Thread: The Zenwood rocker - WIP

Pleased to here of the successful outcome.
Sounds if you have got to go on a timber shopping spree.

Look forward to the pix, and best wishes for the competition, Rocker.

I only just realised that the rockers are not parallel. Does this mean the mitre at the front joint between the rocker and the diagonal leg is a compound cut, or do you rotate the whole 'z' assemblies?

Zenwood,

The parts of each Z-assembly are coplanar; I made the back stiles and the seat side-rails diverge at 7° to the plane of symmetry by angling the ends of the back rails at 83° to their front faces. Having just tried sitting in the chair, I think that 84° (giving a 6° splay) would have been ideal. But anyway the chair is nice and comfortable, and I am pleased at how it has turned out.

I am very grateful to you for suggesting the idea of reversing the Zs and attaching the legs to the front end of the rockers.

Rocker

Here are pics of the new version.

Photo 1 The pinned keyed mitre joint (unfinished).

Photo 2 Side view of the rocker with one coat of wipe-on poly.

Photo 3 Front view of the rocker. I think the splay is a bit too pronounced, making the seat a bit wide at the front. But hopefully someone with a large frame will take a fancy to it.

I still need to get the slip-seat frame upholstered, but when testing it with a seat from a zigzag dining chair, I found the rocker very comfortable.

Overall I am happy with how it turned out. SWMBO still thinks the first version is just as comfortable, so maybe I will try selling that in a local gallery.

Rocker

now that I love! Should fetch a good price in a Gallery Rocker.

Top marks to you Zen for the sketch/inspiration.

A+ Rocker for crafting the "Zenwood" Rocker.

Congratulations to the designer and craftsman.

Rocker, I also remember that spot on the driveway, those 4 years have flown.

Originally Posted by martrix

now that I love! Should fetch a good price in a Gallery Rocker.

Martrix,

I just wish that I knew what price to ask for it. It will probably have taken me 50 hours to make it (not including the prototype, or the design time). The wood for both chairs cost about $300, and the seat will cost $105 to be professionally upholstered. Logically, the chair should retail for over $2000 to cover a reasonable charge for labour, materials, and the gallery commission; but, although rockers in the US regularly sell for over US$5000 (US$25000, if they are Maloofs), I don't think the Australian market is ready to pay those sorts of prices. I would be grateful if anyone can tell me what sort of price rockers sell for in galleries in Sydney/Melbourne/Canberra.

Rocker

Top notch Rocker!

A real tour de force, Rocker. Superb.

All the best with the sale and exhibition.

I would love to have a go at making one myself, but I'll have to practice my laminating skills first.

What are the details of the joinery for the contrasting back slats?

Zenwood,

Laminating is easy once you have made the former; you line its faces with polypropylene packaging tape to stop the glue sticking to it. And you need to use a glue that doesn't creep and has a long enough open time, such as Techniglue epoxy or else urea formaldehyde. You also need a thicknesser to ensure that the laminations are a constant thickness

Each backslat is 8 mm thick, made from two 4 mm laminations. The backslats are set in 12 mm deep mortices in the back rails.

If you want the plans and cutting list, PM me with your e-mail address.

Rocker

Rocker,
This is a beautiful chair, I really like it a lot. As for the price to put on it, if you don't need to sell it then put a price on it that reflects the time, effort and uniqueness of the piece and let the market decide if they want it. If you put a price on it that will sell then I believe you would be doing yourself a dis-service. Of course if you need to sell it then put a price that you would be happy with. Personally I don't see why that piece shouldn't have a price tag around $2000 on it when I see tables at galleries which are simply four square legs, four basic stringers and a slab of wood sitting on it all for $10,000.

Good luck,
Corbs

Beautiful work Rocker, as usual .

I know the chair will support the weight, after all I was there when you tested the other one, but being an engineer I would always worry about it. Especially being of a larger size , even though looks like you shaped the seat for me

Corbs,

It is one of the conditions of the competition that the piece, if shortlisted for a prize, must be sent to the Bungendore Gallery and, after the competition is over, be put up for sale there. So I have to put a price on the chair when entering it.

Dai Sensei,

I think this chair's mitres are a lot stronger that those of the zigzag dining chair that you saw tested. That chair only had a single pinned through tenon reinforcing the mitre. The mitre keys on the rocker have a much larger glue area. As mentioned in a previous post, I am convinced, on the basis of the joint tested at Bitingmidge's GTG, that the rocker could support a weight equivalent to that of eight men, say 600 kg, without damage, since the cross section of the leg is larger than that of the joint tested there.

Rocker

Rocker,
If it ends up in the Bungendore gallery then a $2000 price tag will not be out of place. I am currently building out at Bungendore now so get to drop in to the gallery regularly for inspiration (and a coffee). Good luck with the competition and hope to see the chair in Bungendore on one of my visits.

Corbs