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Back leg
Group
Woodworking classes
Code # 20
Build Grandpa's rocker in the Maloof style
Start a new business or upgrade
one. No expensive tools needed or
even a Table Saw required.
 
The above rocker is a “Classic” in the Sam Maloof style. Handcrafted in Claro walnut. Sculptured
legs, arms and both top and bottom of the seat. The Backslats are a
Crescent Moon design and the Headrest is contoured to blend with the back
legs. The runners are laminated with Tiger maple inlays.
See samples rockers, under
rockers in the gallery, for ides of what you can do.
I will show you all you
need to know about making these rocking chairs. Any woodworker can do it!
I will demonstrate each critical step in making
a Sam Maloof style custom rocking chair
including the unique joints. You will learn it all; even the shop
secrets.
You will receive a complete instruction manual. Hundreds
of pictures available, also a CD loaded with pictures.
You will be able to copy the shop built jigs and
patterns I use.
You can take all the pictures you want for your
personal use.
You can cut hard copies of other rocker and chair
part patterns I use and or make paper patterns.
It is not necessary that you be an accomplished
woodworker because I will show you how to build a custom rocker using a
few economical tools. Even a table saw in not necessary and the rest of
the tools need not be the expensive variety.
One of my most handy tools was a free gift I
received at one of the woodworking shows.
The jigs I use are rough, scrap lumber, shop built
things taking only a few minutes to make.
If you follow the instructions I give you will be
able to make a custom rocker with accurate joints, ideal balance and
custom sized. When you leave my shop you will have been exposed to all
the techniques necessary to build a custom rocking chair.
You will be ale to assemble, set and rock in your
own rocker as well as adjust the ‘Balance’ your liking
Limited to ten (10) students per class
What will happen at the Rocking Chair School?
Each student will be
provided the following materials and tools as their own to take home as
well as the HOTEL accommodations;
Hotel accommodations for the
five days is provided
You will receive all the
hardwood, seventeen parts pre rough cut, for your rocker as well as the
following items:
Work day will generally be from
9am to 5pm; Monday
thru Friday.
Three ring binder with detailed
instructions and pictures
CD loaded with pictures
Full size patterns of all the
parts
Layout and marking tools
Special tool to make the leg
joints
Special shop jig to cut
seat-leg joint
Shaping tool to use and take
home
Dowels, glue, hardware and
assembly aides
Wood finish supplies
Materials to make copies of shop
gigs and aides
Chair and working space
Use of shop tools
Snacks and drinks through out
each day of class
Permission to take all the
pictures you want
Class demonstration and personal
instruction by Bill
Assemble, set and rock in your
own rocker during class
Shipping materials available
for car or plane transport
Shortcut info to assemble your rocker in six days
Snacks and
drinks will be provided each day of the seminar, but meals are your
responsibility.
(when you get home a
lot of finish work will be necessary, but all the technical work will be
done)
Group Seminar Cost:
Woodworking Class to make a Maloof style rocking chair in five days.
Tuition $2,600 total.
A two hundred seventy-five dollar ($275)
deposit will reserve a spot for any open date. The balance of the
seminar fee is required on or prior to the first day of the seminar. If
for some reason you cannot make your date the deposit can be applied to
another date or a manual. If you cancel more then 30 days before your class
dates a full refund can be given.
Why spend the extra money for food
when we can assemble a rocker in five day instead of two weeks or more.
The worst you can do is easily sell your rocker to recuperate all the cost of this
project, make a profit and know how to make these rockers.
Class Dates for 20012; Call or email
me for desired dates not listed or are closed.
March 5-10; 12-17(closed); 19-24; 26-31
April 2-7; 9-14(closed); 16-21; 23-28
May 7-12; 14-19(closed); 21-26
June 4-9; 11-16; 18-23(closed); 25-30
July 2-7; 9-14;16-21; 23-28
Aug 6-11; 13-18; 20-25
Sept 3-8; 10-15; 17-22; 24-29
A little a bout Utah & Ephraim:
My shop is in Ephraim (about
5 thousand population), Utah, and only
about two hours South of the Salt
Lake City international airport. We are about fifty-five hundred feet above sea level in a
beautiful mountain valley.
Recreation:
There are several golf courses within minutes of my shop. Racket or
handball, basketball etc. facilities at Snow College
just blocks from my shop. Bowling at Snow Cap Lanes two blocks away.
Fishing galore in more than twenty lakes and streams within minutes of my
shop. ATV (rentals available) trails all over the place with miles and
miles of mountain adventure available.
