The Woodworking Life

The Woodworking Life

Rocker Project: How to Make an Arrow Rocker in Ash

comments (2) February 17th, 2009 in blogs

petersturner peter turner, contributor
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Lumber for my rocker. I start by cutting it up. This is my version of chop-and-drop. The rolling office chair is slightly lower than my horses. It catches the weight of the offcut, so my free hand can reach across and easily brace to give a clean finish to the cut.
Ready for resawing... The bottom length is 32, all from 12/4 ash.
After resawing, the first stack of lumber became this stack. I also have three 1/8 laminates, glued up in the form. Its satisfying because I was able to re-use the form. This one was first used to shape the redwood aprons for a 40 diameter, wine table.
The goal. Eventually the laminates will become the curved backrest for a rocker. This one is in riftsawn, white oak, the next in ash. Ill have it done in time to be shown in my booth at the CRAFTBOSTON show, March 27th-29th. More at www.craftboston.org.
Lumber for my rocker. I start by cutting it up. This is my version of chop-and-drop. The rolling office chair is slightly lower than my horses. It catches the weight of the offcut, so my free hand can reach across and easily brace to give a clean finish to the cut. - CLICK TO ENLARGE

Lumber for my rocker. I start by cutting it up. This is my version of chop-and-drop. The rolling office chair is slightly lower than my horses. It catches the weight of the offcut, so my free hand can reach across and easily brace to give a clean finish to the cut.
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Watch my progress as I build a rocking chair. It will be shown in my booth at the CRAFTBOSTON show, March 27th-29th.

I'll keep entries coming as I build, to show how it comes together. Click on the photos above to see the steps.

All posts on the rocker project 

Part 1: Mill the lumber and laminate the back rest (above)
Part 2: Turn the rocker legs
Part 3: The joinery
Part 4: Final fitting and shaping
Part 5: Project complete

When everything is said and done, it'll look like this:

The goal. Eventually the laminates will become the curved backrest for a rocker. This one is in riftsawn, white oak, the next in ash. Ill have it done in time to be shown in my booth at the CRAFTBOSTON show, March 27th-29th. More at www.craftboston.org.

 

www.petersturner.com


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Comments (2)

begame begame writes: Dear Peter,
Your rocker is a real beauty. I am a furniture restorer in Israel and have a lot of experience working with Danish cord. We are also the local importers of Daish cord in Israel. May I suggest that you shape your rails with a slight rounded finish. This way the cord will hug the rails and give you a much tighter finish on the rails. If you don't want to round the rails you can stretch a double row of the same cord and staple it into the centre of the rail (horizontally). This will raise the cord in the centre of the rail and give you a tight hug on the rail.
Posted: 5:39 am on March 6th

toolszeke toolszeke writes: Peter - thanks for sharing your work. I visited your Website and viewed your portfolio. Beautiful work.
Thanks again
Posted: 12:40 pm on February 18th

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