Thread: WIP Mother & Baby Cradle Rocking Chair

Superbunny,

This is a question in regard to the use of 'slabs' when constructing chairs or any other furniture for that matter.

Do you find it more economical to use a slab rather than buy boards and is it easier to work from a wide slab than many widths of board?

Do you find it easier to make individual components from the slab that are stronger?
e.g for a tool chest, the top and bottom can easily be made from the slab it self with no gluing required, giving a stronger top and bottom, reducing the chance of a glue join failing? If that makes sense.

Good work so far!

Harlan

SB, it is going to be a hell of a challenge for you. I know someone who has made one and it is a beautiful piece of work. It is a difficult project and good on you for taking it on. Good luck and I can't wait to see more pictures.

Brave man SB to take on the project, but looking good so far.

Looking forward to progress reports.

Originally Posted by Wooden Mechanic

Superbunny,

This is a question in regard to the use of 'slabs' when constructing chairs or any other furniture for that matter.

Do you find it more economical to use a slab rather than buy boards and is it easier to work from a wide slab than many widths of board?

Do you find it easier to make individual components from the slab that are stronger?
e.g for a tool chest, the top and bottom can easily be made from the slab it self with no gluing required, giving a stronger top and bottom, reducing the chance of a glue join failing? If that makes sense.

Good work so far!



Harlan

I like to make my chairs from the slab, I find it is hard to get the timber I want in my area so I choose a slab or two so I know I have sufficent to complete the job. In some ways it garantees consistancy of colour and grain. Working from a slab gives me some scope to see the whole project layed out on the slab and select the best features of the wood. I could get the timber I want from a timber recyclers but I'ts hard to match wood with wood. The big green shed only offers two types of timber, a non descript hardwood and pine.

As far as being economical it has been for me been very competetive, as I search for the best deal and as it takes time to make a rocking chair the timber for the next just comes along at the right price and I grab it and store it till needed. I have so far purchased a combination from this forum and a local supplyer. If I need timber straight away I get it from my local supplyer who only does dried slabs at a good price. I have purchased from ebay if its going at a steal.

As to whether it makes stronger joins or pieces, does not bother me as I'm more interested in Aust hardwoods and they are very strong, and laminating parts where needed. Glue join failure is in general either poor joint selection for the job or is a poorly executed joint or a bad choice of glue. I note that Sam Maloof always likes to join individualy selected components for his chairs and it has worked for some 50 years without any problems.

There is two problems using a slab and that is it's very heavy to handle untill you get it cut up and you need good equipment to handle the cut up and an extra pair of hands.

Hope this helps.

SB

Originally Posted by Superbunny

I like to make my chairs from the slab, I find it is hard to get the timber I want in my area so I choose a slab or two so I know I have sufficent to complete the job. In some ways it garantees consistancy of colour and grain. Working from a slab gives me some scope to see the whole project layed out on the slab and select the best features of the wood. I could get the timber I want from a timber recyclers but I'ts hard to match wood with wood. The big green shed only offers two types of timber, a non descript hardwood and pine.

As far as being economical it has been for me been very competetive, as I search for the best deal and as it takes time to make a rocking chair the timber for the next just comes along at the right price and I grab it and store it till needed. I have so far purchased a combination from this forum and a local supplyer. If I need timber straight away I get it from my local supplyer who only does dried slabs at a good price. I have purchased from ebay if its going at a steal.

As to whether it makes stronger joins or pieces, does not bother me as I'm more interested in Aust hardwoods and they are very strong, and laminating parts where needed. Glue join failure is in general either poor joint selection for the job or is a poorly executed joint or a bad choice of glue. I note that Sam Maloof always likes to join individualy selected components for his chairs and it has worked for some 50 years without any problems.

There is two problems using a slab and that is it's very heavy to handle until you get it cut up and you need good equipment to handle the cut up and an extra pair of hands.

Hope this helps.

SB

Thanks for the reply SB.

Get it all from one piece, should just flow!

Thanks
Harlan

OK guys here is todays work. I just cut and shaped the end rail, it's 50mm deep by 30mm wide and will be the lefthand side rail. There is some very nice grain and colour in these red gum slabs I'm using thanks to weisyboy who supplied them. I don't know if I mentioned it but this rocker will have a slip seat and slip cradle base for easy removal for those accidents that baby can have and for the comfort of mother at 2am in the morning so she don't get a sore ass. Yes I cleaned the bandsaw before I took the photos and yes it's new and works just great.

SB

I have as you can see, now cut the base rails that will make the base sides for the slip seat for the cradle section. More work to come, just got hold of some silver ash for the back slats and side slats. enjoy

Going well. The Silver Ash will provide a nice contrast.

Last night and today I managed to start making some back slats for the mother part of the rocker out of silver ash. You can see one clamped in the former and one waiting for side sanding just out of the former and the third one sanded to an initial finish. I used cross-linking PVA glue as I sanded the slats on both sides to get a no gap surface. I hope later in the week to make the last three before I start to make the cradle slats. Enjoy

SB

Well I managed to get a couple of hours on the chair this weekend and the pics show a rough dry fitup of the right hand side. enjoy.

SB

Well here is a bit more meat in the sandwich. I'm shaping the back leg at present and you can see I've cut the bevel on the edges ready for rounding and shaping. God this red gum may be nice but it splinters so easy. Do you like the wood shavings on the floor? SWMBO cleans them up for me so I have to make some more, bugger. Enjoy.

Well I got some hours in the workshop today to try out my latest purchase, a laminate trimmer from Crime Converters, sorry I mean Cash Converters for only $60. Its great and just what I needed, anyhow, I've been working on the Top Head Rest today and have inlayed some silver ash using a template and the trimmer with a 5mm router bit. I'm happy with the results so I will do the back but a little different in the same style. The only concern I have is one stuff up and it's start again from scrach. Enjoy

SB

I like the silver ash on the red gum. Should come up fantastic when finished.

Enjoying the thread, many thanks.

Tex

That looks really good!!!