Woodworker: Bruce K. Brown

Brown’s Bentwood Rocker is the culmination of three years of trial-and-error to perfect a comfortable design and that rocks well. The curvy lines of his father’s insignia actually inspired the profile of the bent laminations. The side of each rocker uses approximately 12 to 14 laminates, 1/16 in. thick, that are approximately 7-1/2 feet long and 1-1/2 in wide. Brown used a router to make a form. Lap joints support the seat, attach the chair stiles to the seat and a bird-mouth joint holds the back end of the arm rails tight to the stiles. All joints use glue and screws except for the back splats which float between mortises in the seat and the crest rail.

Photo: Bruce K. and Matthew K. Brown

Launch Gallery