New Rocker Design

WOW!!!

now that is "SLAM NASTY"

I like the chair from the arms down, though it looks a bit delicate for my taste because I'm hard on furniture.

The arms look oversimplified, like you just wanted to bandsaw them out of 4/4, run a roundover bit around the edges and be done with them; next to the nicely carved seat they look dumbed down.

The joint between the back legs and the top rail is unsatisfying, too - I think I'd try having the legs protrude a bit above the rail, creating small horns that would be reminiscent of the way the front legs rise above the seat.

If that's not enough input, something tells me it might be nicer to have one fewer back support strip, but make all of them a little wider.

The whole thing is a bit dainty for me.Scale it up 10-15%. I would put three curved slats under each arm to compliment the back.

The design of the rockers and there splay tells me that when you rock they will want to move away from each other. This will eventually cause the front loint at the seat level to fail. This is the reason for stretchers tieing the whole thing together.
The carved seat is great just as it is.

Regards
Harry DeVrieze

Keep the seat taper but omit the extra splay in the lower leg, which would make the runners run a good bit more parallel.

Carve the arms with a slightly dished (arm hugging) profile and match the wood color of the arm to the seat.

Do the back slats have a different color from the seat. It seems so in the second shot? Cannot tell if I like the color shift I think I see.

.....Or maybe I am wrong. What I just suggested would make it more like any old rocker......but then again rockers are like comfort food....you have an expectation of them and a "spicier" blend might be an unexpected shock to the tongue. In the same way I have a strong 'expectation' of what a rocker should look like and I think I am judging yours with that eye. Perhaps others are more open minfed on rockers.

I am sorry I forgot to say that the workmanship looks fine and the design does express a coherent idea....Good work.

That is very beautiful, clean design. I can honestly say there is nothing I would change if it were me. Stunning!

I disagree with the comment about scaling it up. I suppose it depends on your target customer, but I think the scale is perfect for a contemporary setting. I love the color, the arms are fine, and I think the overall look is very appealing. I can't speak intelligently about the joint stresses as a result of the splayed rockers since I have never built a rocker (and have no frame of reference from the engineering standpoint), but my feedback is strictly from an aesthetic perspective. I think it is a great design.

Who wants to see "just another old rocker"?

Regards, JM

Great discussion!

As a designer, I tend to focus on the linear aspect of furniture. I am always trying to pare down the structural components to the thinnest, most delicate "looking" possible dimension. If the parts had been cut from solid, they would no doubt be far to thin. The laminations add an incredible amount of strength to thickness.

The point about rocker splay causing extra stress on the front leg joints is an excellent one. I notice a slight flex in the leg already. The next version will have a wedged through tenon (like the handle of a hammer) I think.

I did have the legs poking up above the splat at first. I spent a week debating whether to cut them off... I did! I felt it looked a little to traditional for the rest of the design. And the little black horns along with the fiery curly cherry made it look quite devilish!

The seat and the slats are from the same large board, so the color difference must be lighting.

I agree that the arms need more finesse, maybe a freeform bend, or something more sculptural.


Oh and I always tend to avoid odd numbers of back slats. I find my spine pokes out, and I would rather have an open space in the center of a chair.

Thanks for the input, I hope to get more.

-Ross

I like the overall design and the flow of the piece.

I would not be too concerned about the arm attachment. You could add a thicker block of wood at the arm and post joint and then blend the two pieces together using rasps,shaves and sandpaper. However there is no other sculpted joinery on the chair.

Also, As stated previously, maybe try sculpting the arm. It does look like it was sawn out and slapped on. Try making it more of a trapezoid in cross section then slightly dish out the top side from the back to the front.

Also maybe try tapering the crest rail. It looks a little blocky to me. If it were tapered from the bottom to top it would be just as strong but also appear more delicate.

Keep the proportions.

Maybe lessen the curve on the front leg/arm stump.

Lastly, try and leave some sharper arrises on the seat where you saddled it out. These lines formed from intersecting planes will help give the seat some visual interest and also define the sitting area much better. Right now it appears more or less over sanded with the crisp lines dubbed over.

F.

Compared to the rest of the pieces of the rocker, the arms are way too simple. They need to do something - perhaps form a grip where you hands fall, and curve where you forearms rest. Other than that, start producing, get your name out there...

Your chair is perfect. You go to making changes that these guys are recommending and your chair will be just like theirs'. You have a beauty of a chair there.

Ross thia is a beautiful chair! I'd love one for myself. This chair just looks awesome Ross great work. How can I get one?

To all the people that criticized Ross's chair.....send us a picture of your's. Great job Ross..wish I was as talented.

Ross,
A really fine job on the chair. As to your backsplats.... I would add more curve to the lumbar portion of the splats and attach them closer to the back of the seat. How comfortable is it now?

RD

Floss, good idea about tapering the splat. As for the hard edges in the seat, they are there, but the photo's don't really capture them at all. I paid extra attention to the transition of the soft and hard lines in the seat.

The chair is very comfortable now. Although it seems that people under 5' tall feel like it is too big for them. I am 6'5" so I have a hard time understanding those of slight stature.


I enjoy all of the criticism. I think most of the things we have discussed are minor tweaks. We all have a slightly different aesthetic sensibility, it is important to hear from those with different professional experiences and points of view. That is what makes this forum such a great resource!

Thanks again.

-Ross

I recently visited a local fine arts gallery which featured a furniture exhibit. Your piece would have complimented or even rivaled most of the items.

Great vision.

For my taste though, the bottom rear is too 'pointy'. I see where you were going with it.

Great work!