Shaker Transitional Rocker Part 2 (Curly Maple)

[John Morris]

Shaker Cherry Rocker

 

Related Topics

• Shaker Transitional Rocker Part 1 (Curly Maple)
• Shaker Transitional Rocker Part 3 (Curly Maple)

 

Current Project

I hope to revive this project this weekend. All the components have been cut, steamed, bent, shaped, and now I need to chop the mortises in the rear legs for the back slats. 

The last time I touched this, was the last time I've done any real meaningful work in my shop, about two years ago. So far the stars are lining up for Dad and the shop the next couple days.

Wish me luck!

 

 

 

And plenty of this. 

 

[Larry Buskirk]

Good luck John! 

[John Morris]

Thanks Larry.

I chopped a couple practice mortices for warm up before I dig into my curly posts.

Looks like I still got it!

 

I used my 1/4" RAY ILES English chisel. I love this tool. Completely solid registration with the material.

[hatuffej]

I recall several years ago on the Wood forum we chatted about making Hal Taylor rocking chairs. I think that you were into making them. I never got started. 

hat

[John Morris]

9 minutes ago, hatuffej said:

I recall several years ago on the Wood forum we chatted about making Hal Taylor rocking chairs. I think that you were into making them. I never got started. 

hat

I made a few of them Hat, then life happened and I had to hang them up for what I thought was just going to be a while. But it turned out I have not made one in about 3 years. They lovely pieces when finished, and I dare say, more comfy than the Maloof rockers, Hal really is a genius with that design.

So that was you on WOOD!

[Gene Howe]

Yep, you still got it. Nice mortices. Nice chisel, too. 

[HandyDan]

Looking good John. 

[John Morris]

1 hour ago, Gene Howe said:

Yep, you still got it. Nice mortices. Nice chisel, too. 

Thanks Gene, the mortises do look pretty good, I must admit though, since it's a scrap piece of poplar it was pretty easy to not get so wound up, but the pucker factor goes way up when chopping into the show-side of anything that requires exposed mortises, gaps are disastrous. I am laying off the coffee completely today, I need those lines to be clean.  I'll have eight of them to chop, four in each post, and I have no doubt one or two will stray, but that's just the name of the game when doing hand work, if it does happen may the Rocker Gods put my slip on the backside of the chair!

[John Morris]

46 minutes ago, HandyDan said:

Looking good John. 

Thank you sir! I should have a ladder back rack at the end of the day to show here, so stay tuned!

[Gene Howe]

May all your gaps be hidden. But, hey. Gaps are merely receptacles for Timber Mate. Besides, you're gonna paint it anyway....right? 

[John Morris]

34 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Timber Mate

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gene, that is blasphemous!

 

35 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

you're gonna paint it anyway....right?

I was thinking about it.

[Gene Howe]

39 minutes ago, John Morris said:

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gene, that is blasphemous!

Well, there's always Durhams Rock Hard, but that's messy. 

[Larry Buskirk]

2 hours ago, John Morris said:

I am laying off the coffee completely today,

Oh Man!!!

I need at least half a pot just to get my one good eye aimed in the right direction.

[hatuffej]

2 hours ago, John Morris said:

Thanks Gene, the mortises do look pretty good, I must admit though, since it's a scrap piece of poplar it was pretty easy to not get so wound up, but the pucker factor goes way up when chopping into the show-side of anything that requires exposed mortises, gaps are disastrous. I am laying off the coffee completely today, I need those lines to be clean.  I'll have eight of them to chop, four in each post, and I have no doubt one or two will stray, but that's just the name of the game when doing hand work, if it does happen may the Rocker Gods put my slip on the backside of the chair!

Years ago, I made a jig that allows me to make nearly perfect mortises with my router. I think that if you made the slats slightly thicker, say by 1/16-inch, then make the tenons, they would fit in your chiseled mortises and cover any potential gaps. 

 

I meant to include Sam Maloof in my earlier comment. Maybe I'll have to reconsider getting into a chair. 

 

[Gene Howe]

Maloof or Taylor, I'll bet John's sit nice. Either one would be welcome at my house. No pun intended, but my chair making skills stop at Morris. 

[John Morris]

15 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Maloof or Taylor, I'll bet John's sit nice.

Thanks Gene, the Shaker chairs, while not as incredibly comfortable as the sculpted rockers, they are a joy to sit in and rock, I just love rocking chairs, it's a fetish that someday I'll able to satisfy by making many of them, but I am afraid that day will have to be after I retire, still got a few years to go, for now though I can make the occasional, and be happy.

[John Morris]

55 minutes ago, Larry Buskirk said:

I need at least half a pot just to get my one good eye aimed in the right direction.

I've heard only stories about you half pot and full pot coffee drinkers, man I don't know how you all do it, you must have nerves of steel cuz two cups and I'm sitting on the moon, one is perfect, and that'll last me all day!

[Thad]

Looking forward to seeing the end results.  Looks like you're off to a good start.

[Larry Buskirk]

1 hour ago, John Morris said:

I've heard only stories about you half pot and full pot coffee drinkers, man I don't know how you all do it, you must have nerves of steel cuz two cups and I'm sitting on the moon, one is perfect, and that'll last me all day!

Heck John,

We're just about done with the third pot. 

[John Morris]

Clamped up and ready to go.