Building a Craftsman Rocking Chair Using Traditional Joinery

Frank Strazza shows step by step how to build a Craftsman style rocking chair in solid cherry.
This video was created as a primer for those taking Frank's in-person class on how to build this chair. (See class links below.)
There are many steps in the video process that Frank could go much further in depth on, including cutting the angled joinery, the rockers and the arms. This video does however cover every step of making the chair from selecting the wood to making the mortise and tenon joinery all the way through to final finish, including upholstery of the seat. Frank shows both hand methods and machine methods for creating time testing joinery.
Frank will offer plans for this chair in the future.
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Frank Strazza Website
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Classes Frank is teaching on making this chair
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[@phbrinsden]

I made that very chair under the direction of Paul Sellers and Frank Strazza back in about 2001 at Homestead Heritage. One of the best weeks of my life. Outstanding teachers.

[@strazzafurniture]

Wow that was a little while ago! So glad you enjoyed the class. Hope the video brought back good memories! Thanks for watching!

[@nickmastro9287]

Great long form video, watched every minute of it! Thank you for sharing for those of us that can’t attend classes. Much appreciated. New subscriber.

[@kevinalmeyda]

Just noticed Frank Strazza posted a long form video. Just made my Father’s Day a little more awesome. Thanks Frank, and Happy Father’s Day to you!

[@YoMan751]

The quality of the video production is bellow average, but the quality of the content is miles ahead your average KZbinrs. l’m glad I discovered a real professional Woodworker. Awesome. ❤️

[@konstantinivanov1986]

Nice. Looks like Frank traveled 200 years into the future 😀. Thank you for the video.

[@HowCommunicationWorks]

I made that chair for my parents based based on Paul Sellers woodworking master classes.

[@olivierdesmarais7089]

So happy to see you posting on KZbin again. I suscribed, can't wait for the next!

[@jonathanfegelein9361]

I’ve been wanting to get a label printer for my small business for the longest time and finally pulled the trigger. I’m glad I did ! This machine is great kzbin.infoUgkxw55tQTywUAAOsbrlwxONZULry77sFF1Q and the blue/green color matches the rest of the accents in my office. My favorite part is how small the footprint is. It’s less than 1/4 the size of my regular printer.Set up was fairly easy. Seller will email you a link with video instructions Which I found to be more helpful than the written instructions. I use a Mac and had no issues. They even included an adaptor for USB to USB-c which is great because I’m always losing mine! I had a few issues getting the labels to print properly and wasted quite a few sheets. You need to play around with the settings to get everything adjusted just right. If you have the wrong settings, it’ll crop off the edges or feed through blank labels. These aren’t issues with the machine though, just user error.

[@robinluna7788]

Mr Strazza I have to say this was the best rocking chair tutorial I have seen. You are an inspiration in fine woodworking

[@hugoakerlund5114]

Best teacher on youtube. But you gotta show us that tool chest! it looks amazing!

[@christopherjohnson1414]

you deserve all the subscribers in the world brother . God bless you and your family 🙏 and thank you for the content

[@strazzafurniture]

Thank you so much! 🙏

[@Don-bp2sx]

Thank you sir,,I also love your work bench,rare to see one so used on you tube,,,once my health improves I want to be in one of your classes,being retired now,I can do what I've yearned to do since I was young,theirs only 2 of you guys I really would like to learn from,Canada is not easy to get into lol,few masters out there, look forward to more of your projects,,,oh yeah my youngest I feel is going to be like you, already his interest is unwavering,,,though we are in my shop every day,,I pray it is so,,thank you again

[@alexisperdrix4171]

Hello franck, it is so good to see you back in a video. Thank's again for your Time..! France is to fare away to visite you during those Times. See you !! Alexis

[@fcschoenthal]

Great to see another video from you. - Chris

[@robertdestefano4619]

Good to see your back on KZbin .I always enjoy watching a real craftsman at work

[@williamsjoinery8186]

I must go and sharpen my tools! Thanks Frank, this was a joy to watch.

[@alfkyiv4691]

Indeed, inspiring! Would be great to have virtual classes fir those who is abroad, like me. I would pay for that.

[@jamesmediallc8933]

Thank you Frank. Looking forward to attending this class.

[@ibex8502]

Just found your channel. You are a great teacher. I learned so much and feel like i gained do much in my practice of woodworking. Thank you.

