I saw a nice Rocking Chair that Mike Pekovich from Fine Woodworking presented in the last issue and having never made one, I thought I'd give it a shot. Lots & Lots of curved and angled joinery and more mortise and tenon work then I've done in a long while. And not having a machine for that made for lots & lots of drilling and chisel work…lol He made his out of oak and I made mine from cherry. I took my time and it turned out to be a really fun build. There are bending jigs you have to make for the rockers, and there is a whole class on upholstery for the cushion. (I used a couple of patio chair cushions after I regained consciousness from looking at what a thick leather cushion would cost to make…holy smokes…lol) I followed the instructions as best I could and only deviated when his plan called for use of tools or materials I don't have. All in all it was a lot of work, but I have to admit that it sits super comfortably, and is a pleasure to sit in. Well balanced and keeps rocking after you stop pushing for a long time. I finished it in liberal amounts of linseed oil and then I let it sit in our Florida sunshine for a couple of days and boy o boy did that ever turn it a beautiful brownish amber which everyone here likes. Cherry is really cool that way. I've included a bunch of process shots below in no particular order. Thank you for looking at it. And have a great day. Then, the neighborhood gang showed up to see what was going on. A tough bunch but if you have a couple of bugs laying around to pay them off, they leave you alone…lol If I ever start making more chairs, I'm going to invest in a nice mortise and tenon machine. Gave my scrappers a good sharpening and that cherry turned out smooth as a baby's butt. The bending form for the rockers took a day to make out of MDF and some scrap cherry for the base. (currently on Craigslist because it's too nice to throw out and I don't have room for all the jigs I have now!)..lol Then my grandson hung out with me for a while and to do some laps around the driveway. This chair took a pretty good chunk of my cherry. I'm going to have to make a run to the lumber yard when management isn't looking. Enough pictures. You get the idea. Thanks again and have a great day. Eric
I have been wanting to make a small box for a while to learn the details of small joinery and the sequence in which things should be done. This is my first attempt and I think it turned out rather well for a first try. I used red oak and poplar since I am just learning and didn't want to spend a fortune on materials. The finish used was 2 coats of Danish oil.
Our puppy quickly outgrew his crate and required something a little more, actually a lot more. So I came up with this. Its all done with 2×3 that were all jointed and planed. the stain is a mix of walnut and some classic American that I had left over the same with the paint the paint is a bunch of paint samples the wife collects but never seems to use for anything. and the last picture is one of my shop buddy who just want to hang out and help. Thanks for looking.
I saw a nice Rocking Chair that Mike Pekovich from Fine Woodworking presented in the last issue and having never made one, I thought I'd give it a shot.
Then, the neighborhood gang showed up to see what was going on. A tough bunch but if you have a couple of bugs laying around to pay them off, they leave you alone…lol
If I ever start making more chairs, I'm going to invest in a nice mortise and tenon machine.
Enough pictures. You get the idea.
I have been wanting to make a small box for a while to learn the details of small joinery and the sequence in which things should be done. This is my first attempt and I think it turned out rather well for a first try. I used red oak and poplar since I am just learning and didn't want to spend a fortune on materials. The finish used was 2 coats of Danish oil.
Our puppy quickly outgrew his crate and required something a little more, actually a lot more. So I came up with this. Its all done with 2×3 that were all jointed and planed. the stain is a mix of walnut and some classic American that I had left over the same with the paint the paint is a bunch of paint samples the wife collects but never seems to use for anything. and the last picture is one of my shop buddy who just want to hang out and help. Thanks for looking.