PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS A TWO-SEMESTER COURSE.
Step into the world of sculptural woodworking with this immersive course in crafting a sculpted rocking chair — where elegance meets engineering. You’ll master advanced techniques like bent lamination, precision rectilinear and angled joinery, and the art of shaping wood with both power tools and hand tools. Learn to coax curves from straight grain, blend structure with comfort, and prepare surfaces for finishes that bring out the soul of the wood.
This course is designed for woodworkers who don’t just build — they sculpt, shape, and refine. If you’re confident in your foundational skills and have a deep respect for wood’s structure and joinery, this is your invitation to create a piece that rocks — literally and artistically.
First Semester Overview:
The first semester focuses on foundational components of the rocking chair, including constructing the bent lamination forms for the rockers, creating templates, gluing up and shaping the seat, fabricating and attaching the front and rear legs, and blending the legs into the seat. Students will also prepare the spindles, arms, and crest rail for installation.
Second Semester Overview:
The second semester emphasizes final construction and finishing techniques. Students will shape and attach the arms, complete spindle making and installation, install the crest rail and blend it into the legs, and attach the rockers, shaping them to flow seamlessly into the legs. The course concludes with surface preparation for applying a traditional hand-rubbed finish.
Want to learn more? You are invited to submit pictures of your woodworking projects, as well as attend a class orientation in our Fine Woodworking Department (July 31st, 2025 at 6 PM). Please RSVP and send pictures to eric.cravens@rrcc.edu.
