Help me find Hardwood Pegs

[JimXJ2000]

The shaving horse can be fun...but it took about 3 tries to get one that worked for me.

Search YouTube - there are some good ideas out there.   Some are works of art.  Some are more practical.  I ended up using some screws and bolts to hold it together.  Function became more important then style for making barn parts. 

We bought wooden pegs, but worked the ends a bit so rough cut points stick out rather than the smooth turnings.  I have also made spindles for railings with the shaving horse out of new oak. 



    

[kgb12158]

Here is 2 more cents.  Riven in my opinion is the key factor.  I will say depending on how straight your riven blank is turning it should be fine.  I've found there can be a bit of curve to my blanks that is not a problem if finished by hand.  Turning a curved blank may be an issue.  I enjoy hand shaving my pegs and likely can produce them more quickly from a blank than I could set up and turning on a lathe.  The pegs were never intended to be perfect. 
Enclosed is a peg in a joint with the large end square.  Truly a square peg in a round hole.  This is from the attic of a ~1790 Episcopal church in upstate NY.  The peg was shave 8 sided and tapered on the opposite end.  Someone saved time by working only the 1 end.
Interesting discussion but 100-200 years ago I assume the pegs were split from a block then hand shaved with a draw knife or chisel.  I tend to use historical practices just my choice.

[kgb12158]

 

  

 

[kgb12158]

 

 

[AlaskaLes]

All good information!
It sounds like I'll be building a shave horse at some point in my future.
I'm likely to try both shaved and turned pegs, just to see how they differ.
I like the idea of soaking them to increase flexibility and lubricity.

It's cool that a simple question here can turn into a long list of answers based on years of personal experience
...and I didn't even start this one!

[Dan Miller]

I like the idea of soaking them to increase flexibility and lubricity.

Your pegs want to be dry when you assemble the frame.

[AlaskaLes]

Explain your statement Dan.
Is that to avoid future shrinkage?

[Dan Miller]

Yes - they will loosen as they shrink. Also the ends of dry pegs won't mash up when you drive them home.

[AlaskaLes]

Thanks Dan, that makes sense.
I'll plan on keeping them dry, rather than soaking.

Slightly off topic...We went out to the creek front property yesterday and staked the pad for 6 driven pilings.  We'll be building a 14 X 20 deck and building our 1st timber frame structure there.  It will be a 14' hexagon shaped gazebo with a small deck facing the creek and a stone fireplace and maybe a small stone pizza oven. 
To be used for grilling and chilling.  Can't wait to get started.

[Justin Bailey]

www.loghomestore.com has 3/4" and 1" round different lengths up to 14" in ash oak maple and some black locust. I bought over 100 or so 3/4" black locust 8" long from them, nice quality, they're located in Oregon.

On the site, look under hardware/fasteners/timberframe pegs.