Maloof Chair Joint Redesigned

In the June issue (#91)of Wood Review magazine Robert Howard writes about the Sam Maloof inspired joint he uses in his sculpted rocking chairs. With a few modifications Robert found he was able to achieve a strong joint but without the need for several sets of customised router bits. Subscribe to digital and print editions of Wood Review via greatmagazines...
Learn more about Robert Howard at www.roberthoward.com.au

[@Thestripper1]

This is the best joint idea that I've seen for a long time. Sam Maloofs joint is a classic that many of us has copied but this is a great adaptation that should be easier to do for many not so well equipped woodworkers.

[@danschechter9069]

Brilliant! The joint is locked in three dimensions. Thanks for posting this.

[@miheadhurts]

You can tell Bob is an engineer!

[@marcomolo]

very clever mod on the maloof and a bit easier too, thanks!

[@tianwang]

This is indeed easier to pull off, thanks!

[@billstortz5046]

This is clever and I'd think simpler than the Maloof joint but I don't see how it could be stronger. The comparable Maloof joint is keyed on 3 sides, as opposed to these 2 keys, with more glue area than this joint. I think that both this new joint and the Maloof joint are good designs useful on many applications. The Maloof joint has glued surfaces on more planes perpendicular to each other and thus adds to the overall joint strength. I do like your design and your video.

[@skwalka6372]

You are right, however, the difference in strength is much greater than you imagine, in favor of the Maloof joint. The Maloof joint isn't just keyed in more directions, it is a sort of bridal 3d joint where both stresses and strains are distributed over a larger volume. It would be interesting to do a 3d finite elements analysis of the Maloof joint. To my knowledge, nobody has done that yet.

[@michaeld.9323]

Thanks for a great inventive solution to a complex joint. Don't pay attention to the troll comments from S it Head.

[@kevinmorgan1645]

very nice

[@SH-rm4gw]

Looks like a copy of the maloof joint for people who can't do, and aren't craftsmen.

[@kotarumable]

Honestly, this joint is a lot harder to make than the Maloof joint. But I would prefer to use the Maloof Joint because of the surface area in contact.