Completed Patio Rocker

[W Burton]

Now that I am retired it must be time to sit back and rock on the patio. So, I came up with this rocker. I had seen another rocker that had the seat suspended like this, but it was a bit flimsy, so my design strengthened some of the elements. Made of cypress with stainless hardware. Gonna finish it with Waterlox Sealer and Finish.

Here are a couple photos:

 

[Jim M.]

Very nice Bill, great design, can't wait to see it with the finish on it. Also very cool tool chest I see in the background.

 

[Bill Clemmons]

Very nice, Bill. Bet you don't get to spend as much time in it as you think. Retirement is a lot of work.

 

[Brantnative]

Great looking rocker. It's on my list. Waterlox will yellow that cypress. I'd try it out on some scrap first to see if it's the color you want.

 

[W Burton]

Great looking rocker. It's on my list. Waterlox will yellow that cypress. I'd try it out on some scrap first to see if it's the color you want.

Thanks! Yes, I have used it on some other pieces out of cypress and it certainly does turn it yellow/light tan. I am good with the color. I just hope it postpones the inevitable gray that unfinished cypress turns.

 

[Jeff]

Thanks! Yes, I have used it on some other pieces out of cypress and it certainly does turn it yellow/light tan. I am good with the color. I just hope it postpones the inevitable gray that unfinished cypress turns.

Will the chair be on a covered patio somewhat protected from direct sunlight? I like Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish and have used it on a lot of interior furniture. A better choice for your patio rocker may be Waterlox Marine or Epifanes Marine Spar Varnish.

https://www.waterlox.com/Find-Your-Finishing-System

 

[golfdad]

Great looking rocker Bill

 

[Hmerkle]

I like that design with the "hanging" seat and it looks like a great place to relax!

 

[Henry W]

Nice work Bill.
Looks a bit like the seat position is similar to an Andirondack chair, but implemented as a rocker.

Henry

 

[jlwest]

Very nice design and workmanship.

 

[Chilihead]

well done!

 

[sawman101]

The hanging seat design just somehow projects the thought to relax. I also like the tool cabinet in your shop, all very nice!

 

[redknife]

Great build. Like many outstanding woodworkers, fantastic surrounding work. I was studying your workbench leg>top mortise and tenon. On the rectangular tenon, are those darker pieces on the sides of the tenons wedged pins hammered from the top? I like that detail.

 

[W Burton]

Great build. Like many outstanding woodworkers, fantastic surrounding work. I was studying your workbench leg>top mortise and tenon. On the rectangular tenon, are those darker pieces on the sides of the tenons wedged pins hammered from the top? I like that detail.

Wow, good eye! They are walnut pins that go down into an angled slot and lock the top to the leg. The legs are each made of 4 pieces and match the 4 pieces of the top that they intersect. The outermost lamination is walnut for the top and an ash "dovetail" on the top of the leg. The 2nd and 4th laminations of the legs are flush to allow the top to rest on the leg laminations. The third layer has that keyed angled locking joint.
I recently made a smaller model of the leg assembly and here are a couple of pictures of the assembly:

This shows the 4 laminations of the leg and top with the angled pins.

This photo is from the opposite side with the 4th layer removed to show how the walnut pins drop in to the slots. The top of the leg obviously has to be slightly narrower than the narrowest point of the bench top. That narrowest point of the bench top registers against the little protrusions directly under the slots allowing both slots to be even when assembled.

That's probably MUCH more information than you wanted, but I have always liked the way this leg goes together.

 

[Jeff]

but I have always liked the way this leg goes together.

That's a very interesting construction. How'd you come up with it and why did you use it rather than a rectangular mortise and wedged tenon? I'm missing the structural benefit but like the appearance.

 

[W Burton]

That's a very interesting construction. How'd you come up with it and why did you use it rather than a rectangular mortise and wedged tenon? I'm missing the structural benefit but like the appearance.

The leg and top are so massive that they are not going to move once they are locked in. Once the top is dropped down onto the leg, the pins go in and it can't be lifted off again. (Of course, gravity kinda helps with that also!) It could have had a bit of a wedge shape to it, but it is good and tight with the straight pin.

I like playing around with fitting pieces together and just came up with that idea for an angled pin.

Here is another pinned joint I have been messing around with. The redheart pin secures the two pieces together:

This securing a walnut foot onto the cherry leg. No real purpose, just a fun little detail.

 

[Jeff]

This securing a walnut foot onto the cherry leg. No real purpose, just a fun little detail.

Gotcha! Thanks.

 

[mlzettl]

Bill, that is a wonderful piece of work. I love the suspended seat. I would respectfully disagree with your planned finish however. I have used Waterlox finishes for nearly 40 years, including Waterlox Marine. I love their finishes for interior work, but have not been impressed with their exterior products. I live on the NC coast. If you talk to people here who have boats, and are serious about using the best, most durable finishes for teak, mahogany, etc. there is little question that the product of choice is Epiphanes Marine Spar Varnish. The application process is lengthy and a pain, but the result is certainly worth it in my opinion, especially for a handmade piece of this quality. There are some other products out there that may approach Epiphanes that are not as tedious to apply, and Sikkens Cetol is one of them. Of course, these are just my own opinions, and I'm sure that whatever you use, the rocker will look fantastic. Great work.

Matt

 

[W Burton]

Bill, that is a wonderful piece of work. I love the suspended seat. I would respectfully disagree with your planned finish however. I have used Waterlox finishes for nearly 40 years, including Waterlox Marine. I love their finishes for interior work, but have not been impressed with their exterior products. I live on the NC coast. If you talk to people here who have boats, and are serious about using the best, most durable finishes for teak, mahogany, etc. there is little question that the product of choice is Epiphanes Marine Spar Varnish. The application process is lengthy and a pain, but the result is certainly worth it in my opinion, especially for a handmade piece of this quality. There are some other products out there that may approach Epiphanes that are not as tedious to apply, and Sikkens Cetol is one of them. Of course, these are just my own opinions, and I'm sure that whatever you use, the rocker will look fantastic. Great work.

Matt

Thanks, Matt. I will make a note of Epiphanes Spar Varnish for my next outdoor piece — this chair is about halfway done with the Waterlox already. I may try to keep a cover on this chair to protect it and maybe make the finish last a bit longer.

 

[Jeff]

Thanks, Matt. I will make a note of Epiphanes Spar Varnish for my next outdoor piece — this chair is about halfway done with the Waterlox already. I may try to keep a cover on this chair to protect it and maybe make the finish last a bit longer.

So you're using Waterlox Original Sealer/Finish (for interior use) and not their Waterlox Marine Finish system? Matt's advice about Epifanes Marine Spar Varnish is spot on too-it's an excellent product. Maybe it could be applied over the Waterlox without adhesion problems, etc. :dontknow: Matt may have a few thoughts about that.

https://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=92#