Why purchase a "Wood That Rocks" rocker?

I've been asked many times by customers, “Why should I invest in one of your rockers, Les?" That's a fair question! There are many chair makers in America. A few have really, really outstanding chairs. I believe mine are among the outstanding ones. Why? I've received good instruction, my life experience, I'm committed to exceptional quality and my rockers are a superior value. Let me explain:

Instruction: I've received instruction from three of the best chair builders in the nation, Sam Maloof of California, Hal Taylor of Virginia, and Robert Hensarling of Texas. Sam Maloof was a living legend and started building furniture after World War II. I was lucky to attend several of his training and design sessions at Anderson Ranch in Snowmass, Colorado, and Atlanta, Georgia. Hal Taylor builds beautiful rocking chairs in Virginia, is an author and has taught many how to build rocking chairs. He has been a good friend and has answered many, many questions. Robert Hensarling has appeared on HGTV's Modern Masters, has been featured on Texas Country Reporter and builds mesquite rocking chairs and other furniture in Uvalde, Texas. I've attended his chair building session in Uvalde. I'm also a wood turner and have attended sessions taught by David Ellsworth of Pennsylvania. I also carve wood and have been instructed by the living legend, Harold Enlow, as well as Gene Sears, Ed Zinger and the legendary Peter Engler of Branson, Missouri.

Life Experience: I have been building stuff since I was 4 years old. I began my college training in engineering and later in life received a degree in computer science. I've worked for several major American corporations. I've had training in many ergonomic issues and have worked on many projects involving human environment issues including those surrounding seating, furniture usage, and pain problems. I understand what it takes to build a comfortable seat and lumbar support that helps the body not harm it.

Exceptional Quality: I am a one guy shop. I do not have an assembly line operation. I control the quality. I am careful about the quality of the wood I use. I work hard at getting grain just right. I build good, solid, tight joints, using tried and true methods. I don't take shortcuts with the finish. I apply a hand rubbed hard finish that will not be affected by the oils and acids of the human body the old fashion way.

Look at my rockers closely. Notice the rounded seat? It’s built like a barrel maker or "cooper" builds barrels. It’s much more difficult and time consuming to build a chair with a more comfortable, ergonomic, seat that is "coopered". Sam Maloof did this and so do I.

Superior Value: I am fortunate to live and work in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. The cost of living is very reasonable here. Therefore my cost of construction is not as great as those living on the coasts or in the cities. There are cheaper, less expensive chairs on the market. None of these are the quality that mine possess.

So, to sum it all up, look for the following in a quality rocking chair. A clean, pleasing, ergonomic design. Good lumbar and sacral support. Look for good, tight, mortise and tenon joints. One chair maker who cranks out furniture at his factory simply uses a hole drilled into the rocker and then just sticks the leg into it. As my grandpa said, "That dog'll never hunt". Look for a quality finish. Finally, look for an honest craftsman you can trust and will treat you well.

Construction

First I begin with the wood. I obtain the very best I can get. I have to use straight grained, solid wood in the rockers for strength and joint reliability. The need for joint reliability, sometimes keeps me from using perfectly colored wood or wood with swirling grain. It is checked for weak spots, knots and imperfections such as improper drying.

Each piece of the rocker is rough-cut and then shaped to match the other pieces in the rocker. Attention is paid to alterations at this stage. I continue to shape many of the pieces with an old fashion spokeshave and shaving horse. The seat is "coopered" and shaped by hand and sanded.

The joints are then precisely made. Large dowels are used in the seat boards and stainless steel screws are inserted and plugged at certain stress points throughout the rocker. These are overkill to be sure, but, then again, I don't want a rocker joint to ever fail.

As I said earlier, I was lucky enough to learn how to cooper a rocker seat from Sam Maloof. Coopering refers to a technique of milling bevels into the edges of wood so that when put together they will form a barrel. Using this technique in chair building allows for a curvature that will fit the body naturally and provide superior comfort without putting pressure on key nerves and muscles in the hips and legs. My seats are made from 5 boards, dowelled together and glued for strength

The lumbar support is particularly important to a good ergonomic rocker. My supports are correctly shaped and do not float or bend. I want the rocker to cradle and support, the back and to provide good support not "bend" and "float". A soft backrest can be easily achieved by sitting in a cheap, overstuffed recliner. My rockers support the spine and help to keep it healthy.

I apply a permanent brand on the bottom of the seat indicating my company’s name and my name.  A serial number containing a manufacturing date is stamped into the wood.  With this serial number I can identify and recover all details of building the rocker.   

Chair Sizes

My rocking chairs can be built to fit any person.  When you contact me for an order I'll make sure which if any alterations might be needed to make the perfect rocker for you or yours.

View pictures in the gallery