Scottish Green Woodworkers

Draw-horses or shave-horses have been in use for thousands of years and come in a number of different designs, all of them are based on the same principle. By pushing with your feet on the lower rung of the draw-horse the upright section pivots on it's central pin, the upper rung comes down and clamps the billet of wood, it is in effect a vice. Before the draw-horse is needed the log of green wood must be split or cleaved into, normally quarters, the edges are then trimmed using a side axe until a very rough cylinder or billet is produced. The turner then takes these billets and using a drawknife in conjunction with the draw-horse gets the billets to near perfect cylinders. At this stage the billets are ready to go onto the pole lathe. Draw-horses can be used for a whole range of jobs that require the ability to clamp the piece of wood you are working on. Rustic bench legs, rake handles, spoons, bow making, putting a point onto a homemade garden fence post, the draw-horses uses are endless.

Draw-Horse...