Bent wood stirrup tutorial

Even though I'm not participating in Anna Helt's International Model Tack Month, I've really enjoyed the group's Facebook page. I may be semi-retired, but I'm still fascinated by the process of making model horse tack. Also, sometimes someone posts a tutorial that absolutely needs to be shared. This guest post by Meg Walker is a prime example. Thank you so much, Meg, for letting us look over your shoulder while you work. These stirrups are fabulous!

Bent Wood Stirrup Tutorial

by Meg Walker

I use wood veneer to make wooden stirrups. The veneer is for making and repairing real furniture. Amazon and eBay both have it. Look for veneer sheets, not the sticky backed kind. A mixed pack costs less than twenty dollars. 

The first step is to draw a template for your stirrups. This should be the exact size you want them to be. Then cut the veneer into strips that are longer and and slightly wider than your template.

Boil the veneer strips for thirty minutes or longer. Then glue them together with wood glue. Attach your stirrup template to a piece of wood with double stick tape. Starting at the bottom, drive three nails into the template. Gently bend the veneer strips around the nails and continue working your way, driving in more nails as you go. This will be a soggy mess of wood and glue but keep going. Allow everything to dry completely.

Once dry, remove them from the pattern and use a Dremel and cut off wheel to remove the tops and a sander to shape the pieces. Sand the sides on a flat surface until all the wood strips are flush.

These are ready for satin polyurethane. Then they will get their leather tread laced on and hardware.

The next step is to add the stirrup leather bar. For this, you will need lightweight sheet metal, a hole punch and small hand drills. In this case I'm using metal from a tea light. My drill came from Micro Mark.

Punch four circles in a piece of sheet metal. Then use a needle tool to punch tiny holes in the circles.

The bar is a tube bead. I wish these were silver in color, but all I had was gold. It doesn't really matter. They will be covered with leather anyway.

Drill holes in the stirrups just small enough for straight pins. Cut two pins the length of the tube bead and put a metal circle on each pin. Thread the pins partway through the stirrup with pliers. Fill the tube bead with super glue and put some glue on the pin wires. Place the bead between the pins and push the pins into the bead.

I use Loctite superglue gel. It gives me time to align everything and is not runny. 

Here are the finished stirrups.

Thanks again, Meg, for allowing me to share your tutorial here. I can't wait to see your finished project!