The Beauty of a Canadian Woodworks Rocking Chair
You know, there’s something about rocking chairs that just feels like home. It’s that gentle sway, the sound of wood creaking under your weight, and the way they can take you back to simpler times—sipping lemonade on a summer afternoon or watching the leaves turn in the fall. A while back, I decided to dive into a little project and build my own Canadian Woodworks rocking chair, thinking it’d be right up my alley. Spoiler alert: it was a ride.
The Idea
So, I’m sitting in my back porch one night, cup of coffee in hand, watching the sun set behind those big pines, and it hits me. “Why not build a rocking chair?” Why, you may ask? Well, honestly, I’ve had this vision in my head ever since I spotted one at my buddy Jim’s place. It had this rustic charm, and when I asked him about it, he mentioned it was a Canadian Woodworks piece. I didn’t know much about wood, but I knew I wanted to create something just as special.
The Tools and the Setup
Now, being the DIY enthusiast—or perhaps just the stubborn guy that I am—I thought, “How hard can it be?” Off to the garage I went, dusting off my tools. I had an old Dewalt miter saw and a Ryobi drill that’d seen better days, but they still had some life left in them. I knew I needed some quality wood too. After a ton of research (and let me tell you, the rabbit hole on YouTube is deep), I settled on some beautiful, smooth maple. Oh man, that scent of fresh-cut wood—nothing like it.
I’ll admit here that I didn’t have the best plan. At least, not a detailed one. I grabbed a couple of sketches from the internet, mismatched them with a few ideas I had, and thought that would do. Yeah, not my brightest moment. If I had a nickel for every time I thought I’d wing it only to realize I should’ve just measured things out, I’d be rich!
The First Steps and the Slip Ups
So, there I was, ready to take on the world—or, well, my little corner of it. The first few cuts went well. I felt like a magician as the pieces started to take shape. I could practically picture myself all cozy in my new chair. But then—I don’t know how to say this except to just say it—I messed up.
I had cut the armrests too short. I mean, way too short. I stood there staring at the pieces, the realization settling in like that weight on your chest when you remember the laundry you forgot. It was a crushing blow. I almost gave up at that moment. I pulled out a cold beer from the fridge, and just sat there on the garage floor, staring. But I wasn’t ready to throw in the towel, so I decided to improvise.
The Fix and Unlikely Breakthroughs
I ended up using some leftover wood from an old project. It was a different species, but I figured a little character wouldn’t hurt, right? I made new armrests, and, honestly, the juxtaposition of the oak next to the maple looked pretty good. Sometimes those accidents turn into happy accidents, as Bob Ross would say.
The more I worked, the more I got into it—the rhythmic sound of the sander smoothing out the edges had its own kind of music. And, oh boy, the feeling you get when everything clicks into place is unmatched. After hours of sawing, sanding, and occasionally cursing at myself, it was finally time to put it all together. It was like a puzzle, but one with a lot more sweat and maybe a few tears.
Finishing Touches
Now came the fun part: finishing! I went with a natural oil finish that I’d read about. I remember opening that can for the first time, and the initial whiff of the oil was intoxicating. It made the whole garage smell like a cedar forest. I layered it on, letting it soak into the wood, and just as I finished, I took a step back. I laughed a little when it actually worked! This thing was looking great!
The Moment of Truth
Finally, after what felt like months (might’ve just been a couple of weeks, but you know how time flies) I had my rocking chair ready to bring to life. The moment I sat down, rocking back and forth, a wave of contentment washed over me. I couldn’t believe I had made this. The creak of the wood under me felt like a gentle reminder of how hard I worked for this moment.
The Takeaway
So, here’s the thing: if you’re thinking about trying something like this, just go for it. Seriously. Don’t worry about whether the plans you have are perfect or if you have the latest and greatest tools. Messing up is part of the process, and sometimes—you might just end up with something even better than what you originally intended.
That Canadian Woodworks rocking chair? Yeah, sure, it’s not a professional-level piece, but it’s mine. Every scratch, every mismatched piece tells a story. So grab that cup of coffee, dig in, and let yourself enjoy the ride. You never know what kind of beautiful mess you might end up with.
