Rocking horse has the look of an heirloom

Don and Dave Runyan   /  U-Bild

The rocking horse is built from a single 10-foot piece of lumber. (U-BILD)

Nicknamed "Slivers," this little rocking horse was one of the original do-it-yourself "trace, cut and assemble" designs created by U-Bild founder Steve Ellingson in the late 1940s. Made up of just 17 pieces, all traced from full-size patterns, the design enabled all woodworkers to get great results. Over the years, "Slivers" has become an heirloom in countless families.

Built from a single 10-foot piece of 1-by-12 lumber (clear pine as pictured, but other wood will work), the project requires only common tools and a little patience. First, trace the pieces onto wood, cut out and sand. Next, assemble the pieces using screws and glue. Finally, paint and seal with a clear finish.

The rocking horse measures 32 inches long by 26 inches tall by 12 inches wide. It features rounded edges that eliminate sharp points and corners and a limited rocking motion that makes it difficult to tip.

The Rocking Horse plan, No. 56, is $9.95 and includes complete step-by-step directions, full-size traceable patterns, a shopping list and cutting schedule and a toll-free help line for project questions. The plan also has alternate traceable patterns for the head and feet that transform the project into a rocking elephant.

A package of four kids' rocker plans, No. C73, is $24.95 and includes this rocking horse and another one, plus a rocking dinosaur and a rocking airplane. A free catalog picturing dozens of do-it-yourself projects is also available. Please include $4 for postage and handling and allow about two weeks for delivery.

To order by mail, clip this article and send it with a check or money order to U-Bild Features, c/o The Spokesman-Review, 3800 Oceanic Drive, Suite 107, Oceanside, CA 92056. To order by credit card, call (800) 828-2453. Visit U-Bild on the Web at u-bild.com.