Scrap Myrtle Wood

I get a little confused by the amount of work that goes into a piece like this, I’ve seen many time guys that go to all the trouble and use pine. I would think that if you went to extent of making such a beautiful piece you would use a wood that complaints the work. I am not saying that to be rude. I just want to give you some quality wood. I think that the seat is the main culprit.

-- Lizardhead---Yeah but it's a dry heat--Tempe, Az

Looks to me that the wood compliments the work! That’s fine looking scrap wood. I’m sure whoever ends up with this rocker will prize it! Thanks for the plans!

-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com

Personally i like to see imperfections in wood. It’s what wood is, not always perfect, but still looks great.
It’s a shame to burn wood just because it has a few knots in it.

Hmm… What can we do with scrap wood? I work almost exclusively with scrap wood from pallets, and I would like to point out that there are several reasons I use scrap rather then quality lumber.
1. Can’t afford high quality lumber.
2. Not entirely sure if I can pull off any given project and don’t feel bad messing up scrap wood.
3. Want to make something beautiful and functional out of something ugly and useless.

These are just my reasons but I think some people can relate. I put a lot of weight on #3 so even when I have the money and know I can do the project, sometimes I use scrap anyway.
Beautiful scrap wood rocking chair. Thanks for sharing.

-- I played with Legos as a kid and I never had the part I thought I needed, so I learned to improvise. Now I'm an engineer with a woodworking hobby.

Your work is nothing short of amazing. You’ve taken an internal snapshot of a living tree that will be preserved for many generations that will admire the work and the material.

Wood is an imperfect material and it’s beauty is derived from it’s imperfect nature.

This type of craftsmanship and the materials chosen are inspiring.

-- Nicky

Frankly, I have trouble calling any wood scrap. I have boxes of small pieces and most of them I use for some part of a project or another. I have a small wood burner in my shop for heat and I am always running out of wood to burn because I used it for a box hinge or as a piece of inlay on something. I try to use every thing I can from a piece of wood….and when that is impossible, well then it is time to throw them in the fire….believe me the pieces in my stove are quite small most of the time.

Great job on that chair too….it is nothing short of spectacular….the grain is superb….just goes to show that nature is the best teacher of artistic design and color….

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

I love the knots and am glad you utilized them. A project that is made from only “pristine” lumber without knots or whorls or dark markings or light markings in dark wood is completely bland and boring! This has lots of character and I would be thrilled with something like that in my home! You done good!

Personally, I think I would have used turquoise inlay instead of ivory, but that’s me!

-- Erwin, Jacksonville, FL

Beautiful. I would love to find some Myrtle for my toys.

-- A childs smile is payment enough.

That is a beautiful rocker. Yeah the seat doesn’t look like it’s sculpted from one slab but to me that is character. I’ll bet it is just as comfortable as the ones made from high dollar wood. I would love to own it!

-- " I'll try to be nicer, if you'll try to be smarter" gfadvm

Very nice!

-- Cau Haus Designs, Thomas J. Tieffenbacher

From scrap to sculpture, amazing

-- DocK, WV

Great work, but the story makes the chair. Nicely done and inspirational!

Very nice, I use mostly scrap, same reasons as Ben. The only problem I have now is I have tons of cut offs and scrap but no real boards of any kind, guess I will be doing a lot of glue ups in the near future.

-- Martin ....always count the number of fingers you have before, and after using the saw.

Thank you all or all you all for the nice comments. It helps one to keep coming back.

gfadvm:
The seat is five boards like all my seats. I learned this from Sam Maloof to use five boards let you waste a lot of wood and shape the seat with more style. Also the five boards reduce cracking and make a stronger seat. Even if I start with one nice looking board I will cut it into five for these advantages.

-- Rocking Chair Guy

Great Job love the chair & the knots give it character.
I made a rocking chair for my kids 30 years ago now my granddaughter sits in it.

-- Swede -- time to make some sawdust