[@stuartjohnson8171]

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I built this chair 26 or 27 years ago down at Homestead Heritage. You probably don't remember but during the class you were working on a project of your own but would take time to give a suggestion is you saw us doing something incorrect. I now work mainly with power tools but the hand tool lessons learned still are a great benefit.

[@SOLT_Mark]

Enjoyed this video. Thanks Frank

[@TheSMEAC]

Thank you Frank. Glad to see some more content coming out from you. I appreciate your pace (often folk are too fast or too slow it seems to me; obviously a personal thing) and that your content hits the wave tops and only get into the weeds where critical; you do so consistently. I think I’d like some detailed content as you get going on YT.

[@michaelhaynes9717]

Frank, I'm glad to see you are over the 1k mark on your You Tube channel. I hope you make a fortune.

[@jeffforbes3772]

Beautiful work and great commentary.

[@strazzafurniture]

Thank you Jeff!

[@danshepler9933]

Excellent/beautiful

[@cristian82h]

This is a pretty solid little workbench. While once you figure out how it comes together, it is physically Easy to assemble kzbin.infoUgkxyFZUPFEey-PuqsPMxqaykBhgA1LWxFHh by yourself. But the diagrams explaining the steps are really pretty bad. I could not get the handle pins in all the way despite multiple attempts, so I just used a screw I had on hand for the 2nd handle. I could not get the first pin in further or pull it back out. You are supposed to hammer it in, but I had no leverage and the handle is plastic and I did not want to risk breaking it. I will get a lot of use out of the bench because of the convenient size and height. It does fold up nicely for storage. They even explain how to fold it so you don't get pinched...that is important!

[@nancymccorry4024]

Excellent video Frank. I can’t wait to watch it in full. Hopefully I can take a class with you soon.

[@tysonleyba430]

great video Frank! please do more!

[@BigsexyBMF]

Thanks so much for posting this. I do hope one day that I can make something like this, as I sure as hell enjoy the journey.

[@darenoneill8447]

Beautiful work, love the lines😍

[@MattFlod1]

Just Beautiful!

[@harrylenton9984]

It is fantastic seeing you work. Looking forward to all future uploads 👍

[@whoisathome]

It rocks..! Thank you for sharing.

[@toddhovis7796]

Frank, I had a great time taking your rocking chair class in Tampa. The chair made it home safely, and I glued it, and then finished it with your recommended mixture. Thanks for your skill, kindness, and easy manner. I'm looking forward to the next time!

[@strazzafurniture]

Thanks so much Todd, glad you enjoyed it! It was great having you in class!

[@VinceEspositoJr]

An amazingly informative video. Thank you.

[@MJ-nb1qn]

Great Job! Thanks 🙏

[@onehandedmaker]

Frank you make some cool stuff out of wood in your shop! A joy to watch this videos as well. I admire your imagination to keep coming up with great ideas and sharing your passion for woodwork. Well done. One Handed Maker - Australia P.S have subscribed

[@sethwarner2540]

thanks for talking me thru all the details as you walk thru this. my dovetail saw has lost its set somehow. trying to figure out how to do this. I really enjoyed your vidio on making a tapered sliding dovetail joint. noone else really knock it out of the park, using hand tools only.

[@jimdelarosa6678]

you Do AWESOME WORK

[@marchoffmann6211]

Dear Mr. Strazza! Thank you, thank you, thank you!! When I saw on Instagram that you posted a KZbin video I was thrilled, as for my taste there are not enough Frank Strazza videos out there... you are definitely one of the very finest and extremely inspiring! And so is this video, thanks to your detailed down to earth explanation. I am glad to have a chance to tell you this! Just for the record, no one will complain if you have the chance and time to shoot more videos... I am aware of how time consuming that is. So thanks again! We owe you. Regards from Argentina.

[@smartlikestick]

Wow. The amount of information, tips and tricks you shared in this video is amazing. It’s always a pleasure for me to watch anyone who truly is a master of their craft. Thanks for sharing.

[@dpmeyer4867]

great job

[@chillertechtexas4375]

Fantastic!

[@ASousaMakesIt]

Great vídeo! It was the first time that I saw you using power tools. Its nice to see how you get same results by hand or using machines. Cheers from Portugal

[@grantwilliams630]

I had no idea you had a channel! Love your work excited to see what videos you upload here

[@eyehear10]

Would love to watch a video series on your build of the roubo bench!

[@whacdaddyd]

You’re a genius, Mr. Strazza. Have waited long for a new video from you. It’s a real wish to one day take an in person course with you. Lots of admiration and love all the way from India.

