ROCK'N CHAIRMEN: What is a Rock'NChairman? and how does one become one?
As a Grand Poobah of the International Society of Rocker Fellows, I gleefully enjoy commending my diligent woodworking friends who have endured to finish their chair and enjoy the fruits of “sculpture that rocks,” to the ethereal and bloviated title of Rock’NChairMan! I love the pictures and my work.
Connecting with the fine people who have chosen this project as worthy of their time, energy and money is very humbling and I am very blessed. I don’t have pictures of every one of them.
– Charles Brock
Here is a tribute to some of the Rock’NChairmen!
Jay S. Helland I’ve built 14 rockers for my family and friends. However, I started out making Tage Frid’s 3 legged stools before attempting to make a chair. I, like most of the woodworkers I know found the making of a chair way beyond my skill level.
My next challenge was making Maloof’s-inspired low back dining room chair. After making 8 of those using Chuck’s plans I moved on to the making of a settee that was commissioned by a friend. Next in my progression came the rocking chair with its beautiful sculptured form that so many of us have grown to admire and love.
All buy one rocker are made of walnut and the other one was made from Northern Hard Maple. I’ve been blessed to have of the rockers commissioned.
Robert Petrillo is a Rock’NChairman from ArizonaRobert Petrillo is a Rock’NChairman from Arizona. His curly maple rocking chair is really quite gorgeous! He used the curly maple for the legs to tremendous advantage.
Robert is developing a website for his work. I will provide a link. Robert also finished a Low Back chair. When I get a few of the new Low Back pictures I will develop a page for “Chairmen of the Boards”.
Joe Thompson is a Rock’NChairman from Bentonville, Arkansas. I met Joe at a weekend demo class about a year ago in Atlanta, Georgia. He credits the class and the instructional bundle with helping him build his beautiful rocker. Joe builds some great cedar strip canoes. His canoes are on my bucket list of projects I would like to build. He is Joe Thompson is a Rock’NChairmanstarting on another rocker next and some Maloof Inspired Chairs. Way to go Joseph!
Steve Kratzer is Appleton, WI’s most beloved Rock’NChairman! Steve has built almost everything and hadWI’s Own Steve Kratzer is a Rock’NChairman already built a Hal Taylor rocker before building the Maloof inspired rocking chair and he has built several. He has sold lots of his work to fortunate customers.
Steve enjoys watching admirers explore his furniture kinesthetically (and by touching, too).
Keith Harrell is a marvelous Rock’NChairman who is the pride of Hayesville, NC. He built his first rocker for rocking the first Keith Harrell is a Rock’NChairman from Hayesville, NC!grandchild. That’s just about the best use for any rocker. The baby is due in August which should make Keith a grandpa at any time.
His chair really captures the flow of the Maloof inspired rocker. He is already working on his second rocker so the baby can be rocked when they visit.
Vern Fish is a Rock’NChairman from CanadaI have been, for several years, a member of the Muskoka Arts and Crafts, a group of over 300 artists and craftspersons working in all media within the Muskoka Lakes Vacation Land of Ontario. I finished my Rocker early in March, which I had started just before Christmas with significant dedication on weekends to complete the task.
Chuck, I was thrilled when I completed the Rocker with the help of your package, but needless to say overwhelmed with the recognition of my peers and the public.
RUDY KO of Taiwan has sculpted a wonderful rocker with excellent lines that really pull the eye around theRudy Ko of Taiwan is a Rock’NChairman chair.
He has blogged the sculpting of the chair in Chinese.
Paul Morss of is a fine woodworker from Horsehead, New York who built a Paul Horss from New York is a Rock’NChairmanwonderful rocker beautifully expressed with some of Paul’s own lines and the alternative arm profiles offered to Member’s of Chuck’s Rocker Studio. Paul said:
“I did use the new arm pattern. I had roughed out the old one and then when the new came along, I switched to it. I am glad I did.
I live in Horseheads NY. That’s upstate close to the PA border, a bit south of the Finger Lakes. I would say it is a great project well worth the time invested. The great support from you went a long way to making it a success. I look forward to building the the low back chair.
Steve Kloppers is another fine Canadian woodworker who has built his dream rocker and some new design Canadian Steve Kloppers is a Rock’N Chairman features in the process.
Here’s what Steve had to say about building the Maloof Inspired Rocker: “I must again congratulate you for having gone to all the trouble and detail to measure and measure and measure again and work out all the intricasies of the Maloof chair. That in order to realize so many of us woodworker’s dreams to build a chair like this. Every step of the way while making it, I thought of that and wanted to put it in writing. THANK YOU !!!”
Shawn Patel is an enormously talented craftsman who built this Shawn Patel is a Rock’NChairmanbeautiful rocker and while he worked also created a “Group Build” on the Saw Mill Creek Woodworking Forum.
