Project Information
I decided to build this rocking chair in January of this year. I had been wanting to make a chair, and had been reading about Windsor Chair making techniques for some time. Decided to go for it when a coworker told me she was cutting down a really beautiful walnut tree in her back yard and asked me if I wanted any of it. I made her a few spoons from it in exchange for the rounds of the tree she gave me.
I bought a set of plans from fine woodworking magazine. Peter Galbert wrote the article, and love the look of his chair. Not having ever made a chair before I obviously wasn't feeling up to the task of designing it myself.
So, 11 months later the chair is completed! It has been a long journey, and I learned a lot in the process.
I split the legs, spindles, arm supports, and stretchers from the tree I was given, shaped the spindles with a draw knife and spokeshave, built a spring pole lathe to turn the round parts on, made a reamer and matching tenon cutters to cut the 5/8" and 7/8" tapered tenons on the legs and arm supports.
I'm really happy with the way the chair turned out overall! It definitely has its flaws, things I'd do differently if I were to do it again. But the walnut is beautiful, and I really enjoyed the build.
I bought a set of plans from fine woodworking magazine. Peter Galbert wrote the article, and love the look of his chair. Not having ever made a chair before I obviously wasn't feeling up to the task of designing it myself.
So, 11 months later the chair is completed! It has been a long journey, and I learned a lot in the process.
I split the legs, spindles, arm supports, and stretchers from the tree I was given, shaped the spindles with a draw knife and spokeshave, built a spring pole lathe to turn the round parts on, made a reamer and matching tenon cutters to cut the 5/8" and 7/8" tapered tenons on the legs and arm supports.
I'm really happy with the way the chair turned out overall! It definitely has its flaws, things I'd do differently if I were to do it again. But the walnut is beautiful, and I really enjoyed the build.