Adirondack-style Rocking Chairs

Q:  We are interested in the rockers appearing on the cover of your April 2010 issue. Are they commercially available, or is a design construction plan available for purchase?

– Mark & Susan Prill; Huntsville, Ala.

A: Countryside Woodcraft, a business of Amish and Mennonite crafters in Cumberland Furnace, Tenn., sells chairs similar to, if not identical to, the ones on our April 2010 cover. The chairs are available in pressure-treated yellow pine and poly (recycled plastic) and are reasonably priced. You can check them out at www.cswoodcraft.com or call (615) 789-3270 for more info.

Dutch Crafters is another Amish furnishings business, but based in Sarasota, Fla. They, too, offer a good selection of Adirondack-style outdoor rockers. Many of their products come with free shipping.

Another place to check out is www.adirondackchairs.com, which offers a large selection of Adirondack outdoor rocking chairs. This site also offers outdoor chairs in other types of wood, such as cypress and mahogany. Details such as where the chairs are made and where the materials come from vary from chair to chair, so check product specifications.

If you want to build your own rockers, you can buy plans at www.woodcraftplans.com. An Adirondack-style rocker plan sells for $14. If you go this route, choose wood according to your ability. For instance, pine, a softer wood, is easier for novices to work with. A lot of people also choose soft wood because of its subsequent “rustification” – dents and discoloration that give the wood character as years go by.