Making A Shave Horse With My Daughter

 I have an axe head I bought a while back that still needs a handle. I've looked at buying one online to match but can't find anything that I think will fit or that I like. So I want to make my own. Now I have plenty of tools that I can make one with but I know from experience that a shave horse is the easiest way to hold and work it. 

Now I have made a couple over the years (one for my brother and one for myself) but I sold mine when I had nowhere to store it after we moved here. I've decided that even if I just chuck a sheet over it it'll be worth having it outside. I also had a few lengths of less than straight 4x2 so this seemed a good use of them. 

I decided that the design I used last time was ideal - it's a simple one designed by Mike Abbott called Champion The Lumber Horse - click the link to see the plans - doesn't take long to build and uses really easily available materials.   

I also thought this would be the perfect project to do with my eldest daughter. She loves making things and it's been great to see her skills develop. 

So for this she marked all the timber to length, squared it and helped me cut it by hand. Then once we got to assembly she drilled all the pilot holes and screwed in the screws. 

She was so good with all the tools and any downtime she grabbed a broom to sweep up! 

A lovely way to spend time together and I'm hoping we'll be able to make a few things with it!

She was as pleased as punch with it when finished and loved showing the others! Need to find my old draw knife now to use with it. 

Now I need to find a bit of ash to make an axe handle! 

Who else uses a shave horse or has made one in the past?