Introduction

Dear folks, I have a wonderfully pleasant surprise for you, Hal Taylor contacted our community here at The Patriot Woodworker and asked us if we'd like to showcase his original rocking chair book and the first three chapters of his new book, to you all. The premise of this generosity is to help folks make it through their Covid19 Quarantine time in their homes, in their shops. To give you something to read, to take your mind off it all, and hopefully, to start your own journey in making a rocking chair that you and yours will cherish for generations to come, and to even quite possibly help you on your own journey to create a new business for yourself, building chairs.

 

This is an incredible gesture by Hal, and I want to thank him completely for giving us this wonderful opportunity. The main book that Hal is allowing us to view, is the same book I purchased years ago for a pretty penny, it wasn't cheap, and for good reason, it discloses all the secrets into making these incredible chairs, the book takes all the mystery out of the joinery, the bends, the curves, and shapes, the lamination's, all of it. It will become clear once you delve into Hal's book and build your first chair. And the sense of pride you'll have, is incredible, I know it was an awakening moment for me building this chair, there is so much to learn and so many skills you'll learn along the way that will open up your mind to a much wider perspective in woodworking. 

 

View

To view his main book "How to Make a Beautiful Rocking Chair by Hal Taylor" and his newest first three chapters that contain video links to the process of building these chairs, you can see his Dropbox files by clicking on the image below.

I would also like to personally ask you all, that if you do choose to view Hal's books, please consider leaving the books in the Dropbox account, I'd prefer they not be downloaded for copyright reasons, and I'd prefer they be read and viewed online.

 

Given that, I also completely understand that some of you may not have internet access out at the shop thus the ability to view online as you build would not be possible, so the download feature was left intact for you to put on your laptops hard drive to be able to take out to your shop and view it there..

Hal is a very trusting and generous man, please use my suggestions as out lined above. I completely understand there may be the rare instance a download must occur, but please use that feature sparingly, Hal put a ton of work into the production of this book, and we will respect that.

 

 

In closing

I'd like to thank Hal Taylor from the bottom of my heart for allowing us this wonderful opportunity at a great cost to him, but for us it's completely at no cost. I have worked with Hal for a few years now with my own rocking chairs, Hal is always available for questions, he wants you to succeed, he is a philosopher, a gentleman, and something many may not know, he is a veteran, and his heart is big.

Thank you Hal,

 

Links of interest

• Hal Taylor Rocking Chairs
• Hal Taylor YouTube Channel
• Hal Taylor Vimeo Channel
• Hal Taylor Rocking Chair University
• Hal Taylor Rocking Chair Group (forum)

 

Chairs by John Morris (made by Hal Taylor's book)

 

 

Thank you, Brother Hal. A wonderful gesture. You are a good man!

Thanks Hal  !!!

Thanks Hal. 

Thanks to Hal for the thought. I will look but my big furniture projects are behind me and needing almost instant gratification in turning projects.

Thank you, John and Hal.  Love that chair.  I may incorporate some of the ideas into other parts of boxes and such.  

Thank you Hal & John!

OMG!!!!! TRUE CRAFTSMANSHIP!¡!!

CAN'T WAIT TO DOWNLOAD IT TO MY PUTER!!!!!!!!

the book is the right idea. I got his DVD and  at the time he was going through hell with people pirating his material.

Edited August 8, 20205 yr by Cliff

That is some D@m% beautiful work for certain   . Pardon my French. 

Thank you Hal

Old thread, I know.  Those rocking chairs are beautiful.  Although I've made a few chairs along the way I've never made a true rocker. What I have done over the last several decades is help many students of mine succeed with their rocking chair designs.  

 

Almost always on the first day of fine furniture class I ask the students what they want to design and make.  I warn that I have a higher expectation for chair designs (compared to table or casegood designs) and an even higher expectation for rocking chairs.  If that hasn't persuaded  the students to NOT design a rocking chair then I share with them the "secrets" they must know to succeed in that endeavor.   It usually requires a simple sketch to help them understand.

 

I was a judge one year (2007 I think) at the AWFS Fresh Wood Student Furniture Design Competition in Las Vegas and there were a few rocking chairs there that clearly failed to discover the secrets mentioned above.  Sitting in one it rocked back so far that anyone in it felt like it would tip over backwards. In another it would throw you out when you rocked forward.

 

I won't retype it here, but 11 years ago I wrote up my rocking chair physics at:  https://www.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_physics_theory_about_rocking_chairs.   It survives as their "best answer" so far.  I consider that a great compliment since I didn't include a sketch.

 

For the most part every student who has designed and made a rocking chair in our furniture classes has either succeeded wonderfully, or missed the class where I gave away my secrets and only discovered their mistake when they finally could sit on their rocker.  Then there was one student research project who wondered if you could combine a hammock with a rocker.  Hint... No.  

4D