Building A Maloof Inspired Rocking Chair with Charles Brock

What the Spokeshave Gives, It Can Suddenly Take Away!

2011-07-27T09:04:00.000-07:00

In almost every one of my seven day rocker classes there is a student who brings a spokeshave. They always ask why I don't recommend use of a spokeshave to shape spindles and other rocker parts. The next question is usually "Can I use mine?" After demonstrating the proper use of the shave, everyone is full of excitement because they have been saved from the demon rasp. The spokeshave is almost

Building A Cradle with the Late James Grisham

2011-06-09T10:56:00.000-07:00

I received a call for help from a sweet lady named Linda Grisham. Her story was very interesting, the kind that tugs at your heart and keeps you from forming the word "No" as a response.Linda explained that her husband James was a woodworker and had built several Maloof style pieces of sculptured furniture. He'd finished several rockers and was working on a cradle when a drunken driver hit and

Sculptured Rocker Classes at Popular Woodworking's WIA2011

2011-05-28T06:27:00.000-07:00

I am amazed as you, but thanks to Ches Spencer (a fellow that doesn't understand the meaning on "NO") and others, I will be a presenting instructor at WIA 2011, September 30 - Oct. 2 in Cincinnati Oh. (actually across the river in the N. Kentucky Convention Center) . The list of other instructors is a who's who of icons like Brian Boggs and Roy Underhill. I am a relative who's that!Come if you

Rock'N Chairman University Offers a NEW 5 Day Build Your Rocker Class

2011-05-18T04:19:00.000-07:00

Seven days is a long time! Especially for a young 62 year-old like myself. I enjoy the classes especially in my new location and facility, BUT! More woodworkers will be able to attend 5 days than 7 days because of the cost and the time commitment.The price is $1800 including the walnut.I have decided to try a more compact class focusing more on the joinery and shaping. A jump start if you will.

Sanding A Sculptured Rocker or Daddy Aren't We There Yet?

2011-04-26T04:03:00.000-07:00

"If you are a fine woodworker, do you have to like sanding?" I had a student ask me this salient question yesterday. He was building a Krenov style table at my woodworking school and hand sanding the gentle curves of the table's legs. The answer for me is this - I do not like sanding "Sam I am"! I do love the results of my efforts.Final sanding of a rocker is a marathon not a sprint! Sanding a

How did Sam Maloof's Rocker Inspire Us with Just a Glance?

2011-02-09T04:43:00.000-08:00

What makes Sam Maloof's work so attractive at first glance? When I saw my first picture of his rocker in the old 1983 article in Fine Woodworking, What jumped out at me and said, "Wow"? What inspired all that has been said and done by woodworkers and lovers of fine furniture based on that initial look at his rocker?Maloof was a master woodworker, designer, finisher, personality and other things

The Martha Stewart Show Meets Charles Brock and the Maloof Inspired Rocker

2011-01-23T18:43:00.000-08:00

See the Maloof Inspired Rocker Segment from the Show Click here for a slideshowSign up for my eNewsletter "Sculpture that Rocks"I Got the Call! My daughter Emily, and my wife Sheila and I were on our way to Nashville on Friday January 7th to celebrate my granddaughter's birthday party. We were in two different cars as Emily was leaving from the party to drive home to

Four Guys, Seven Days & Four Maloof Inspired Rockers

2010-11-10T06:43:00.000-08:00

Click Here To See The SlideshowFour woodworkers came from Canada, Wisconsin, Texas and Alabama to my studio in Columbus, Georgia to build their “bucket list” rocker with me October 25-31.Day OneThey all started with 8/4 and 10/4 prepared walnut stock stacked on their Hoffman and Hammer work benches. They began by crafting coopered seats so their seat could have that “Smile”. They cut the bevels

Maloof Inspired Rocker Kit

2010-11-07T03:33:00.000-08:00

Yes! Yes! Yes! After months of working on the project, the Maloof Inspired Rocker Kit is now a reality. Thanks to my licensing partnership with NewcoUSA. This past Friday I visited the production facility and viewed the parts for the first 20 rocker kits before packing and shipping to Highland Woodworking. Quality control is very important as well as a relationship with the craftsman (Barry,

Maloof Inspired School of Woodworking: A Tour

2010-10-07T04:36:00.000-07:00

The Maloof Inspired School of Woodworking is opening in the new studio and school facility October 25th with a Seven Day Build A Maloof Inspired Rocker Class. The studio will provide room for the woodworking publication business ("Build A Maloof Inspired Rocker/ Low Back Dining Chair with Charles Brock") to film more videos for instructional bundles without having to move to another location for

Maloof Inspired School of Woodworking: Once A Dream Now A Reality

2010-09-04T05:48:00.000-07:00

Once a teacher and school administrator always one. I retired from teaching and administering schools over a year ago to become a full time woodworker. Ha! This is even better than my wildest dreams could muster. The "maloof Inspired School of Woodworking will open by the end of September with its first full class by the end of October. For the last couple of years I have been holding my classes

And the Best Picture of the Year Goes to ......