Summer
Recreation Sanpete County: Hunting; Fishing; Camping; Golfing; Festivals;
Rock Climbing, Track Elk herds on horseback, Visit State and Federal
Parks, Museums, Art and Antique Shows, (visit www.sanpete.com for more
information)
May:
Scouting Expo, Rhubarb Festival, Soap Box Derby;
Spring City Heritage Days; Ephraim
Scandinavian Days; Memorial Day; Big Daddy Roth Days;
June:
Fly-in for "plane nuts"; Old Home Days; Mormon Miracle Pageant;
Heritage Days; Hub City Day with muzzleloader shoots, 'mutton bustin'; rodeo; Golf Tournament etc,
July:
Mountain Man Rendezvous; Lace Days; Blackhawk Rendezvous; Children's
Theatre; Pioneer Days; Ox burro Rodeo; Softball tournament; ATV rodeo;
August:
Mountain ATV Run; GBEEC Star Party with Snow College Physics Dept.;
Backcountry first aid workshop; Sanpete County Fair; Arts Plain Air
Competition (art work will be for sale). Classic Bike Race with 46, 75,
and 102 mile races on courses that wind through the local countryside
with little traffic.
September
: Arts Festival and Artist' Studio Tour; Sanpete County Cruise-In
and Poker Run;
October
: Apple days start with Ugly Witch Contest and parade;
December
: Old fashion Christmas
Village
Hotel Accommodations within a few minutes of my
shop.
Willow Creek Inn, 450 S Main St, Ephraim, UT about two miles away (students will
receive a 10% discount from this hotel)
(435) 283-4566
Hotels in Manti are about six miles for my shop
Temple View Lodge, 260 E 400 N, Manti, UT
(435) 835-6663
Manti Motel, 445
N Main St, Manti, UT
(435) 835-8533
Manti County Village Motel, 134 N, Main St, Manti, UT
(435) 835-9300
You
Build- CLASS:
code # 21 (not available just now)
One-on-one (you build) classes please call
for a date of your choice.
"You Build" (Seminar Rocker) If you
prefer to make your own rocker (You-Build) I will give the personal
(one-on-one) attention necessary while we construct your rocker (about
one week). I supply the wood of your choice (so long as it is not toxic),
all information, tools, patterns, jigs, shop space, adhesives and snacks.
This includes the accent materials such as Ivory, Ebony, Bastogne, African
Blackwood, Burled Mesquite etc. When you take your rocker home it will
still need to be finish sanded and detailed using my supplied finish and
instructions. For Mesquite
wood the cost is $4,500 for the seminar help, wood etc. If you choose an
exotic species of wood the cost will have to be adjusted . This is the
best way to receive personal instructions, manual, jigs, etc and obtain a
rocker. You can keep the rocker or sell this rocker at a profit to pay
for the class. You end up with the ability to make custom rockers for free.
For the "You-Build seminar rocker" please contact me about any
week of the year. Code # 21 for "You-Build seminar rocker"
info. Email me or give me a call if you have questions.
bill@kappelusa.com OR call 435-283-3193.
A two hundred
dollar deposit will hold the date you choose. The balance is due the
first day of class.
One of the best parts of building a rocker in Utah is the dry climate of about 5
percent. You can take the rocker anywhere and be confident your work will
stay sound and durable. If you build a solid wooden rocker in any humid
climate such as on the East Cost and bring it out west it will dry to our
local moisture content and likely crack and the joints will loosen. Solid
wood moves with moisture content and that is the reality of the matter.
Even if the lumber is kiln dried to the 6 to 8 percent ideal, in high
humid areas most shops will re-acclimate the lumber in a few days to a
much higher moisture content. We have all heard of the horror stories of
families moving from Florida to some
western state such as Arizona
or Nevada
and have their solid wood furniture fall apart.
Semi-Built Rocker Code # 23 (not available just now)
Semi Rocker: If you would like me to semi complete a rocker the cost
is $3,300 for White Oak plus packaging & freight. Or add the cost of
some exotic wood species you choose. You receive an assembled rocker plus
the Backslats and Headrest parts plus the instruction manual. l will
rough cut and assembled the rocker except for the Headrest and Backslats.
You finish the rocker by shaping in the arm, leg and Headrest joints,
then finish sanding. The Headrest and slats will have to be mounted after
you finish sanding them. My instructions will give complete details about
how to mount the Backslats and Headrest. The Backslat
holes are drilled in the seat and Headrest. The Backslats will be sized
with the tenon for both ends cut. The Headrest
will be pre-fitted to the legs and Backslats, but will need to be sanded
and glued in place. This is a good way to get a new rocker and still have
the pride of your own work. call (435-283-3193) or email
bill@kappelusa.com Code # 23 for semi rocker info.
Rocker
Kits---Build Grandpa's Rocker Code # 22
Kit
parts: I will rough cut Hardwood for all the part for a custom
rocker in the Maloof style. The full
instruction manual with patterns. and colored pictures, to finish the
rocker will be included, as well as lots of pictures on a CD.
