Yesterday Monday December 9, 2009 I finally got started on building my Sam Maloof inspired rocking chair. I have already created all the templates, jigs, and the form for laminating the rockers, but yesterday I actually began working on the seat.
I regard my first chair as somewhat of a 'prototype,' even though I am building from instructions and templates I purchased from Scott Morrison (www.finewoodworker.com). I am building this prototype using the boards of Claro Walnut that are most flat sawn. I regard this wood as the lowest quality of the wood I purchased from a young man in Angel's Camp, CA. It was sawn in approximately 2 in. slabs from a tree that had been in his parent's back yard and had declined and died over the past five years. So if I make any mistakes I have reduced the impact to my wood supply.
So as I begin today I have sawn the five 2 in. by 21 in. pieces required for the seat. I have jointed one large face and the small faces. Today I will plane the non-jointed face down to the required 1 3/4 in. final thickness. Then I will cut each board to the final 21 in. length. Speaking of the 21 in. length. I made my first mistake yesterday by cutting two of the boards too short. Fortunately the boards are not too far off (20 1/4 in.) and can be used on the outer sides of the seat where I don't need the entire 21 in. length due to the curve in the rear of the seat. After getting the boards to their final dimensions, I will saw the 3 degree cuts to cooper the scooped shape of the seat. After that, if I get to it, I will drill the holes for the 1/2 dowels I will use to align the boards and to add strength to the joints.
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