2010-08-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

A student from my January Seven Day Build Your Maloof Inspired Rocker with Charles Brock Class sent me a picture of the two Maloof Inspired rockers he has finished. You can write your own blog to go with this interesting picture. He is a Rock'NChairman and she is a Rock'NChairwoman! Eric (last name withheld to protect the dysfunctional) is a 72-year old dentist who loves building rocking chairs

Seven Days - Five Rockers - Five Dreams

2010-08-15T18:06:00.000-07:00

August 3-9, I taught another group of five hopeful craftsman the art of building a Maloof Inspired Rocker. It is so exciting to see their initial enthusiasm and to see them start to believe that this project that they have wanted to do for so long is coming alive through the diligence of their hands, work and effort. As each student sees first that they can sculpt the 7 spindles and cooper a seat

A Minimal Tool List

2010-07-26T04:45:00.000-07:00

A delimma is a problem offering at least two solutions or possibilities, of which none is practically acceptable. What tools are necessary to build a Maloof inspired rocker? It poses an interesting question and everyone that has built one has a different set of answers. This question reminds me of National Lampoons "Christmas Vacation." Sparky Grizwold and family hiked through a forrest to find

As Iron Sharpens Iron, So One Man Sharpens Another

2010-06-28T04:25:00.000-07:00

The title of this post is from Proverbs 27:17. I was reminded of this verse by a wonderful friend. He is one of those people who makes everyone who is around him a better person. I reached the end of a journey this June that has blessed me many times over and seems to have been a mutual blessing to others.This week we had pictures taken of five rockers in a group with their owners. It was the

Sculpting Chairs Part 2 Start with the Hard Lines and a Rasp

2010-04-25T09:47:00.000-07:00

Part 1 - "Lines, Shadows and Curves, Oh My!" contained some exercises to help train and improve your sculptor's eye. Let's put the rasp to wood in Part 2 and see what flows from the event.I see chair sculpting in four phases:ConstructionHard LinesSoft LinesTransitionsDuring the construction phase you make the chair's parts and join them using the band saw, table saw, lathe and other tools. Many

Sculpting Chairs Part 1 Lines, Shadows and Curves, Oh My!

2010-04-18T05:33:00.000-07:00

A graduate of one of the most prestigious woodworking schools in the U.S. recently wrote me to ask for help. I am not sure how he arrived at having constructed a roughed out Maloof type rocker since they were inquiring about my bundle. They were fearful of shaping and sculpting the legs, seat, crest rail ,etc. and then faring one into the other. You know the tried and true FDR saying,"The only

Kreg Router Table & Router Lift

2010-04-05T07:07:00.000-07:00

What do I expect out of a router table? As a chairmaker and teacher I want dependabilty and durability. The stand and table need to be heavy without being a boat anchor. Weight reduces vibration that can induce chatter in the cut. Because I take my router table with me when I teach a class, sometimes transporting it 100s of miles, the frame needs to be rigid and it has to have good casters. I

Where are You on the #1 thru #10 Woodworker's Continuum?

2010-03-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

When teaching woodworking classes I can quickly tell if a woodworker's style is that of an artist or an engineer or somewhere in between. Think of it as a ten point scale or continuum with 1 being the artist and 10 being the engineer. This evaluation not only helps me understand how to help students achieve success but it has helped me with my focus on projects.The Maloof Inspired Rocker project

Going Pro as a Woodworker Part 5 - Getting the Tools You Need

2010-03-25T15:58:00.000-07:00

While teaching a recent woodworking class, I was asked a question in front of the group that could sound both humorous but very relevant. How do you justify or sneak your tool purchases past your better half? The class got all fired up about the topic letting me know that we had hit hot common ground.Well my method was to leave it in the truck, go in, hug the wife and wait for my beloved to

Going Pro As a Woodworker Part 4 - Finding Customers

2010-03-13T04:42:00.000-08:00

"If you build it they will come!" This is not completely true. This addition makes the statement ring true to me, "If you build it and they know about it they will come!"Sam Maloof struggled with finding the best way to connect with customers during the early part of his career. For him to build "It," wasn't enough. He tried designer galleries for a while and had to give too much money (

