Woodworking Guide
A rocking chair
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Woodworking guide to making a rocking chair: Plain sawed
red oak takes a mission finish nicely and is appropriate. Some people
like quartered white oak better, however.
The stock for this woodworking guide chair is as follows: Widths and
thicknesses are specified exact except for the rear posts and the rockers;
but to the lengths enough surplus stock has been added to allow for squaring
the ends.
2 front posts, 1-5/8 by 2-1/4 by 22-1/2 in., S-4-S.
2 back posts, 1-5/8 by 11 by 40 in., S-2-S.
1 front horizontal, 3/4 by 3-1/2 by 22 in., S-4-S.
1 back horizontal, 3/4 by 3-1/2 by 20 in., S-4-S.
2 back horizontals, 3/4 by 3-1/2 by 20 in., S-4-S.
2 side horizontals, 3/4 by 3-1/2 by 20 in., S-4-S.
2 back slats, 5/16 by 3-1/2 by 20 in., S-4-S.
2 arms, 1 by 4-1/2 by 25 in., S-2-S.
1 rocker, 2-1/4 by 6 by 33 in., S-2-S.
5 bottom slats, 3/4 by 2-1/2 by 19-1/2 in., S-4-S.


Begin work on the posts first. The front posts should have one end of each
squared, after which they can be cut to the exact length. The rear posts, are
specified for the exact thickness. The tops and bottoms of the posts should
have their edges slightly chamfered to prevent their slivering.
The shape of the arm is a little out of the ordinary, but the drawing indicates
quite clearly how it is cut. The arm is fastened to the posts by means of dowels
and glue after the other parts of the chair have been put together.
Now prepare the curved parts of the back. These parts are worked to size, after
which they are thoroughly steamed and bent in the forms described on another
page. These forms should have a surface curve whose radius is 22 in. While the
parts are drying out, go ahead with the cutting of the mortises and tenons of
post and rail.
Inasmuch as the width of the front of the chair exceeds that of the back by
2 in., allowance must be made for slant either in the tenons of the side rails
or in the mortises. This will necessitate the use of the bevel in laying off
the shoulders of the tenons.
The slats for the bottom of this woodworking guide are made long enough so
that their ends may be "let into" the front and back rails, a 3/4-in.
groove being plowed to receive them.
Assemble the back, then the front; and when the glue on them has dried, put
the side rails in place, then the arms. The chair should now be scraped and
sandpapered preparatory to applying the finish.
The cushion shown in the picture is made of Spanish roan skin leather and is
filled with elastic felt. Such cushions can be purchased at the upholsterer's
or they can be made by the craftsman himself. Frequently the two parts of the
cushion are laced together by means of leather thongs.
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