I have built many things over the years, but this is my first crack at a rocker. I have a new Granddaughter and thought Mom would need a good rocker to hold her in. I was inspired by Sam Maloof and thought this would be a great start to learning his methods. He definitely brings a different style to woodworking with his shaping. My next rocker will be more to his style so I can’t wait to get started.
For the finish I used 3 coats of a poly/oil with 3 coats of oil/wax on top of that. I sanded lightly between coats, but the last 2 coats of oil/wax, I would put the finish on and then use a fine sand pad to go over the entire chair before wiping away the excess. Made the finish super smooth!
Note from Marc:
I regret having to moderate user comments, but sometimes, it is necessary. If the comments in this post seem a little disjointed, the reason is because several comments from one particular person (and subsequent comments from others) were pulled out to maintain the quality level of the site. What pains me about this is the fact that the original offender’s goal was to provide a design critique. While critiques can sometimes be painful to hear, they can also be a great opportunity for us to grow as individual woodworkers and as a community. When the critique is wrapped in vitriol, bad things happen and no one wins.
So what I’ve done here is summed up this person’s critique, subtracting out the needless anger and putting it into my own words. If we are going to get anything out of this, let’s at least debate the points in question. I guess we’ll just be doing it without the help of the original commenter, which is certainly a shame.
Most Maloof-inspired pieces try to emulate Sam’s ability to make one piece blend seamlessly into the next. Shaun’s interpretation takes a different path including many straight lines. One might identify Shaun’s interpretation as “the missing link” along the path to a Maloof chair, lying somewhere between the standard rocking chair found on many a country porch, and the milky-smooth organic creation that is a Maloof chair.
Based on this, I do have a question for Shaun. Since this is your first chair, was it a conscious decision to go with a more square design versus something more Maloof-like? Or was this one of those skill-building projects where perhaps next time, you’ll try to create more curves and rounded elements?
Either way, judging this piece on its own design merits, I would go so far as to say this chair reminds me of what would happen if Maloff and Nakashima had a baby. Is there room for imrovement and refinement? Sure. But for a first attempt at a chair, I think Shaun has much to be proud of! But that’s just my personal opinion. Well done Shaun and I look forward to seeing what you come up with next.
Beautiful work!!
I appreciate all the comments. I just read the note Marc attached to the intro regarding a negative “personal” jab on design. The first person to post a comment asked where I got my plans. Further up the line of comments I replied that I used Scott Morrison’s Templates. So to be clear. This is a Scott Morrison design. I purposely went for the simple, straight line look because it looked more old school, as Marc stated in his intro, I confirm that being my first chair, I thought it a good place to learn the simple joinery shaping methods before moving on to a more sculpted chair. Marc called it a skill builder. I am interested in the detail of how it goes together and how that in turn can provide beauty as well as heirloom quality. I hope their was no confusion on the matter of ownership. I, in no way want to take credit for another man’s work. Thanks again!
Shaun
Thanks Marc for helping this site maintain a helpful atmosphere.
Personally, I love the rocker! I think you did a great job!
Really nice work. “inspiration” doesn’t mean “copy” and I really loved Derrell Peart’s comments regarding Maloof’s feelings on going your own way. I imagine all artists would feel the same. as for the design, you managed to make a rocker that appears both substantial and light – no easy feat. Your joinery looks excellent and the chair is, well, really inviting. the fact that this is your first is incredible to me. Congrats on such a great job!!
Shaun, great work! I would definitely sit in that chair. I agree with Philip (see a few comments above), we only have to build furniture that pleases us and makes us proud of the accomplishment. Many of us will never become the Sam Maloofs of the world and that is okay. We need to always remember that woodworking is our passion and the journey is the most reward part. Keep doing what you are doing!
regardless of the critiques of whether its a Maloof inspired design its a flawless execution, beautiful finish and fine detail. Obviously built by a craftsman. certainly if nothing else got Maloofs remarkable finish techniques down. Certainly inspires me to raise my level up a notch.
I agree I think the chair looks great your wood selection was well done. You made a functional piece of beautiful furniture.
But let me add and I’m pretty surprised no one has mentioned the chair was inspired by Sam maloof but actuall designed by Scott Morrison. I build and sell the same chair. The one thing I would change is to use a curved head rest so the back braces have a curve to follow your back but of course this add cost and I believe this chair was designed with keeping the retail cost of the chair down as opposed to a $5000 chair this chair retails for about $1850.
Looks great and I am sure a lot of precious moments will be shared in the precious chair you built. I am Maloof fan and I like your take on it, never be afraid to make it your own, after all you are building it right. Thanks for sharing and sorry about the crud a couple people put you through, everyone has different opinions but there is a tactful way of stating it and further more I really don’t think this is a critique area to begin with, thats what The Critique Room is for in the forum. I really hope you don’t think this is they way it normally is because this is the first time I have noticed anything like this happening to this extent here. Please share more of your creations!!
Beautiful piece of furniture. Congratulations.
Thanks Marc for your moderation. I noticed you deleted the negative comments from “Who shall not be named” I wanted to add a note to that effect because my responses were left and may not make sense to a new reader. I don’t mind the negative comments although I agree there is a tactful way to voice them. For everyone else, Thank you! Your comments are greatly appreciated and it’s nice knowing others out in the wood world think the same way I do. I love looking at other peoples work and getting inspiration.
You have a great site here Marc. I haven’t found another Internet source that’s not associated with a magazine that has such a wide variety of help and ideas, especially your videos which are free. I have gained a lot of knowledge from this website. Keep up the good work, Marc! And,
Thanks again to all who have taken the time to voice an opinion. I’m sure that not one of you posted a comment just to be entered into Marc’s monthly drawing! :-) Just kidding!