RAS 115 is a Dream Wood Sculpting Machine

2010-03-05T04:24:00.000-08:00

Several years ago at the Festool IWF booth, I told one of the reps what type of work I do and he said you got to try the "Termite Tool!" Full of woodworker's cynicism , I thought, Yeah! Just another grinder. I didn't try it, so I continued to shape my rocking chair seats using a grinder with a carbide wheel attachment while turning my shop's air into a dusty haze. My only alternative was to go

Great Tool for Sanding Maloof Inspired Rocker Laminations

2010-02-18T05:40:00.000-08:00

Some of my hobbies include playing guitar, dobro and own several other string instruments. Recently, I was surfing a supply and tool site for luthiers called Stew-Mac. I saw a tool called "The Luthier's Friend." It was designed to sand small strips of binding or wood that are used to build guitars. It is a vertically mounted drum sander, fence attachment for the drill press.Just like the rest of

New Patterns and Topographical Carving Studies Help you Build Your Maloof Inspired Rocker

2010-02-16T17:03:00.000-08:00

I get a thrill out of seeing the chairs built by my friends. As a life long teacher I never tire of helping others achieve success.Recently, I have been able to open some new pages on my website (www.charlesbrockchairmaker.com) in Chuck's Studio (named after my brother Quido) that I hope are just the beginning of new ways to utilize the technology available today to teach fine woodworking.Last

Group Rocker Build On Saw Mill Creek Forum

2010-02-16T07:29:00.000-08:00

I have enjoyed reading the group build taking place on Saw Mill Creek Woodworker's Forum. It started on November 4, 2009 with a new post by a woodworker wanting to know if anyone new about the Maloof Inspired Rocker bundle and gave my web address. Since then a host of interested woodworkers have started their chairs utilizing the bundle and great support from each other. Every woodworker has a

Seven Day Build Your Maloof Inspired Rocker with Charles Brock Class

2010-02-02T04:49:00.000-08:00

On January 12th, five fine woodworkers who journeyed from across the U.S. came to Maloof Inspired Rocker School with Charles Brock at Highland Woodworking in Atlanta. It was total immersion in band sawing, joining, routing, rasping, drilling, bending, gluing and scraping walnut stock into the parts of their dream rocker. Students rotated through stations while my assistant Mark McGowan and I gave

Going Pro as a Woodworker Part 2 - Is It for You? The Thrill of It All

2009-12-31T11:22:00.000-08:00

The life of a professional woodworker/ furniture maker is a dream to most 9 to 5'ers. Having been one for thirty years I knew what I wanted to do once I earned my retirement. There is not a day that I don't count my wonderful blessings personally and professionally. Maslow's revered Hierarchy of Needs has a top level called self actualization. As a productive, professional woodworker I honestly

Going Pro as a Woodworker: Part 1 - Is it for you? The Dark Side

2009-12-29T06:23:00.000-08:00

I was traveling before six in the morning recently, on my way to do a personal appearance as a woodworker. There was a big chance that I would hit snow driving north in the early hours. Why was I up and about at that time, driving into who knows what? As dawn broke I saw other people, grim faced, headed to work. This caused me to think about some of the other jobs to which I had trudged, day

The Maloof Inspired Rocker Russian Style

2009-10-20T06:22:00.000-07:00

Thomas Friedman's book "The World is Flat" describes the world's new reality. The computer and the Internet have made it possible for people to connect via virtual bridges of interest anywhere on the globe.Woodworkers of the world unite! Before my Maloof Inspired Rocker bundle became available with the DVD through Highland Woodworking, I sold a small booklet and the full-size patterns on my

Whiteside Router Bits Has Become A New Website Sponsor

2009-08-26T17:26:00.000-07:00

Please welcome Whiteside Tool Co. as a website sponsor. This is great news because Whiteside reconizes that website learning communities will be a leading resource for the woodworkers who will become the 21st century Maloofs and Krenovs.Whiteside was rated # 1 router bit manufacturer by Fine Woodworking Magazine in their last two study/comparisons. Best overall in 1999 and Best overall and Best

Maloof Inspired Rocker DVD, Patterns and Book Now Available

2009-07-24T10:36:00.001-07:00

Thanks to your interest, woodworkers across the U.S., Canada, Sweden and Russia are engaged in building the rocker from the original full-size patterns and eBook bundle. This interest led me to develop a comprehensive bundle of instructional materials that will be available for shipment in August to make your Maloof Inspired rocker a reality. Titled “Build a Maloof Inspired Rocker,” the

