| Project by woodup | posted 210 days ago | 2285 views | 0 times favorited | 17 comments |  |
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What an great lumberjocks challenge to get the creative juices flowing! I had been mulling over what I could pull out of a 2×4 and the rocking chair idea gave me a sleepless night playing with dimensions in my head. The next day I started cutting…..
It almost looks like a rocking chair even in its rough format. Some curves were needed so with the rocker bottoms and the head rest I cut the curves and then reglued them to the oposite surface. This turned out better than I could have planned!
The seat started out with two pieces 13 7/8 with one cut in half and the other cut with a partial angel then rabbited and glued. The angle jig below allowed me to drill into the seat with 5 degrees to the side and ten degrees towards the back to get the seat back tilt. The same jig in a different formation allowed me to get 15 degree angles for the rocker leg supports.
It seemed no tool in my arsenol went unused!
Things are now taking shape and more detail is being added like roughing out scrolling on the rocker bottoms and shaping the armrests.
This illustrates the transformation of the seat. I have always admired the dip in a chair seat and the definition it brings to the chair. I outlined the pattern with scotch tape and used a 60 grit hand sander to tear up the wood.
It’s fun to compare the progress from one stage to the next. The final product has two coats of minwax rosewood stain with the edges ‘worn’ away and a semi gloss on top. The seat has one layer of ipswitch pine and three layer of gloss. I used screws to secure the seat to the front legs then wood glue and my air nailer for the rest.
I have never made a chair before let alone a rocking chair! This was a great challenge and the finished product is very rewarding. It seemed that for every hour of actual work there were at least two hours of trying to problem solve on the next step.
For this project…
Favorite big tools: Belt Sander (birthday gift!), Band Saw.
Favorite small tools: Masking Tape and Protractor.
Favorite jigs: 10 degree, 5 degree angled blocks.
Casuality: multispeed dremel finally bit the dust.
Thanks Yous: mi esposa for her patience during all my ‘garage time’.
-- Michael, Fort Worth, TX. "I wood if I could!"
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17 comments so far
RobH
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258 posts in 490 days
posted 210 days ago
That is a cute little rocker. After I build a bunk bed, I am going into the chair making business for a little while. I hope I can do as good as you.
It is really hard to believe what we can get out of a humble 2×4. It really make me feel guilty about wasting so much wood on other “normal” projects. Maybe I need to try a little harder to squeeze more out of a board.
By the way, the shot of the kid in the chair is priceless.
Keep up the good work.
-- -- Rob Hix, King George, VA
Karson
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12606 posts in 841 days
posted 210 days ago
Great looking chair.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
rikkor
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7076 posts in 315 days
posted 209 days ago
Wow, nice project.
-- Maplewood, MN
Russel
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1214 posts in 380 days
posted 209 days ago
Cool rocking chair and a great write-up on thr process. Apparently it was a success if you can judge by the last photo, the little lady looks comfortable.
-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.
MsDebbieP
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11529 posts in 601 days
posted 209 days ago
and once again I have to say: “And that’s from one 2×4???!!!!!!” impressive.
beautiful chair
great description of the process
fantastic photos
and the wee one—icing on the cake!!!
well done
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
YorkshireStewart
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623 posts in 342 days
posted 209 days ago
Your first chair? That’s one heck of an achievement Woodup! You didn’t set out to make it easy for yourself. I do like your approach with the rockers and headrest. Starting with a 2×4 has brought out some real resourcefulness.
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.
mrtrim
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1505 posts in 321 days
posted 209 days ago
very nice work and nice blog as well ! good luck in the contest
-- if you aint the lead dog the scenery never changes
relic
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315 posts in 377 days
posted 209 days ago
I agree with Stewart, for a first attempt at a chair, this is terrific.
-- Andy Stark
Scott Bryan
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8465 posts in 263 days
posted 209 days ago
This is a really nice project. I am sure that all is forgiven in this case since the end product justifies the time spent in the shop.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Mario
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696 posts in 492 days
posted 209 days ago
That is not cool rocker, and it looks like you already have a customer for it.
-- Hope Never fails
SPalm
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701 posts in 323 days
posted 209 days ago
Very very nice. And the blog too, thanks. A lot going on.
Chairs are the pinnacle of woodworking to me, thanks for the insperation.
I can relate to the time spent thinking about projects. I too find this very enjoyable.
Steve
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
CharlieM1958
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3947 posts in 659 days
posted 209 days ago
I think slipping a cutie like that into your project photo constitutes cheating! Great job anyway!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
paddyo
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11 posts in 211 days
posted 208 days ago
What a great chair you found hiding in a 2×4! I liked the contrast in your choice of stains and really appreciated seeing the details of the different stages of your project. The angle jigs were clever! The added dimension to the chair seat gives your rocker a lot of character as well as a bit more comfort for the user…..she’s very special and seems quite pleased with your project as well. Kudos on a job well planned and completed!
PaddyO
-- Pat, Hoover,AL Fresh cut wood smells almost as good as fresh baked bread!
Andy
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296 posts in 349 days
posted 208 days ago
Wow! This is a great chair considering it all came from a 2×4 is even better.The colors really make it pop and the little doll puts this over the top.Well done!
-- " Stubborn tenacity substitutes for natural ability" ANDY
Damian Penney
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616 posts in 432 days
posted 208 days ago
That’s great! Well done.
-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
Napaman
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1590 posts in 518 days
posted 207 days ago
really amzing…thanks for all the photos and details!!!
-- Matt, Napa, CA...177 days to sanity...
Jiri Parkman
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552 posts in 253 days
posted 203 days ago
Perfect project. Thanks for sharing.
-- Jiri