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Poplar as bent lamination rocker rails

Poplar as bent lamination rocker rails (post #163791)

DesignerFirewood on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 13:45

New To Woodworking

My neighbour is making a rocking chair and using Poplar laminations (5 ea x 3/16) to make the curved rockers. They seem to flex a lot to me - is poplar a good choice for rockers, I would have thought it too soft. The reason he is using Poplar is that he had some on hand.

Not for me (post #163791, reply #1 of 7)

by AutumnWoods in reply to DesignerFirewood [original] on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 20:33

I personally wouldn't recommend it. It might get the job done for now, but it's not going to wear well over time. I've seen rockers made of softwood on antique furniture and they tend to develop flat spots in them.

I think he made a bad choice. (post #163791, reply #2 of 7)

by bduffin104 in reply to DesignerFirewood [original] on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 22:17

I think he made a bad choice. Hope no one heavy sits in it.

Bret

(post #163791, reply #3 of 7)

by oldusty in reply to DesignerFirewood [original] on Tue, 03/08/2011 - 22:56

DesignerFirewood,

Several things , I agree with the others Poplar lacks the structural integrity needed in a part like this.

The way I learned it , your neighbor is making a Rocker or rocking chair ,

the part in question is actually called a runner not a rocker .

Autumn , the flat spot you speak of occurs even on hardwood and is a sign of age and use for sure , I have seen it many times .

Other wise he would be making a rocker for his rocker .

regards dusty , maker of designer kindling

Deep Thought (post #163791, reply #4 of 7)

by Westchester in reply to oldusty [original] on Thu, 03/10/2011 - 09:34

I think I understand : Runners can be Rockers but Rockers are usually not Runners ?

terminology (post #163791, reply #6 of 7)

by joinerswork in reply to oldusty [original] on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 05:55

Hi dusty,

I've seen rockers that walked across the floor when you rock on them, but never saw a runner on a rocker.

Here in VA, rockers(the chairs) have rockers (the curved component that rests on the floor).

It's the drawers hereabouts, that have runners (bearers, supports).

Whereabouts are you located? I find it interesting how common expressions are different in different areas of our country. A friend with ties to New England (I believe) calls drawers "draws". I thought for a long time she was adopting a real southern accent, "drawahs", until I asked her to spell it.

I found it highly amusing when I heard one of the wife's relations from OH say in relation to a...shall we say, digestive occurrance- that happened real fast, that it was "quicker than Grant went thru Richmond." Somehow, I'd never heard that before here in VA !... I always heard, "like a handful of BB's down a gutterspout."

Cheers,

Ray

Hello Ray , I (post #163791, reply #7 of 7)

by oldusty in reply to joinerswork [original] on Mon, 03/14/2011 - 06:52

Hello Ray ,

I first learned the term Runner whence I apprenticed for a furniture repair and restoration shop back in the early 70s down in Southern California , Up here in Oregon I still call them runners otherwise your rocker would have rockers .

Heck Ray I could be off my rocker for that matter .

best regards dusty,