Shaun
Absolutely beautiful chair Shaun, don’t let anyone tell you differently. I only hope that one day I can make something nearly as nice.
Nice piece. Very clean.
WOW, totally love this chair. I have always wanted to build a rocker like this. Maybe I will now. I bet it feels really nice too.
Great work Shaun.
I think the chair you made above is a fantastic piece and you should be proud of the work you have created. Wood working is a never ending process of improvement. My father recently turned 65 and after a very long and respectable wood working career, wants me to come up this weekend to show me something he learned recently. AT 65!! If this is your first crack I would say I can’t wait to see the next :)
Keep up the great work and remember that the process is the point as much as the finished product. Well done sir.
I for one, raised as a woodworker and trained as a designer – think you have done a fine job of taking an inspiration to a final product. As it’s been said, it’s not where you take your ideas from – it’s where you take them. Any asshole can copy something verbatim, it takes a true artisan’s heart and hands to try something new – fine work, my hat off to you sir!
Simply stunning! To me it has some 1900′s schoolhouse DNA in it, and don’t ask where I get that idea.
Shaun, excellent work! I really love the grain in this – especially the seat part. I think your design – the mix of straight and curved sections – works here. It’ll be a piece your family will be proud to have for generations.
I hope that my first attempt at a rocker looks half this good.
The first word that comes to mind when I look at it is “comfortable” followed quickly by “functional”. It’s a really elegant implementation of a rocking chair. I’m sure Carmen will love it.
Shaun obviously has respect for the material – you can see it in how he has used it. You don’t “accidentally” use materials well. You have to care about what you are building.
More can be less, and his chair has repose. I like this chair.
Shaun,
I absolutely love the chair. It is on its own merits a very beautiful piece. I have to agree with Marc’s interpretation of the fluid flowing lines that are a Maloof signature. Before I read his post I was wondering if you intentionally gave it a square boxy look or if you were experimenting with methods to find more fluid lines. EVERY wood working project to me is a learning experience and as I build my skills it is nice to see others take on such a difficult task as they improve theirs. Your decision to tackle such a difficult project emboldens me to try other things as well. While I typically am drawn to casework, I can see myself attempting a chair like this in the future. Thank you for your post!
Gorgeous work! Your granddaughter will be able to rock her granddaughter in it!
Wwow. That chair is fantastic! What a great layout of the grain…I think that’s something I overlook sometimes rushing in to get things done. An admirable trait I hope to learn someday!
Shaun, I think you did an outstanding job on the chair. I’ve never been much of a fan of the Maloof style, but I really like your chair. I hope one day to have the talent that you have to make a chair for each of my daughters when they are grown and start a family of their own. Keep up the good work.
PS. I love the sawdust on the table saw, keep that up as well :o)
I’m glad Shaun took inspiration from Maloof, but made it his own. Looks great to me, and I love that finish!
Criticism is welcomed. So is being tactful in its presentation. If you choose to, that is the message that should have been received from those commenting above.
To all.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and I think Shaun should be proud of it. Nice work Shaun!!!! Your hard work shows in the results.
I like the chair. I’d like to sit in it to see if it might be comfortable. I am touched that this man used his hands to create something from raw material for his granddaughter….just becasue she’s his granddaughter and he understands his mortality. I’m guessing (not projecting, by the way), that it really is that simple. A man doing something he loves to do, producing something for someone he loves.
Shaun – Very nice work! Your deisign is solid. It has continuity – what I would call “good DNA”. I like to think we can take as much or as little influence from another designer as we like ( as long as your are not stealing another person’s design for sale!) – it should never be all or nothing.
I like your take on the rocker and I believe Sam would have approved as well. I had the great fortune of meeting Sam and having a conversation with him. One of the points he stressed is to go your own direction.
Keep up the good work!
Darrell
Shaun,
Absolutely beautiful chair. A legacy piece for your grandchild. I am sure you are extremely proud to know this will grace generations to come with elegance and warmth. True piece of art, very nicely done! Any person that believes your chair is not beautiful must be on drugs.
Thinking that a piece of furniture has to have curves in order to be considered beautiful is a blatantly ignorant and close-minded view point, especially for something so subjective. That would make most Shaker furniture ugly and let’s not forget a lot of traditional Japanese designs are very straight and blocky. Does that make them ugly? I don’t think so.
In my opinion, this chair shows some excellent examples of grain selection and placement, consistent and even sanding and a very nice finish (that is arguably harder than taking a rasp to a part to shape it). It also appears to have some very solid joinery. Beyond all that, I find the balance and symmetry of the whole thing very pleasing. I’d love having something like this in my living room.
Furthermore, by saying it is ‘Maloof-inspired’ should clearly point out that he is putting his own spin on it. Looking at the wood selection and the fine finish, I think the term ‘Maloof-inspired’ fits perfectly. He didn’t call it a Maloof-clone (in which case your initial statement would have been a little more accurate).
Lastly, let’s not forget beauty is in the eye of the beholder. My grandmother would say a highboy is the embodiment of beauty, whereas for me it is gaudy. On the other side of that, to me there is nothing more beautiful (at least in the furniture world) than a Krenov cabinet which my grandma would probably scoff at and call ‘hippy furniture’. Does her age and experience make her opinion more valid than mine? Does the fact that I spend all my free time working with wood and reading about furniture make my opinion more valid than hers? Of course not. It’s this type elitist nonsense (horse s$%& was my preferred term, but I’m trying to keep this family-friendly) that gets in the way of the great creativity and personal expression that is possible in furniture. Is it functional? Is it solidly build? Does it serve it’s intended purpose? If you can say yes to those and the builder and/or client likes the look of it then nothing else matters.