Sellers Home Rocking Chair: Episode 1

Posted 10 February 2021

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This presentation is a landmark episode for all of us. It’s the first episode in the first series which covers the first piece for Sellers Home, our new program for teaching people how to design and make a houseful of furniture. We’ll be taking every piece we film from the early concept and design stage through to hand-making pieces; from rough-sawn wood to finely made woodworking projects. Please join in as we teach and train woodworkers of all skill levels. This is woodworking without boundaries, so woodworkers on every continent can gain mastery in designing and making. I will be passing on everything I have learned through 55 years of daily woodworking for a living at the workbench. You’re going to love it and live it!

BOOKMARKS:
PREPPING – 00:07
LAYING OUT MORTISES – 17:27

Previous: Sellers Home Rocking Chair

36 Comments

  1. This is great seeing the stock preparation steps as part of a project. It makes me think I might be spending too much time trying to get things “perfect”, seeing you eyeball the board for flatness, etc. Or maybe you’re just really, really good at this and I’m slow :). It is one thing I’ve struggled with since I haven’t worked in person with anyone yet — I’m never quite sure when the stock is flat enough, square enough, etc. I tend to obsess over it and it takes forever. I experimented with my last project (a foot rest for the craftsman-style rocker) where I stopped short of where I normally would when getting the boards flat, etc., and it came out fine. Always learning…

  2. I’ve been looking forward to this so much! Can’t wait to get started building along. So happy to see you make this in cherry.

    It’s funny to think that a few years ago I searched YouTube to figure out how to build a quick little bookshelf with my dad’s power tools and now I have my own little shop in my house with a handmade bench, a bunch of hand tools (some of which I made), and my family members have my work in their homes because I love sharing it.

    I’ve always been a little shy about commenting, but I wanted to take the chance to thank Paul and the team as I start building my own furniture. I can do this thanks to you guys.

  9. I have to ask. Were those wood screws holding the chair together in several places, or did I see that wrong? My guess is that chair was the prototype, but I was a little confused by what I saw. Did anyone else see that, or am I imagining things?

  12. Thanks for your comment, I work in a position that has been very troubling over the last year. I come here to see Paul do, what he does best and find some peace in it.. Joinery. When I saw the screws, I quickly stopped the video and have no idea what happened afterwards.

    Thanks I will continue watching Paul at his best

  16. I’ve been looking forward to this ever since you released this concept some time ago. Having made my first workbench and a number of projects with it, I find myself finally ready to take on a project of finer quality. I am beginning to understand the concept of lifestyle woodworking in my own life, and have since abandoned my plans for a power planer and purchased a no. 7 jointer. Preparing stock has become such a joy. I could probably take shavings all day, as the smell of freshly planed wood is just wonderful. I am forever in your debt. Thank you for sharing your life and love of working with wood.

  17. OMG I nearly had a heart attack when I saw all those screws!! hahah

    I wonder if it would be a good idea to describe how this rocking chair differs from the rocking chair project from a few years ago?

  19. Thank you for showing how Paul prepares his stock in the every day of life. I’ve watched his other stock prep techniques, but I admit I tend to take forever to prepare my stock.

    Seeing Paul’s standards really helps. I also see how much time a band saw can save.

  22. Hello, a band saw save time if it’s a good one ( not cheap ) and if it’s well set….a pain to achieve with poor standards machinery, I use the band saw only for rough work because I never could to get it right.

  27. Thanks for including the stock preparation, now I see how the bandsaw can be incorporated. Looks like there is no need for a thickness planer, just the bandsaw and a bit of cleanup with the jack.

  29. Lovely editing, a lot of things to like here. I enjoy Paul’s reflections on nature in his blog videos so it was nice to see some included here. And I might say as well that I like that you still include the truing up process for the lumber, it’s very enjoyable to watch.

  31. Hello Paul and Crew,

    Thanks for this excellent project. I’m gonna take the plunge and make this elegant rocker my first chair project.

    I’m at the stage of selecting wood. I especially like the version you made in white oak. My question: Is white oak suitable for the seat? I’ve read from various articles that oak may be too heavy and hard for the hand shaped slab seat and that pine or poplar is a better choice. I am leaning towards using just oak, and am in no hurry with my projects, so don’t mind taking more time sculpting a solid oak seat if it is otherwise a good choice.

  32. I’ve just started on this and I’m already a bit confused (sigh). In the video at about 22:10 into it Paul said to come up from the bottom of the front post 8-3/8 inch to make the mark but, if I’m thinking of the correct mark, the plans on page 2 show 8-7/8 inch. Also on page 2 I don’t understand what the 2-1/16 measurement near the top of the sketch on the left side is measuring. I must be missing something. Don’t mean to cause trouble but I really want to get started on the right foot. Can Paul or anyone with the answer straighten me out? Thanks.

    1. I just answered my own question. I figured it out in later videos. At first I thought I’d just watch the videos in order and do those parts of the chair in order, following along. Seemed to make sense at first due to limited time. But I now feel it is better to watch the whole series (a lot of watching) first, while taking notes that compliment the plans. Then go back, if necessary, and watch the videos while following along in the shop. Anyway, that’s how it’s working for me.

      2. I am about to start this project and noticed the same conflict between 8-3/8″ and 8-7/8″. However, unlike you I have not resolved the conflict. Could you explain what you “figured out in later videos”. Thanks.

    2. Sorry, I know this was from ages ago. We have reviewed this and think the comment at 22:10 is incorrect. Both my dad’s notes and the drawings say 8 ⅞” and we think this is correct.

      A correction is being added to the video to reduce future confusion.

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