Restoring an old rocker

[SwampDonkey]

My cousin presented this old rocker he said one of his grandmothers owned. One of them is a great grandmother to me. He didn't know which grandmother had the chair. Anyway, it's in pretty bad shape. The right arm is broken as well as the finer spokes. Also I notice a crack in the frame where the main post goes in. It's week there I suppose because of the veneer sheet that was attached with a grooved track they formed the sheet to fit. The veneer seat is also split. But those two aspects I'm not going to touch. If I did, might as well call it my rocker. :D

I'm just tackling the arm and the posts to secure it. I carved out the arm from a pattern drawn of the broken arm. Also, I have the main arm post turned. The 3 smaller ones I made 7/16" dowel and reduced the ends to 3/8". I've got all the holes in the arm drilled, except the bolt hole that attaches it to the back upright post. I need to get a round headed bolt tomorrow and drill out a hole to fit it. On the arm underside there is a 3/4" hole where the bolt will come through and allow a nut to be placed. Just so it matches the old way it was done. The narrow end of the arm has a 1" radius cut at 10 ° with a forstner to hug the corner post. Used the drill press. I've got to drill out the old dowel wood in the seat, they broke off. The old arms,seat, vertical posts, and runners where maple, but the rest seems like red oak and pretty brittle red oak at that. It was made pretty light and not strong even for the times. If it were mine, it might be kindling. She's a rough old girl. :D

[SwampDonkey]

Got her all patched up this morning and put a coat of stain on the new wood.  Ready for battle again. ;D

[Magicman]

Looks like you did a fine job breathing new life into that old relic.   

[SwampDonkey]

My cousin was pleased, and I got paid. So everyone wins.

[Lud]

Nice job, Bill.   

I've had some luck strengthening broken dowels with bamboo skewers (1/8") drilling holes, adding glue, and pounding the bamboo rods thru and trimming off.  Very strong.  You can get 3 or 4  into a pretty small area.

[thecfarm]

Nice job. I bet a few babies been rocked in that old chair.

[SwampDonkey]

Ah, funny you mention the rocking of kids CFarm. I have a photo here of my grandmother holding her great grand daughter while rocking in my great grandmother's old red wicker rocker. (Grammy's mom's rocker) Funny how stuff plays out. :D

I coulda done a whole lot more to that chair as I mentioned, but my cousin is in his mid 80's. Even what I was paid was more than the old thing was worth. Sometimes you just have to get practical. ;)

[sandhills]

Nice work SD, sentimental has a value too