| Project by SteveM | posted 117 days ago | 414 views | 2 times favorited | 18 comments | ![]() |
I was fortunate to see Sam Maloof demonstrate for our club last year. Amazing skill and a really nice man. Luck followed me and a local cabinet maker, Harold Dodson, agreed to teach me how he makes Maloof inspired rockers. I’m a rookie at this stuff and had no idea how well the final product would be. That’s a testament to how well Harold teaches. Harold takes on a few students, maximum two at a time, and some of his work can be seen at http://dodsonwoodworking.com/. The wood is wormy maple but it sounds better to call it ambrosia maple – kinda like my shop is a “studio”. That would add 20% to the price if I sold any of my stuff.
Only one coat of finish at this stage and as soon as I get my butt out of it I’ll a few more to enhance the look. Right now the feel is great and the smile on my face large.
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18 comments so far
GaryK
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8182 posts in 375 days
posted 117 days ago
That looks great! I have got to make one of those.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Rob Drown
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50 posts in 220 days
posted 117 days ago
Absolutely gorgeous. How long did it take you? what tools did you use? Is it sized to you?
-- Days in the shop don't count toward the total.
cajunpen
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5256 posts in 453 days
posted 117 days ago
Stunning – and you should be proud. It look very comfortable, the wood is fantastic. You were lucky to find someone willing to teach you to make it – I’d love to make one like it.
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
ND2ELK
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1816 posts in 161 days
posted 117 days ago
Hi Steve
You did a beautiful job on the chair. It will be a heirloom for your family for years to come.
Tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
TomK
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337 posts in 261 days
posted 117 days ago
The laminated rockers are an especially nice touch. In have to say, a rocking chair of this caliber is where it all comes together, with the joinery and the sculpting of the seat. There is and artisan here in Texas who teaches a class in building rockers that I aspire to taking one day soon. Thanks for sharing this. Congratulations!
-- North Texas
SteveM
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58 posts in 554 days
posted 117 days ago
Cajun (where I was married),
Based on my journal, about 50 hours not including initial stock prep and with lots of advice from Harold. I have some nice walnut for #2 and that timing should tell me more (longer I’m guessing as I try to recall the steps and neat tricks Harold knows). Tools were basic shop tools including jointer, planer, table saw, band saw, some hand tools and LOTS of shaping and even MORE sanding with powered hand tools then my hands. Sized exactly for me. I never knew how much goes into relative arm height, seat width and pitch, etc. and most importantly placement of the rockers so it sits well empty and loaded, can rock by the mere movement of an ankle and doesn’t walk across the floor. If you have some time are are in the upstate South Carolina area I’d certainly recommend Harold.
Scott Bryan
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7752 posts in 209 days
posted 117 days ago
Steve,
This is a gorgeous rocker. And I love your wood selection. I can well understand why you would have trouble finishing it. The chair just begs for someone to use it. Very nicely done.
Thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Lee A. Jesberger
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2022 posts in 366 days
posted 117 days ago
Hi Steve,
I’m with Gary, I have to make one of those as well!
They add charm and beauty to any room!
Beautiful job.
Lee
-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com
Chris
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856 posts in 378 days
posted 117 days ago
Hi Steve,
This is a gorgeous piece of furniture. It gives me something to shoot for as I advance my skills; right know i’m just making boxes & bowls.
-- Chris
SPalm
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650 posts in 269 days
posted 116 days ago
Hey Steve,
Your studio sure can produce some nice stuff. Keep it comming. I am impressed.
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
darryl
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664 posts in 713 days
posted 116 days ago
that is a great looking rocker! wonderfull job.
I really love the look of that ambrosia maple. looks fantastic!
-- ~ www.darrylmasterson.com ~ www.woodworkingdungeon.blogspot.com ~
rikkor
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6447 posts in 261 days
posted 116 days ago
That is one fine rocker. Wish I had the mojo to make one.
-- Maplewood, MN
CharlieM1958
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3477 posts in 605 days
posted 116 days ago
Fantastic work, Steve. Have you seen Scott Shangraw’s rockers posted here? Yours looks pretty close to me, and he gets $thousands for his!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
hap
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130 posts in 176 days
posted 114 days ago
very cool.
-- hap, gunbarrel city tx.
SteveM
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58 posts in 554 days
posted 113 days ago
Thanks for the kind comments and to those who have said “I wish . . ” give it a go. I’m really a novice having called myself an occasional framing carpenter assistant. The first ‘real’ project was a poker table and with the excellent guidance of Harold Dodson in Pickens SC amazed myself with this chair. If I can do it, anyone can do it – as long as Harold is there. I;m sure he’d take on a couple more students.
Being compared to Scott’s work is an extreem compliment of which I’m not worthy. I continue to tell people , I’m trying to get good enough so I’ll feel comfortable giving my stuff away (soon, maybe but not the chair when I get there).
DAN
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2582 posts in 370 days
posted 109 days ago
beautiful project … hope to make something like this someday
-- a legend in my own mind ...
biff_kpv
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202 posts in 250 days
posted 106 days ago
Steve, from one chairmaker to another this is a nice looking rocking chair!
-- Kevin -- (http://www.kevinswoodshop.blogspot.com)
coolbreeze
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105 posts in 122 days
posted 104 days ago
Steve,
Now that’s a serious project. Your rocker is a bridge that I hope we all get to cross one day. Beautiful!
-- Jason, AL