Red Oak Rocker: $3,600
Red oak, Woven cloth chair tape.
Click on the photos for enlargements

Built with the traditional methods of green-wood chair making for a sit that is light and tight as a bow, resilient, and sturdy and very comfy. The parts are all split from the log with wedges and a maul, then shaped with draw-knife, spokeshave, handplane and scraper. All curved parts are steam-bent. The back-slats give a bit as you move for extra comfort. I wove the seat from 5/8" wide Shaker chair tape. 1" wide tape is typical, but I like the finer weave for its more intricate look and added durability. The seat is woven on the bottom side as well and is stuffed in between the two layers with dense batting, which adds cushioning and distributes the pressure from sitting. A fellow woodworking friend of mine made chairs with cloth tape seats over 20 years ago that are in daily use and still tight as a drum.

This rocker almost ended up in someone's firewood pile. Well o.k., not the rocker, but the wood. The oak tree came down during hurricane Ivan a few years back, and I spotted it by the side of the road after the storm passed. When I asked the landowner about it, he said it was already promised to the firewood guys. What a shame! it was a beautiful 30" diameter veneer quality tree with 20' of clear butt log. Anyhow, the tree was still there two months later so I inquired again, mentioning this time that I was a furnituremaker and intended to build with it. I got the go-ahead and was out by the tree within twenty minutes. Not ten minutes into it, the firewood guys went rolling by, looking none to happy with me, and settled in up the road to process another windfall. I felt very lucky to get the wood and I have enough for several more rockers.

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Shipping...
Smaller items are shipped, boxed or crated, via UPS. Larger items go crated or blanket wrapped by truck or I will deliver if practical. Delivery cost is estimated along with your project quote.

David Finck, Woodworker
161 Hickory Trail Banner Elk, NC 28604
phone: 828-963-6504
e-mail: info@davidfinck.com