am ready to come over and watch and learn!!  I have relyy falling in love with this leather working. I have allways down some type of shooting, went to my first shoot Sunday, i couldn't help set up the targets, so i help picking up the brass, so I didn't get much seat time, and had to spend all day in bed So I don't know if I will be shooting much The leather working for me is, I have a Super Old faithing couch right by my work bench, and if i have one of those attack's, 5 feet and I am laying down.
Let me know when you do!
ACE

[Marshal Will Wingam]

so i help picking up the brass, so I didn't get much seat time, and had to spend all day in bed So I don't know if I will be shooting much

We have a guy in our club with a hitch in his getalong. We put him at the unloading table on a chair so he doesn't overdo it. You may want to see about that.

[R.T. Rangebum]

Ace,

Buddy if you can get to my place I'll have some tooling to do. I've always got honey dos waiting for a "round toit". You know, honey ( daddy, buddy, pal )  can you make me..... Ya honey ( babe, bud, pal ) I'll do it when I get a round to it. When you start working with leather and folks find out, you'll have friends you never knew about.

Any way there's always something that needs making. So, you just get out here and I'll show you what I know ( little as it is ).

Rangebum

[Ten Wolves Fiveshooter]

Howdy to all my Pards out there 

      Will the long wait is over, I just got my new MULE, that Ace Lungger made for me , it's the same one thats at the begining of this topic, The only thing I can say is thank you Ace you did a beautiful and professional job on this Mule, and now I can have my stitching out in front of me , and make it easier on my back, being able to have the Mule stationed on the floor will work out a lot better for me , and having it high enough will make all the defference, the walnut wood you used is outstanding, and the hand oiled and rubbed finish is beautiful, useing hardwood like this makes it strong and solid, I know this will last me a life time and will be passed down in my family.

                                                   Thanks again Ace, your a Heck of a Pard 


                                                                  tEN wOLVES 

[Ace Lungger]

  You are welcome my friend!! It gave me geat pride to do this for you, and a big thanks for all the help you have been to me!

Have Fun with It!
ACE