Shaping a Maloof-Inspired Rocker Spindle

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Original post on our site with additional information, plans, questions & comments: www.thewoodwhis...
This year, I finally decided to take on a Maloof-Inspired Sculpted Rocker and we’re building it right now in the Guild: thewoodwhisper...
One of the most elegant parts of the chair is the contoured back, consisting of seven sculpted spindles. In this video, I show you exactly how I shape those spindles using two rasps.
a Combination Rasp (#5/#9) www.highlandwoo...
Small Modeler’s Rasp (7″, #13) www.highlandwoo...
If you’re looking for a nice “starter set” try this Auriou Rasp Set: www.highlandwoo...
Keep in mind, Auriou rasps are pricey and there are other brands out there like Nicholson that could save you a few bucks: www.amazon.com/...
The final detail I put on the spindle is a sculptural one: a round tenon. The end of the spindle is worked to a rough square first, then a rough cylinder. I then use Veritas Tenon-Cutters (1/2″ and 3/8″) to create a perfect round tenon: www.leevalley.c...
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[@dennisb3180]

I like the way you take the time to demonstrate the entire procedure for people to see the right way that it is suppose to be done. This way they can use it as a reference as they need it. Just an explanation on this type of procedure will never do it justice. Great job as always. Keep it up.

[@laurencelance586]

There is something very satisfying about woodworking with hand tools. What happens is not the result of a machine, but 100% that of skill. Nice job.

[@marktourtellotte1336]

You are an excellent teacher. When I do shaping and sculpting I feel like I am wrestling with the wood. Usually I win...but not always. Thanks for caring enough to share your skills. You are a force for good in the world!

[@lightspeedguru]

Thanks for posting this! I find that many woodworkers, myself included, shy away from anything that we feel requires any sort of 'artistic' talent. We tend to gravitate towards machines with precise settings, stops, and jigs that ensure exactness... mostly because we don't trust our own abilities. Exploring the world of hand tools has opened me up to the scary possibility that something might not be perfect and that I might screw it up... however, allowing myself to experiment with this side of things has yielded surprising results. Your comment that you could "do this all day", I think, stems from the joy that comes from actually 'working' the wood... shaping it... and seeing the results as you do so. That said, you spent a lot of effort using a rasp for removing large amounts of wood... I wonder if a spoke shave would not have been a better choice for bulk removal and the rasp for just clean up afterwards.

[@jcims]

Nothing to add to the other comments, just had to say that rocker is absolutely gorgeous! Great vid!

[@ScrapwoodCity]

Another awesome tutorial. I love those awesome Maloof designs, nice to watch how they are crafted! Thanks for sharing!

[@codeforcontra]

"I want the knife". Nice Golden Child reference! My wife and I cracked up.

[@nutz4mygirl]

I love watching these videos... you show that it is fun but hard work. It makes everyone see how much patience and effort go into making such great pieces. I agree that the fun is beating a chunk of wood into submission and then finishing it into a beautiful thing people can enjoy. Thanks guys :)

[@BensweiaRD]

nutz4mygirl it is a great hobby :) wood working releases alot of stress of high school

[@M4ngstergangster]

It does spark an itch. I know I have projects I need to do first - but also that have to this someday - maybe every woodworker needs to this like an the end grain cutting board for experienced woodworkers - and definitely through the Guild.

[@earlydawn81]

This is so cool! The fancy pencil sharpener was my favourite part

[@TheShavingWoodWorkshop]

Great over view of the process Marc, thanks.

[@bigdogasj]

New tats? Looks good.. Nice vid, as always very informative. You have a very good way of explaining things for us nubes to understand. Thanks keep up the good work😎

[@Frankengruvin]

The tattoo is coming in nicely. My wife, who at best has a sort of aloofness towards my woodworking, was like "Oh! I like his tattoo. Babe, you should get something like that!" So now that's apparently a good reason to watch more WoodWhisperer videos. But my five year old still likes to watch the first few minutes of the cutting board video for the ringside announcer bit. My almost nine year old just wants to watch Lab Rats, and I'm like, "CAN EVERYBODY JUST LET ME WATCH IT FOR THE WOODWORKING, PLEASE?"

