Classic Rocking Horse

I first made a pair of these classic rocking horses for my two sons over 30 years ago, and after 30 years, its design and classic style still resonate with children today. This rocker comes partially finished, and one can purchase the mop head shown here separately from Amazon (Cotton Cut-End Mop Head).

Wood Choice:

• Pine - By far the cheapest option, pine is a "softwood" and is an ideal cost-saver when this rocker is to be painted. However, pine is known for chipping over time and can occasionally produce splinters if not well maintained. All that aside, pine is perfect for a shou sugi ban finish, as it hardens the wood and makes the grain very pronounced. Janka hardness rating is between 380 and 870 lbf, depending on the exact species.
• Poplar - A "hardwood" not known for splintering, but rather for its buttery smooth finish and low grain detail. This is not an ideal choice for staining as there is little grain to show through, but it is ideal for painting, as the grain doesn't bleed through the paint. Janka hardness rating of 540 lbf
• Oak - Significantly harder than Poplar, white oak has excellent texture, making it ideal for staining. The all-white nature of this wood can come across as a little drab, so consider painting accents or, even better, using colored stains to make those accents pop. Janka hardness rating of 1,360 pounds.
• Walnut - Slightly softer than Oak, walnut brings its beautiful color and grain to the table. This wood can often transition from whitish (sapwood) to reddish-brown to dark brown within a single board, creating beautiful transitions. It is a sin to paint or color-stain this wood, as most people prefer to simply seal it and rely solely on its natural color. Janka hardness rating of 1,010 lbf
• Dark Walnut - Significantly more expensive than our "Walnut" option, this option excludes boards with sapwood, eliminating the transition from the whitish sapwood to the preferred darker brown tones.
• Walnut & Oak - For truly ageless beauty, this variant will surely be a hand-me-down for your grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In this case, we use dark walnut (e.g., no sapwood) for the body, and natural oak (unstained) for the rocker.
  

Finishing Options

• Unfinished - All parts (assembled or not) come sanded, ready for paint or stain. This option is ideal for anyone who wants an assembled (or unassembled) product but still wants to apply their own custom shaping, paint, and/or stain.
• Painted - All parts come painted to your specification.
• Stained - All parts come stained to your specification.