Hal Taylor Rocking Chair #10: New book and toys, err I mean tools

Hal’s new book and plan templates arrived the other week. Since I am gearing up to complete two customer chairs by xmas this was a welcome change. The book is longer, contains some new hints, details and is actually simpler in many ways than the original plans and book. A couple of problems I ran into is that some of my original jigs and fixtures were changed in the new book and I had to refer to the older book in a couple of places for setting them up, or make new jigs. Since I am pressed for time on these two chairs I am going to hold off making new jigs til after the new year.

A new tool that Hal recommended is the Kutzall carving disk. It is a tungsten carbide 4” wheel for the right angle grinder. I found them on clearance at my local Woodcraft, bought all they had and love them. I carved one seat so far, it was safer, cleaner and actually quicker than using the Lancelot chainsaw carving wheel. The teeth showed no wear and I have a feeling these are going to hold up for a long time. For some reason the coarse models were marked as discontinued so I got them on clearance, but I hope they bring them back.

Carving Wheel

I will post another entry after completing this first chair using the new book.

-- Rich, WNY, www.nyrockingchairs.com