Re: Ir's a wood thing!
I built my first rocker at JSR woodworking school (Woodguy1975) along with Shamrock and Woodwrangler. We did not have a set of "plans" available so while visiting Highland Woodworking in Atlanta, I purchased a copy of the Brock plans. When I constructed my second rocker, I used the Brock plans in a most basic manner. The plans have a lot of problems , namely the fitting of the arms to the rear leg and the fitting of the rockers. Also the music in the video is extremely annoying which is the largest deterrant. I used a combination of the Brock plans and the JSR approach on the second rocker.
I have since purchased the Scott Morrison and Hal Taylor plans. There are parts from each woodworker's style that I like and dislike and intend to take advantage of those that work for me.
In my opinion, I believe it is up to the individual to use the approach that best fits with his/her skill set. I had an interest and decided with my first the best approach for me was to take a class. Most required travel to other states and 1 week of vacation and Woodguy1975 offered the class on three different weekends at his shop in Hickory. The approach worked and I learned valuable woodworking skills and have a wonderful heirloom rocker that I can pass along to my children when I am gone. I did not have confidence to build a second rocker from memory, photos and notes so I purchased the Brock plans. As I proceeded with the second rocker (and note I made the rocker from rough cut lumber not a kit), I modified the approach as a combination of what I learned from Woodguy, Shamrock and Woodwrangler and the Brock plans. The result was a second completed rocker.
I will not use the Brock plans again but will borrow some of the features that I like. My next Maloof will be from the Scott Morrison approach. I have watched the video and there are some features I like, others I dislike and I am sure my finished piece will be my own version based on the plans and my previous experience. I also intend to build a Hal Taylor model just for the experience.
In regards to the precut, predesigned package. It does not work for me, but there may be others out there that this is the best approach for their woodworking skill set. I have heard that Steve Wall Lumber is also offering a package of a CNC cut rocker that the builder assembles.
Woodworking at this level is an art and up to the interpretation of the artist. If one buys a kit, enjoys that approach and gains skills not previously gained, it is beneficial. If one starts from scratch as we did in the JSR class by designing a custom chair based on personal measurements and designing with freehand drawings and enjoys the process, then this is successful.
Sam Maloof was an artist and the ultimate form of praise to an artist is to be copied. In his books, it mentions that he was approached by furniture manufacturers to mass produce his designs which he declined. Those were his wishes and if someone mass produces the chairs, then I agree it will cheapen the process because it goes against the wishes of Maloof. However, someone buying a kit with the Maloof jointery completed and roughed legs, arms crest rail etc. that must be shaped and assembled still would entail a significant amount of effort. Using rough cut lumber, It takes about 200 hours to complete a rocker. 10 hours in dressing the lumber, 30-40 hours rough cutting the parts and fitting the joints. The remaining time is in shaping, sanding and finishing. This is the most difficult part and what signifies a Maloof rocker, the free flowing shape. It still requires a signifiacnt amount of skill and artistic talent to complete a rocker from the kit form.
The one I could not imagine on a prefab is a cost of $1500 for a kit since a completed rocker retails for $2000-$4000. The rough cut lumber ranges from $150-500 to start from basics, this is more in line with my budget.
