My Maloof Inspired Rocker

Great job. This is really a very fine woodwork.
I like the finish colour very much.

Take care and work safe.

-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.

Outstanding work mike! God bless.

-- Chris

what a beauty. congrats

-- making sawdust....

Beautiful!

-- I'm a wood magician... I can turn fine lumber into firewood before your very eyes! - http://www.woodworkersguide.com

I have always considered a Maloof rocker the brass ring of woodworking. You sir, just grabbed it!

stunning piece of work.

Congratulations, Mike. This chair is truly an outstanding accomplishment!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

What tpastore said! That seat detail in the third photo is excellent, and the stripes in the glue up are pretty cool too. I also want to comment on the photography. You’ve done a masterful job here Mike.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Beautiful !!

-- RTB. "dumb animals are not stupid they simply can't talk "

Mike, you are an inspiration to me and a lot of others on this site that don’t know what they can do until they try, I know Mark D. has that affect on you. He has the ability to encourage and guide in an exceptional manner, as he has with me before. The chair is beautiful and I don’t know of any that I’ve seen any better. What a gift of love and respect to give to someone. They must be true friends. God Bless,

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

Sweet looking Chair!

-- Dennis Zongker

Absolutely gorgeous…I’m very impressed and envious!

-- gbear, Carmichael, CA

WOW, beautiful work, fine craftsmanship, spot on wood selection, congratulations on a fantastic job.
Your friends are very lucky indeed, not only for your gift of the rocker, but the gift of your friendship is worth even more, well done.

-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"

Truly a stunning piece of work, outstanding workmanship and attention to detail!

-- -=Den

Thanks a lot guys. i really apreciate all the great compliments. my fiance just demanded that i let everybody know that the red padauk stripes and plugs were her idea. i wanted to do something more traditional such as ebony or maple. she suggested that i step outside of my traditional lifestyle and try something alitle diferent. she walked over to my scrap drawer and pulled out the padauk . i told her that i dont run a circus..lol… i was unsure about it at first…. when the chair was all said and done i was glad that i listened to my wife. something i will only ocasionally do.

-- i can do all things through christ who strengthens me

Very nice! Excellent job

I love this design of rocker and have wanted to build one myself.
one day….

Truly on par with Sam Maloof’s work. He should see this.

-- Always do the Right Thing the Right Way the First Time - if you can figure out what that is! Ken, Spring Branch, TX

Great job!!! Your wife has a good eye for design. The paduak works great with this style. I ask my wifes opinion sometimes too. Emphasis on sometimes :). Very nice work Mike. I’d like to try a Maloof style chair also. Just don’t know when.

-- Rick

My impression is what’s already been said. I too, have looked at this rocker design as masterpiece. Mark did do a great one as well. I’m simply a long way from getting to that level. More of a goal at present. The thing I imagine will stink for you, is trying to continue to top it. Already at the top in my opinion. Would love to see more posted from your shop.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

VERY nice. I’ve seen other allegedly “Maloof Inspired” pieces that were just that, “pieces . . .” Strong work.

Awesome rocker Mike!

-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)

very beautiful chair. One of these days I’ll have time to take the challenge. Been wanting to make one for a long time.

-- ~ Inspiring those who inspire me ~

Great looking chair! I’ve always wanted to make one of those.

Fantastic job!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Fabulous and exquisite detail, looks like I could sit in that thing for hours. Great job.

-- Jeff - Grapevine, Texas

GREAT job!! Now that is a project a wish I had the Skills to try. Impressive!

-- Marty Ohio

OMG its GORGEOUS! Love it.

-- Check out my new website! http://www.blakeweberwoodworking.com

so many of you say that you wish you had the talent or skill to do such a project. i have news for you. before begining this project i did not have the skill or knwledge to make this chair. i am not lying to any of you when i say that. when trying to build something like this chair you cant look at the whole piece. you must break it into sections. i mean verry small sections. otherwise it is verry easy to get overwhelmed. for instance i didnt think i could build the whole chair. but i knew i could make one of the front legs. those looked easy enough. so i started there. when the leg was finished i started on another small portion of the chair until it was done. along the way whenever i had any questions about demensions, or techniques i would ask someone who had already built the chair. most people were verry helpfull however i must warn you some maloof style chairmakers feel that they are to good to give thier ideas away. they feel that thiere buisness might be threatened by someone else who makes a better chair. i wont mention any names but i will tell you that there are more that will help than not. including myself. i encourage all of those who have always wanted to make a maloof chair to do so. it will give you the feeling that you can make anything afterwords. remember you are only as good as your last project. the only way to get better is to build something that is beyond your skill level. i hope all of you take those words as encouragement and not insult. so many of you give yourselves less credit then you deserve. success is not determened by how much money you make rather how happy you are with what you have achieved.

-- i can do all things through christ who strengthens me

Mike,

I am blown away by the level of craftsmanship that you have achieved on this one. Greater yet, the many lessons that you have learned.

You have experienced – first hand, the lessons on stepping out of one’s comfort zone and challenging yourself. This is reflected in your project and your writing. For future projects you will realize that even though you have never done it before, you only need to apply the principles from previous projects to succeed.

I admire the research and study you did and the way that you applied the knowledge. Bravo for being bold enough and humble enough to ask for help. Believe it or not, this is exactly how I achieved success on my best projects. My experience was quite similar as well, some helped and some were threatened. I personally decided that I would always help.

Thanks for the mention, it is quite humbling. I am so glad that your project was such a great success. You have risen to such a greater level in so many meaningful ways. It has been a privilege to watch you grow.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Beautifull rocker!!! I would love to make one half a beautifull as yours, I have not gotten the talented just yet but praticing on small projects before I tackle somthing as beautifull as your rocker. Thanks for sharing with all of us here on LJ.

-- David, Tignall,Georgia

Wow – the attention to detail rocks! Thanks for sharing, you really inspire!

-- Cov, Loomis, CA, http://www.covingtonwoodworks.com

Sam who? you rock, no pun intended…..that is awesome….I strive and continue to make a mess in my garage so that someday I can build something as beautiful.

Just a wonderful creation Mike. The use of the wood grain, the contrast colors, the sculpting, and overall appeal are just wonderful. It is based on a Maloof Chair, and I see some Bill Kappel in it, but yet you made it your own also. Kudos.

Now that you have completed a chair like this, you won’t be happy doing rectangles and squares anymore.

I will enjoy watching as you move forward with all that you learned in the process of designing and building the rocking chair.

Probably the best skill you learned was to tackle something that was at first intimidating, and yet you persevered(sp?) and overcame.

The future looks bright for you, and I’m excited to be one of those that will watch with great anticipation where the Good Lord takes you.

Hurray!
M

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

thank you to everybody here. i apreciate all that was said, and everything i take to heart. i will continue to strive toward my goals as long as i have people like you in my life to encourage me to go on with my journey. thanks again folks…........

-- i can do all things through christ who strengthens me

very nice

-- http://www.efcabineture.com/ Woodworking for a living is a lifestyle not a career.

Yeah, just had to come back over and take another look….Sweeeet.

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

Excellent work Mike!

-- miles125, Alabama.."Architecture is frozen music""