Kerry S. of Memphis, Tennessee is an artist who carves birds, and he took that same carving instinct to a full-size sculpted rocking chair in cherry. He built it from Sam Maloof plans as drawn by Scott Morrison, shaping the arms, spindles and seat with rasps, draw knives and a Foredom tool.
The chair took about six weeks and roughly $1,500 in lumber and tools, and it’s finished with Osmo cherry finish. Kerry says the joints, the arms and the spindles were the hardest parts — along with a whole lot of sanding.
In Kerry’s words
I am an artist that carves birds, so the concept of carving a rocking chair seemed like a natural, and truly it has been that way.
The build
- Project type: Furniture — sculpted rocking chair
- Skill level: Advanced
- Wood: Cherry
- Finish: Osmo cherry finish
- Tools: Band saw, miter saw, Festool orbital sander, Foredom tool, rasps, draw knives, sanding blocks and sandpaper
- Time: Six weeks
- Cost: About $1,500 in lumber and tools
- Plans: Sam Maloof plans as designed by Scott Morrison
Biggest challenge
The biggest challenge has been several fold. Creating the joints, intensive sanding, recreating Maloof’s chair arms, and the spindles.
Photos
Find Kerry at www.kerrysmith.me.
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