[@warrenbuitendag5286]

lmao! 0:59 - inconspicuously removes red plastic cup from shot. "just carry on like nothing happened, k?"

[@dpmakestuff]

"I love this crap" Sums up my thoughts on woodwork too!

[@doubledarefan]

Dustin Penner I actually thought I was mishearing it, thought the word was Craft.

[@charlesreicks648]

Nice Job I like your technique on the shaping. .

[@otto5656]

I have seen all your videos. I consider you very artistic

[@3Godfree]

Great tutorial Marc, thank you for sharing.

[@craigpereira6381]

Lovely work. miss watching your free shows. Unfortunately i cant afford to join the guild series. Always enjoy the shows.

[@richardball9724]

I love using my rasps for heavy shaping work followed by sanding or card scraping. But like you said it can mess up your fingertips.

[@sjbl1962]

Very cool Marc, beautiful work.

[@LZACCARO]

Elegant chair, Marc. Fantastic job. Congrats. L.ZACCARO

[@attainableapex]

cool i saw you reupload the live show and was wondering were this part went and glad i got to see it. this project would probably be why i would join the guild. while i love what you do, most the stuff i can already do so its... but man i have always wanted to make one of these. didn't realize the back slats were that thick. maloof always makes every appear so light and airy. love it.

[@woodwhisperer]

attainableapex Yeah that's the real trick. Most people look at the details on the chair like the tip of the seat, the tip of the arms, and the back slats, and they assume they are thin and flimsy. But the sculpting is where the magic happens as it takes these very beefy parts and creates the illusion of being delicate. Very cool stuff.

[@michaelkintz9799]

@@woodwhisperer dvd

[@milootje007]

12:48 "that's what she said" :D Nice work, i bet you're also a fan of Wendell Castle's work

[@woodwhisperer]

milo I do admire his work!

[@peterstewart9376]

good job marc!

[@rosiemarsili265]

Che bel lavoro !

[@robertlacasse6679]

I like this video a lot, just wondering if you have any videos of making the complete chair. Thanks for your videos.

[@WBconformalcoating]

That golden child reference! I want the knife haha

[@jmsblk12982]

Love the Golden Child reference.

[@ahikernamedgq]

Really educational video. Thanks!

[@andreicharpentierquesada4530]

i loved your giant sharpener

[@ClassSickCustom]

+1 for the Golden Child reference!

[@richard4624]

With a router is must more effective , and same on each slat for posterior shaping ( _ I see French chair rasp , a real top tool ) _ veritas 3/8 tenon maker with drill and slow rotation, give also easy and quick results .

[@heitorkajioka]

I guess a spokeshave would save you a little bit of time there. Same results, but faster removal of material. amazing work a beautiful chair. look forward to building one.

[@woodwhisperer]

Heitor Nardon Not in my hands.... I find the spokeshave to be slower than my most aggressive rasp. Maybe just me. :)

[@wyattlacey1]

Don't kid yourself. You have definite artistic Skill.

[@timhyatt9185]

Wyatt Lacey My grandfather always insisted he wasn't an artist...he called himself a craftsman.... both are skills to be valued, and worthy of pursuit. Fortunately, for us craftsman, there are usually a lot of artists out there to come up with interesting things for us to make ;)

[@hugocabellosballadares6645]

Felicitaciones maestro excelente trabajo. Podrías enviarme las mediadas agradesco tu respuesta saludos desde Trujillo PERÚ.

[@EmileJrManigat]

Thank you so much

[@anandram6974]

Congratulatiions!

[@badboyvids1]

Sam would do that heavier one on the band saw. he was something on that band saw. Hey Sam you are missed by many.