This is another way you can find support for your project. Shawn is one of the many new breed of woodworkers who builds relationships using the internet to increase his skills and to find woodworkers with common interests. Shawn is very good at he anything he pursues.
Magnus Nylander of Sweden is a ROCK’N CHAIRMAN! Magnus is a real artistSweden’s Magnus Nylander is a Rock’NChairman andshows his talents off with his wonderful rocker.
I’ve attached some pictures of my first rocker for you to use as you like. Thank you for a great product. I would not have attempted this project without it. Seems to me that I read on your website that you were assembling a second chair product. Please let me know when it is available. I will be among your first customers.
Keep making sawdust!
Fred Deadrick of Livermore, CA
Fred built this beauty out of some clear maple for his first grand childFred Deadrick of Livermore, CA is a Rock’NChairman due almost anytime now. His family looked at several different chair designs and they picked the “Maloof Inspired Rocker.” As you can see Fred is very proud of his work as he should be. He is a Rock’NChair Grandpa. It will be around I hope for several generations of grand children.
Charles –
I wanted to say “thanks” for the chair plans. It was a great project, that I learned alot from and had a alot of fun working on. My first experience really taking “artistic license” into effect on a project. I look forward to the next chair switching from cherry to walnut.
Thanks again – Jim Hemingway
Chuck,
Mark Day is a Rock’NChairman Thanks for offering the instruction and template bundle. This is my first feeble atempt at your design. I’m sure you’ll see I did’nt pay as much attention to detail in some areas as you do, but I will on the next one. I bought most all the needed hand tools from Highland. I mainly do cabinetry for a living, but I intend to offer these rockers in the Dallas area and beyond. Do you have any marketing info that you’d be willing to share concerning these rockers?
The wood I used is very pretty, but surely a mistake for this application. I have’nt been able to identifiy it so I sent a sample to the forest products laboratory in Wis. I think its jatoba or austrailian red palm. I refer to it as the wood from hades. The most dificult wood I’ve ever worked with.
Texan Lee Fox was the first Rock’NChairman. Being first is a priority I understand if you are from Texas. Lee attended one of my first demonstration classes at Highland Woodworking in 2008.
I can’t tell you the joy I felt seeing my first off-spring and Lee’s great work.
Feedbacks Customer's Reviews
“You have a great, cheerful presence in the videos! It holds my interest and my mind doesn’t wander.”
S. Mosso
“I’ve watched the video a number of time and am eager to get into my shop and make some sawdust!”
T. Forrest
“The video and book are great!”
J. Bothager
“I am very impressed with the whole package. As a former educator I have made informational videos and can appreciate the work that went into the production of your Maloof rocker video.”
D. Bird
“I have watched your video several times… It’s great!”
S. Kratzer
“I have been enthralled by this chair and the desire to somehow find a way to make one. In fairness, I have also been intimidated, knowing this project is way beyond my ability or knowledge base Your DVD, book, and patterns, and website are a tremendous asset ……I am really believing, if I proceed slowly and carefully, this is doable.”
M. Justice
“I first want to congratulate Charles Brock for putting together this instructional package. I had been wanting to build a sculptured rocker ever since I saw an example by Sam Maloof in Fine Woodworking magazine. I studied as many reference materials as I could locate, but until I purchased Charles’ package, I could not work up enough courage to start — primarily due to the mysteries of the seat to leg joinery. I have had the package now for just over 2 weeks and have completed the seat, the four legs and the associated joinery…………. I am thoroughly enjoying this project! Thank You Chuck!
John
“I wanted to thank you again for the class, and your patience with all of my emails. I feel that I’ve really learned a lot ……..”
Jon S.
“Just wanted to let you know that I viewed your DVD and think it is very well done. I think it is going to be a great help. You seem to be very dedicated,focused and professional. It must have taken a lot of energy to accomplish and I certainly respect that. I wanted to make a rocker for some time now and when I saw the Maloof rocker I thought that it would be nice to attempt. I also thought that there would be much trial and error involved. I believe you have taken most if not all of the mystery out of the project. I thank you for that and will be starting soon. I’m still in the process of getting the materials together. I’ll be going to your site next to locate the screws and the reamer that you use in the video for the spindles. Your kit is well worth the cost. Thanks!!”
Robert P.
“Мое первое кресло-качалка! Огромное желание и месяц работы! Большое спасибо моему другу и преподавателю Чарльзу Броку ! Моя мечта сбылась!
My first rocking chair! Huge desire and month of work! Many thanks to my friend and instructor Charles Brock! My dream has come true!”
Vladimir P. – Moscow, Russia
Your video is wonderful. Your book is wonderful. You’ve documented things really great! I wish this was a book-on-tape so I could listen in my car!!!!
Prashun P.
Thanks so much to all of you for your kind words!