RW

"Roger Woehl"

02/02/2008 12:14 PM

how do you make a rocker for a rocking chair

I have been cutting my rockers with the band saw and then belt sanding to
size. What are some other ways that you use? Does anybody have an easy way
to plot the arc if the rocker based on the size of the chair to be built?

Roger


This topic has 7 replies

G@

"Garage_Woodworks" <.@.>

in reply to "Roger Woehl" on 02/02/2008 12:14 PM

02/02/2008 11:21 PM


"Roger Woehl" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have been cutting my rockers with the band saw and then belt sanding to
>size. What are some other ways that you use? Does anybody have an easy
>way to plot the arc if the rocker based on the size of the chair to be
>built?
>
> Roger
>

Cut close to your pattern line at the band saw then re-attach pattern and
use a pattern bit to take it to the line at the router.

Here is how I would do it: Use a pattern bit to route to the line with the
pattern in place. If your rocker is wider then your pattern bit, remove the
pattern and then finish with a flush trim bit (referencing off of the fresh
cut made by the pattern bit). Let me know if this is not clear.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?Offerings_ID=5411&TabSelect=Details

--
www.garagewoodworks.com

G@

"Garage_Woodworks" <.@.>

in reply to "Roger Woehl" on 02/02/2008 12:14 PM

06/02/2008 7:37 PM


"Lowell Holmes" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:7Zrqj.50395$K%.45565@trnddc04...
>
> "willimx" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> ..
>>>>I have been cutting my rockers with the band saw and then belt sanding
>>>>to size. What are some other ways that you use? Does anybody have an
>>>>easy way to plot the arc if the rocker based on the size of the chair
>>>>to be built?
>>>>
>>
>>
>> I make a template from hardboard, cut close to the line and them stick
>> the
>> template on the work piece and use the router table with a bearing guided
>> bit. This method results in perfectly matched rockers.
>>
>> willimx
>
> Sounds like a lot of unnecessary work to me. I cut them on a bandsaw and
> clean them up with a spokeshave. I do cut both rockers simultaneously on
> the bandsaw. I suppose if you have no handtool skills, you have to resort
> to the router.

Doing it with a template at the router sounds like more work then doing it
by hand?

The added advantage of using a router and template is that both rockers will
be identical. If you want to make another rocker in 6 months, grab the same
template and you will have two more identical rockers.

The tricky part with doing it at the router is the changing grain as the
wood curves. To tackle this all you have to do is flip the piece w/
template upside down and alternate bottom/top bearing pattern bits.

Piece of cake.


>

LH

"Lowell Holmes"

in reply to "Roger Woehl" on 02/02/2008 12:14 PM

07/02/2008 12:07 AM


"willimx" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> ..
>>>I have been cutting my rockers with the band saw and then belt sanding
>>>to size. What are some other ways that you use? Does anybody have an
>>>easy way to plot the arc if the rocker based on the size of the chair
>>>to be built?
>>>
>
>
> I make a template from hardboard, cut close to the line and them stick the
> template on the work piece and use the router table with a bearing guided
> bit. This method results in perfectly matched rockers.
>
> willimx

Sounds like a lot of unnecessary work to me. I cut them on a bandsaw and
clean them up with a spokeshave. I do cut both rockers simultaneously on the
bandsaw. I suppose if you have no handtool skills, you have to resort to the
router.

dd

"dadiOH"

in reply to "Roger Woehl" on 02/02/2008 12:14 PM

02/02/2008 9:10 PM

Roger Woehl wrote:
> I have been cutting my rockers with the band saw and then belt
> sanding to size. What are some other ways that you use?

Laminate
Bend

--

dadiOH
____________________________

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico


wn

willimx

in reply to "Roger Woehl" on 02/02/2008 12:14 PM

06/02/2008 4:50 PM

..
>>I have been cutting my rockers with the band saw and then belt sanding
>>to size. What are some other ways that you use? Does anybody have an
>>easy way to plot the arc if the rocker based on the size of the chair
>>to be built?
>>


I make a template from hardboard, cut close to the line and them stick the
template on the work piece and use the router table with a bearing guided
bit. This method results in perfectly matched rockers.

willimx

LH

"Lowell Holmes"

in reply to "Roger Woehl" on 02/02/2008 12:14 PM

03/02/2008 12:40 AM


"Roger Woehl" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I have been cutting my rockers with the band saw and then belt sanding to
>size. What are some other ways that you use? Does anybody have an easy
>way to plot the arc if the rocker based on the size of the chair to be
>built?
>
> Roger
>
Bandsaw and then trim to size with a spoke shave.

LH

"Lowell Holmes"

in reply to "Roger Woehl" on 02/02/2008 12:14 PM

07/02/2008 2:27 AM


"Garage_Woodworks" <.@.> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> snip

>>
>> Sounds like a lot of unnecessary work to me. I cut them on a bandsaw and
>> clean them up with a spokeshave. I do cut both rockers simultaneously on
>> the bandsaw. I suppose if you have no handtool skills, you have to resort
>> to the router.
>
> Doing it with a template at the router sounds like more work then doing it
> by hand?
>
> The added advantage of using a router and template is that both rockers
> will be identical. If you want to make another rocker in 6 months, grab
> the same template and you will have two more identical rockers.
>
> The tricky part with doing it at the router is the changing grain as the
> wood curves. To tackle this all you have to do is flip the piece w/
> template upside down and alternate bottom/top bearing pattern bits.
>
> Piece of cake.

I have templates I use for the rough cut, but the spoke shaves make easy
work of it and I don't have all the noise.

I have 4 routers, and several pattern bits but they don't get much use. :-)

That's what I like about working wood, we all are free to do it how we want
to. The OP said he uses a belt sander shape the rockers. You use the
routers and I use the shaves.

As a matter of interest, I have a chair on the bench now. It is made of
curly maple and will be spectacular after it is finished. My new grandson
will be rocked in it.



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