There are shaving horses, and also the bodger’s horse — the differences are shown with illustrations in the wonderful article by Roy Underhill, The Woodwright’s Guide Working Wood with Wedge & Edge.
Now we also have the Strasihorse
The Strasihorse is the creation of my friend Harry “Junior” Strasil. Correction: Junior sent me this photo; it is Junior’s friend, a blacksmith who spends a lot of time on a regular shaving horse. Here he is, trying out Junior’s new horse:
Like so many woodworkers, Junior suffers back trouble when standing or sitting for prolonged periods. His back gets worse when he uses the traditional shaving horse, in which the legs are used to activate the vise that holds the work piece.
In the Strasihorse, the craftsman’s weight activates the vise; to release the hold, all he does is stand slightly. At first I thought this partial standing motion might make his back hurt more. But Junior told me it actually helps his back, by providing some relief from a semi-constant body position.
Junior will travel to the Kansas City Woodworkers Guild Open House on September 10, to demonstrate his new shaving horse. You can read the Guild’s Newsletter by clicking on this link.
I will miss the Open House, as I have a commitment in Jefferson City that weekend. But I hope you can attend. I hope someone will shoot video of Junior on the Strasihorse.
— Al Navas
About Al Navas