[@josephtianello8115]

Where can I buy that tenon maker that looks like a pencil sharpener

[@skillwoodchippy2017]

Beautiful work Mark:)Worth the effort.I have ordered a book and templates from Hal Taylor lately.I will build my own rocker in a soon future:).

[@gary24752]

Why didn't you use a spokeshave rather than a rasp?

[@scottwwsi]

I saw Sam use a router for the big round over, so yea.

[@MrPickcity]

HOW LONG HAS HE HAD THOSE FOREARM TATTOOS? i haven't noticed them at all. those are sweet.

[@woodwhisperer]

Austin Long Those are very new. Been working on the right sleeve for a couple of months now. Still a lot to go. I apologize ahead of time for the visual distraction. :) I might have to start wearing long sleeve shirts.

[@woodwhisperer]

***** as soon as I have more progress I'd be happy to show the details. But to sum up, it's a scene of a generic "Asian" construction site. A worker in the foreground chiseling a board and a water-powered saw mill in the background with a partially completed building. Of course lots of other stuff to fill in but that's the "story" behind it.

[@leonidassantos4927]

How wood tipe do you use. Thank's

[@Bobolouis]

I'm enjoying your videos. These spindles are looking good. Have you ever used a spoke shave? I got one to use for making handles, and it works great. you do have to deal with grain direction, but it hogs out material pretty aggressively.

[@woodwhisperer]

***** Yup, love my spokeshave!

[@GoblinRam1500]

Curious. Using a rasp vs a spokeshave to remove the mass of the material ?

[@RusikLion]

Hello. Very very good work. Do you have drawings on this item

[@jkkrubicon677]

You want to move lots of material use a farriers rasp

[@VladislavCantea]

I would like a Maloof-Inspired Rocker for myself. Could you make such a chair for a client?

[@Bedoya88ebg]

Great!! Where can I find Windsor chair plans?

[@Godsforce1]

where can we get a tenon cutter like that?

[@HeavyboxesDIYMaster]

ooOOooOOooOOoo very nice!

[@sirlaggalot3202]

Hello Marc I am a 14 yr old looking to getting into wood working i have a sharp chisel tennon saw dovetail say bevel tape measure block plane i also have access to a drill and i jigsaw. what other tools do you suggest that i could get (cheap) so that i can start to make projects. thanks all feed back is appreciated

[@erge1623]

where did you get your templates from

[@sogua2000]

Where I can buy that tenon maker ?

[@mylesstandridge1111]

Lee Valley, ---- Veritas tapered tenon cutter

[@pmelchman]

Marc, are those lie nielsen rasps?

[@1339LARS]

Walnut ?

[@woodwhisperer]

***** yep!

[@1339LARS]

The Wood Whisperer I thought so !

[@JimE6243]

Excellent. I had no idea. JimE

[@troels1979]

0:58, someone stole your cup!

[@woodwhisperer]

troels1979 haha ya she's sneaky like that

[@TinyWorkshop]

you have to use your palm on the rasp, not your finger

[@suburbanhobbyist2752]

chooka chooka chooka....I..I..I want the knife. Nice, but showing your age my man!

[@woodwhisperer]

and you showed yours by recognizing it ;)

[@suburbanhobbyist2752]

Lol, true!

[@richard4624]

I, shape rear face with router

[@BestCustomPCs]

not and artis! sir, you are a wood working artist.

[@mrbrianparker]

04:00 - I'm a bass player and both of my hands suffer from touch-screen devices not recognising human flesh. 8-)

[@brendanhay5788]

This remind me of Harry Rogers video kzbin.info/www/bejne/iaOqk6WBdqashJI. He uses a rounding plane and a trapping plane to make cylindrical spindles.

[@richard4624]

Yes it’s French

[@SuperRedhat123]

You sound a bit like Seth Rogan, heh heh heh

[@justindanat4252]

Just so you know... Someone stole your cup 59 seconds into the video; you should be more aware of your surroundings!

[@woodwhisperer]

Justin Danat shop gremlins!