The cost for Mesquite
wood is $850 + packaging & freight.
Until
stock lasts I have some Claro and Bastogne
walnut, from the same stock Sam Maloof was
shipped recently, which I will be selling for $2,500 for the cut kit
parts. Code # 22 for kit info.
The
pictured rocker is made with Bastogne
walnut. The kit rocker can be made in this style or others. If
accents, such as, Ivory, Ebony, Maple, Myrtle etc. are wanted they can be
provided with applicable instructions for a small additional charge.
Proprietary instruction
Manual: Code # 25
Instruction
manual has Rocking Chair patterns: with
lots of pictures, also a CD with loads of pictures, paper patterns, shop
jig info, pages of detailed instructions so you can build a custom rocker
of your own choosing. This information is not for a cookie-cutter
style rocker. The details are such you will be able to make any
style rocker on the market or make one of your own design. I
have included special instructions for upscale rockers I have not seen in
any other offer on the market today. If you buy a manual and later
take a seminar, the cost of the manual will be applied to the seminar. Ask
any of the thousands who have received my (free info) if this is not good
stuff. If the free info is good you can imagine how good this full manual
is. $150 use Code #25
Free text, No longer available. I may start the
fee offer again as soon as we get through the health issues.
A student’s week at one of my classes as
posted to his Blog
The beginning of “old
guy” summer camp started today and my fine camp counselor is a true
gentleman named Bill Kappel. I finally found the perfect thing to do with
my extra week of vacation this year. I went to rocking chair camp.
For those of you who
don’t know of Bill Kappel, he is also known as the rocking chair
guy. He makes his own take on the Maloof style
rocking chair and does it with style and class. Not only does he make
chairs and other amazing wood pieces, but he also offers classes ranging
from one on one to small groups. He is a great guy, and I feel fortunate
to be working with him this week. You can tell he is good since unlike
some hacks I know, Bill laughs at the concept of being called a master
woodworker. (even though he just might be one)
For me it was a cross
country trek since his workshop is a bit more than 2 hours South of Salt
Lake City Utah in a place called Ephraim. I am not sure how to pronounce
it, but here I am in my hotel room writing this blog entry. I live in Cleveland, Ohio
when I am not traveling so Utah
is a big change of environment for me.
Enough fluff.. lets talk
about the build. Today was day one and we started making the seat. I
chose Mesquite
lumber for my chair, and I have to say the figure is amazing. Bill has an
amazingly organized and intelligent method of building his chairs that
can be broken down into specific and orderly steps. The advice he offers
at each step helps understand how the choices are made for each step in
the process. He follows a similar procedure to the one I have seen on the
Maloof DVD I have, but obviously hands on is
the way for me to learn it.
I will take pictures and
post them as the days go on. I am also making some video recordings of
technique so that I can refer to them when I need to make my next chair.
Today was day one and I have several to go. I am confident that when I am
done, I will be taking home the best looking chair in my house.
I will keep you posted.
Day 2 started with taking my glued up seat out of
the clamps and taking my first shot at carving out the seat with a
grinder. I have not done this before so it took me a bit to get the
technique down. It will take far longer to perfect it.
I was fortunate to have
Bill’s undivided attention and patience. He helped me get the angles
right until I started to get my seat formed. Had I tried to learn this on
my own, I guarantee that I would have wasted dome prime lumber until I
got to this point.
This so far has been an
extremely interesting and educational experience. I am sure it will
continue this way.
Well, day 3 has ended and man am I tired. It was a
super productive day.
The legs were formed and
fitted. The biggest challenge was to mate the legs to the seat.
After hours of fiddling and
using Bill’s method, all was fit perfectly. What a thrill to see
the legs attached and fitting like a glove. After the legs were fit, Bill
gave me another lesson in machine carving to form one back leg to the
seat. Later we cur out both arms and carved the first to fit.
 
Below is the class
completed rocker
… only 1 and a half days to go.
Tomorrow is Saturday and I have a half a
day to mount the rails to the chair. Of course I will have to take it all
apart, wrap all the pieces and ship them home to do the actual glue up
and final assembly. I have so much work left to do that I don’t
expect to be done for at least 2 or 3 months since I have to go back to
work. Vacation is almost over..
Today I glued the stand
offs to the rails, created the dowel ends on all the back slats and
started to refine them. I also got more grinding done to form the second
arm and copied all the templates and jigs so that I will be able to make
another chair after this one is done.
Bill has been such a help
and a great teacher. I have taken my woodworking skills to a whole new
level on this trip and I am so thankful for this chance. This was an
intense week.
Scroll
down to see some Student rockers
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