Lee Fox's Maloof Inspired Rocker

2009-02-09T03:31:00.000-08:00

The biggest thrill for me as a teacher is to share the joy of building this rocker. When a student finishes their first chair, it brings back that feeling I had for my first one. Matter of fact, everyone of them gives you a feeling of great accomplishment and blessing. Texan Lee Fox was kind enough to share his pictures and inspiring story. - Charles Brock For several years, I had the dream of

Updates Website Changes and Improvements

2008-11-30T08:09:00.000-08:00

Thanks to all of you who have taken a class, purchased plans, inquired about my services or visited the website. The website has had over 30,000 hits in 2 1/2 months! Wow!An individual's interest in building a Maloof Inspired chair started out for most of us with the first glance of one in FWW or another magazine. It has grown from a "Bucket List," project to an obsession with many of us because

Maloof Inspired Rocking ChairTool List

2008-10-08T10:53:00.001-07:00

The tool list for sculptured chair making is something I will revise several times a year. It will also be a part of the revised construction boolet for my classes and sold as a companion with plans for the rocker. Every woodworking project has a core list of tools that are necessary for efficient, high quality work.My wife would like for all of my projects to be really "hand-made". This would

Build A Maloof Inspired Class at Highland Woodworking was a Blast!

2008-07-28T07:31:00.000-07:00

July 11-13 at Highland Woodworking in Atlanta, Georgia students came from all over the U.S. to study the Maloof rocker design and learn to build their own version. It was a delight to see all of the interest and to experience the enthusiasm for the chair. Cecil Cheves not only superbly assisted me during the workshop, he loaned one of the chairs I built for his family so all could see, touch and

2008-03-26T19:57:00.000-07:00

Maloof Inspired Rocking Chair NewsI am teaching a workshop on designing and building a Maloof Inspired rocking Chair at Highland Woodworking on July 11,12,13. Building this chair is a great joy and being able to share it with my woodworking friends will be, as always, a rewarding experience.The rocker requires a lot of thought and work, but I think most woodworkers can handle this project with a

Layout and Rough Cut the Parts

2008-02-06T15:10:00.000-08:00

I layout the plywood templates on the slabs and look for grain orientation and color. The trick is to balance color, figure and grain continuity from part to part. For example, the backlegs should match and grain should flow nicely into the partsthe with which theyare joined. This is very evident in the flow of the back legs into the crest rail. In the end you must use every board foot to its

With Great Anticipation, I Start Designing the Chair

2007-12-20T06:31:00.000-08:00

This wood is just beautiful! I am in awe and grateful of the opportunity to craft five Maloof inspired rocking chairs from this English walnut. Today's blog post concerns design and developing templates.First a chair should provide an invitation for a safe, comfortable sitting experience. The dimensions should look and be appropriate to accomplishment of this goal. Although I am from the South

The Great Wood Safari

2007-12-12T08:36:00.000-08:00

I am always asked, "Where do you get your wood?" Well, Columbus, Georgia does not have wood I would use for fine furniture. Red oak and yellow pine are available. This was once a major source for heart pine which makes great flooring and reproductions, but it is still pine. Once you work with great hardwoods, it's hard to settle for anything else.When a client placed an order for two of my

A Proud Craftsman Visits the Photograher

2007-10-20T17:43:00.000-07:00

I am very proud of this chair. It is one of five that I am building for a wonderful family. Building something from scratch and making it come to life is a thrill. I don't care how many times you do it. You have a vision, you shape it from raw stock by hand, smooth and rub it til it has a warm glow and observe it until it makes you smile. The only thing left to do is sit in it and rock.I recently

2007-09-09T15:16:00.000-07:00

The chair is very sculptural. There are many hard and soft lines for viewing and touching. As I build a chair the grain and the figure of its flowing parts gives me an opportunity to create lines of interest that accent the beauty of the wood.This picture shows the back of the arm joint and the sweep of the arm toward the chair front. Form meets function and exceeds the expectations of comfort in

Fine Estate Rocking Chairs by Charles Buford Brock

2007-09-09T14:54:00.000-07:00

Thanks for viewing my work. I am Charles Buford Brock a fine furniture maker since 1979. I have designed and crafted over 200 furniture commissions for clients who have become friends. I have also found great joy in teaching others the skills of creating in wood. My work is greatly inspired by Sam Maloof and Michael Dunbar, both of whom have shared their skills and thoughts with me. I also wish