Hi,

I saw your post while looking for plans for the Maloof rocker. I wonder why you like Scott Morrison plans over Brock's plans and if you looked at Hal Taylor as well.

Thanks
Eitanbarazani@gmail.com

 

I m starting to follow Scott Morrison s plans for the Maloof-style rocker. His approach calls for a pair of +/- 5 degree taper chair router bits. I can purchase them new for ~$50/each from several sources (e.g. +5 and -5), but wanted to get some opinions here before spending $100 on two very custom bits that I m not sure I ll use beyond a single rocking chair build (unless of course I build more chairs, which I m not certain I will.)

I m also curious if others have found workarounds for the bits or if anybody has the pair they would be willing to loan me for a few days to avoid having to buy such specialized tools.

And yes, I m aware that Brock s plans don t call for these two specific bits, but for various reasons I m leaning towards Mr. Morrison s plans.

Thanks!

- jeffpoulton

Others who have a lot more chair experience than I may give different insights here. I have used some very specific bits for all types of woodworking. All of mine have been associated with use in a router table, as I assume these are to be as well.

With the flat plane of the router table you have the ability to easily have the bit at 90 to the flat table surface. Where if done with almost any other method I can think of, especially those with hand held tools, you need to be so extremely steady, and act of God, or making jigs that can easily eat up much more than 100 bux of shop time to be of much use.

Now if time is money means nothing, as all you have is time, and you like to do things by outwitting the issues, then paying 100 bux is crazy money. I think even the more experienced users will circle that wagon on any answer to that question.

It's probably one or the other.

Now all that said I signed off, then the thought of Plus or Minus 5 degrees came to me. We fairly often use both a TS, and a bandsaw to cut tapers, angles, and slopes that would match, or come real close to + or - 5 degrees, so maybe my thought about it being crazy money was premature. Thinking out of the box I put myself into by imagining it must be the router.

YTD in answer to your query.

Again, not being a "chair maker" I only know Hal is older now, much older. and Charles is quickly getting there. I know nothing about Scott Morrison, but if he is younger, he would be my guy, as making these chairs is often said to be a MULTI year project that is often stopped and started many times in it's progress. Some makers have had in excess of 20 years making one. Old guys croak, this is a fact of life. Having an old guy being your guiding light may end poorly if he does what all people do.

 

I built this chair using Scott's guide last year. I am a hobby woodworker and I took me about 6 months in my spare time. I had fun and it came out very nice.

To your point about the router bits you do need them to make Scott's joint for both the front and the back legs.

In addition there are several jigs to build so all of this may turn some people away. Personally I enjoyed the entire process but you can't be in a hurry. I was fortunate enough to find someone on E-bay who was selling their bits because they only wanted to make one chair. Got them at half price which took some of the pain out of it. I plan on making some of Scotts other chairs and they all use those bits. With any luck some of the jigs will be repeated as well.