[@TheSMEAC]

Got the ‘picture in picture’ with the Apple Watch too 🤪

[@lukeb5372]

I can only imagine how much that 4 quarter cherry cost😮. It's a beautiful rocking chair one i would like to make in my lifetime

[@antoniolozano3637]

Great craftsman

[@nickyork8901]

Great video Frank, one of the best woodworking videos I've seen on YT. I hope you get a lot more subscribers and continue making these high quality videos, hugely appreciated and useful.

[@steveparkes1266]

Hello from the uk. I just wanted to say what a great rocking chair, beautifully made and really well explained. I hope you have the time to do more projects on here in the future. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@BeeSharp]

Are plans for purchase still happening for this project? Great build!

[@mattsmakes5876]

Is the an update available on the plans? Was no able to fit either of the classes into my schedule but am still very interested in building the chair at home.

[@dukeengine1339]

Hello Frank! I like this video, I learned from you how to effectively work on wood and find everything you say very interesting. I have one question for you: to hand cut shoulders you said you use your dovetail saws. Aren't these saws designed with a rip tooth? How is the result using them as crosscut saws? Please let me know, thank you!

[@strazzafurniture]

Thank you for watching! Yes you are correct, However, I use them because the teeth are so fine they cut very affectively. They are easier to sharpen and with the relaxed rake angle (tooth geometry) they work equally as well on cross and rip cuts. Also the knife cut really helps eliminate any tear out.

[@user-tj7cp5pc2t]

When will you be coming out with plans for the craftsman rocking chair?

[@Shopwolfe]

Came here from worth the effort!

[@jasper12785]

@strazzafurniture quick question, at what rake do you sharpen your gents saw?

[@a.m.6847]

Great chair, what is the cost of materials?

[@bigkiv47]

Hi Frank. Do you sell the plans for this rocking chair. I live in Australia so bit hard to make your classes Thanks Kev

[@dukeengine1339]

Ciao Frank, I would be happy to see a video about how to do the writings with wood as you do on the side of your workbenches. I am wondering how you compensate for the saw curve gap left if you overlay two different wood layers and cut out both letter and plate at once (I hope you understand what I mean...). Thank you!

[@strazzafurniture]

Absolutely! I actually put together an informal video on my Instagram and it’s under highlights. I use the double bevel method which allows you to cut with zero gap. I’ll make a video for KZbin soon!

[@dukeengine1339]

@@strazzafurniture I follow some channels of woodworking, have chosen what best suites for my craft. I really like your videos a lot, they are also very inspiring to me. Thank you for sharing and best compliments and my admiration for your abilities and professionality. Ciao from italy!

[@dukeengine1339]

@@strazzafurniture I don't mean to bother you, but I'm still waiting for your video... 🌞

[@patrickfitchjr]

How do you sharpen you're chisels? Is there a company you recommend purchasing high quality chisels from?

[@oldrudedog]

What is the style of that rocker. I have one just like it that is right at 100 years old. Nobody in the family knows anything about it. My mom said she rocked in it when she was born and that was 1927. Any info would be appreciated!

[@Hockeymyk]

so where do you teach class at?

[@jimmysiniawski7391]

Are plans available?

[@bigjoe2458]

Where can someone purchase the pans for this rocking chair?

[@EMOxxSLAYERx]

Any reason why you do not use the jointer on the SCM?

[@strazzafurniture]

I prefer a dedicated jointer so I don't have to switch back and forth but I like having access to the wide jointer in case I need it for wider boards.

[@shastakennmpx17]

Woodprix has very good and accurate plans.

[@johnlucas2645]

Yt

[@yasarmevlutoglu776]

Не могу понять,С одной стороны самый современный станок как Posermatik с другой стороны стамеской отверстия долбит символ средневековья 😂😂😂

[@keliweisgerber3896]

I bought plans from Woodprix and I did it very quickly.

[@johnlucas2645]

Qqw2

[@richardrearick1975]

Great video! Thank you! Do usually use bench chisels over mortise chisels when doing a mortise? Im newer to woodworking and I love the hand tool stuff

[@strazzafurniture]

Thank you, I have found regular chisels work better for me then mortise chisels. In fact I pulled out my mortise chisel this morning again just to give it another go and the results are exactly the same as they were when I tried years ago. There is something about the mass in a mortise chisel that makes it harder, I teach this mortise technique in my classes with a regular chisel and the results are wonderful.

[@richardrearick1975]

@@strazzafurniture thank you for the response! Im going to give it a try!