That is a good looking leg. Great job!

Just now, Chips N Dust said:

That is a good looking leg. Great job!

Great legs for sure! Thanks Chips.

8 hours ago, Chips N Dust said:

That is a good looking leg. Great job!

 

8 hours ago, John Morris said:

Great legs for sure! Thanks Chips.

We're still talking about the rocking chair, right?

9 hours ago, John Morris said:

I love sharing Gramps. I get an ego boost from you guys when I do.

You know, they did have access to some beautiful figured maple Dave, actually more so than we do today, I have seen original chairs with gorgeous figure, here is a chair at the New Lebanon Museum in New York. This chair was built in the 1850's.

Here is the link to the furniture gallery for the New Lebanon Museum: https://shakerml.org/blogs/furniture

 

 

Can't wait to see this chair progress! That sure is some nice figure in the wood.

 

Now, question. In the photo above the back legs have metal (brass or steel) feet. I don't know that I ever saw these on a Shaker style chair, was that common? Why only the back? ...education time!

33 minutes ago, schnewj said:

 

Can't wait to see this chair progress! That sure is some nice figure in the wood.

 

Now, question. In the photo above the back legs have metal (brass or steel) feet. I don't know that I ever saw these on a Shaker style chair, was that common? Why only the back? ...education time!

Those are tilt back chairs, they actually made the fittings so The back leg tips would stay flat on the surface. Pretty cool huh!

And yes, very common on their tilt backs. Folks would sit on the chairs, and literally tilt back on them.

1 minute ago, John Morris said:

Those are tilt back chairs, they actually made the fittings so The back leg tips would stay flat on the surface. Pretty cool huh!

 

Neat! Thanks, John.

2 hours ago, John Morris said:

Those are tilt back chairs, they actually made the fittings so The back leg tips would stay flat on the surface. Pretty cool huh!

And yes, very common on their tilt backs. Folks would sit on the chairs, and literally tilt back on them.

Very interesting,never heard of that before, Mom an Grandma always said "Don't tilt your chair back like that"!

6 minutes ago, Dadio said:

Very interesting,never heard of that before, Mom an Grandma always said "Don't tilt your chair back like that"!

A little more info.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaker_tilting_chair

Very interesting, John. Thanks.

I guess the Shakers were responsible for a number of furniture innovations. More than we realize, it seems. 

17 hours ago, Gene Howe said:

Very interesting, John. Thanks.

I guess the Shakers were responsible for a number of furniture innovations. More than we realize, it seems. 

They must have liked to lean back in their chairs while puffing on their pipes.

Herb

15 minutes ago, Dadio said:

They must have liked to lean back in their chairs while puffing on their pipes.

Herb

Exactly.

On 4/8/2017 at 0:54 PM, John Morris said:

Thanks for the kudos gents!

This morning I have parts roughed out, and ready for planing and smoothing and turning.

I book matched the rockers, arms and back slats.

The chair rungs are in the middle below the back slats, the legs are laying on the sides.

 

 

 

 

You really jump on it this morning. That is looking awesome!!!!

Today I have two back legs heading to the steamer. In just a few minutes they'll be ready to set inside.

Dry fit the legs into the forms, just for a good visual before it's committed.

 

In they go, for about an hour and a half.

I'll take it! A successful bend. 

That's just pretty darned clever. Do you expect any spring back?

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

That's just pretty darned clever. Do you expect any spring back?

We'll see Gene, the Cherry rocker I did have a little bit on one post only, the other post held it's form pretty good. It's going to happen, from what I am learning through doing, studying and reading, it's not a science, every one will be different. But just because one part that is supposed to be the same as the next, isn't, does not mean it's trashed. It's very usable.

I love making these chairs, my experience up until a few years ago consisted of precise machined projects, cabinetry, router shaping, if I couldn't turn a switch on to make it happen, I did not touch it. The chairs have taught me that it's ok to be imperfect, I am finding a ton of beauty in a non-perfect project. And a slightly out of shape post in a chair, makes it all that much more wonderful.

 

When I pop the maple posts from this form, I'll report back with a more accurate summary of how much they sprang back if any. I'll remove them next Friday.

John, did I notice one of the legs already has a wedge slot at the bottom/top?

Couldn't agree more about small imperfections. Adds charm to be celebrated. At least, that's my story and, I'm sticking to it.

Edited April 15, 20179 yr by Gene Howe

3 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

John, did I notice one of the legs already has a wedge slot at the bottom/top?

Couldn't agree more about small imperfections. Adds charm to be celebrated. At least, that's my story and, I'm sticking to it.

No wedges or slots yet Gene. It maybe blade burn that your seeing from when I cut the end off from the lathe.

Front spindle/leg  is turned and I am laying out mortise lines for the rungs. I use a handy pencil holder that is set at the the same height as the lathe center. I can mark parallel lines on a spindle.

You're really "rockin' & a rollin' with this one John...I still can' wait to see this one finished knowing how cool the grain is...

Keep posting away...I'm staying tuned.