Refinishing a Wegner J16 rocking chair  

They look great! I would just leave it as is and live with them awhile.

I wrote a reply to your questions in the next to last post above--must have closed the window accidentally before hitting submit? Sorry about that! Just for the record, though you clearly figured it out--- no, the soap solution doesn't have to be hot when you apply it. In fact it should probably be warm at most. Cool is ok but if you let it sit too long it will turn into a gel-like mess, or maybe separate into a cooled solid and clear fluid--I forget. I had some sitting around years and had to pretty much start the whole process over again.

I applied it both times when it was warm enough for me to touch. I was surprised by the consistency when it cooled... very weird. Like Jello.

I have looked through the threads with J16's and I can't find what I am looking for so I thought i'd ask here. I vaguely remember seeing a photo of one on here that had some interesting cushions, maybe a whole pad for the back? Hopefully I didn't imagine it : ) I would love to see it again if it does in fact exist or maybe folks would like to share how they use pillows etc. with their rockers.

Thanks!

I started a thread a few years ago about tall back rockers with cushions, or maybe it was more about weird cushions that people had come up with, I can't remember. It didn't go much of anywhere, though. I just did a google image search for "Wegner rocking chair" and found a few, plus all the other popular high back rocking chairs popped up, too--some with cushions.

I think the back of the chair is the most beautiful part so I don't cover that with anything. The seat can feel kind of firm, especially if the weaving is newer and hasn't stretched out yet at all. But it's lovely to look at too! I just use a 20" square throw pillow on mine at the lower back, a rather squashy down/feather one.

If you're thinking about a full back cushion, I'd consider 1" latex foam. It will be more comfortable and it'll conform to the curve of the back better. Urethane foam will tend to be just flat, at least until it gets compressed enough from use. but then it's compressed for good, pretty much. Latex is way more resilient. It's also more expensive but 1" latex is sold as mattress toppers and you might be able to find a good deal on one. Ditto for the seat.

Hi, I have seen recently this chair for sale with a lambwool skin, but there are plenty of nice pillows, even from Danish companies, that will make a nice chair.

All the best

Ernest

I picked my J16 up this past spring, and it was already fitted with these cushions.

Initially, I thought that I would remove them, but here we are 6 months later, and they are still on it. I typically fall more on the purest side of things, but these cushions have really grown on me, and I suspect I will keep them on long term. I am also 6'3" and am definitely more comfortable sitting in the chair with the cushions on.

I agree that without the cushions, the design gets to shine and there is an overall, cleaner look. But I also appreciate southwestern patterns, so it is a bit of a compromise.

I too am usually a purist but I'd love to get a J16 rocker at some point and find just a head cushion and matching seat for it. Ideally a linen with navy pin-stripe style fabric I've seen. Was actually looking through the Kvadrat site for a similar match today with no luck 🙁

Thanks everyone! That

Getting a third one today.....annnnd you get a rocker and you get a rocker. Soon I

No problem Ponyboy. Sounds like you will be able to have a number of different options and looks with your J16 rocker collection! The pillow is one my wife made from Pendelton remnants, and has since been properly stuffed, the seat and back came with the rocker. It definitely is more comfortable with the cushions on.

I would also like to take a moment and tell mgee that he did a killer job on that J16 refinish above. Taking one of these apart and refinishing, is no small task. It is not that it is difficult, but more so tedious with all the spindles on the back, and the delicate nature of many of the pieces. I wonder if I would have the patience to take that on myself?

You can get that sort of Navajo styled upholstery fabric all day long where I live. Bolts and bolts and bolts of the stuff!

I stripped one of these rockers with methylene chloride stripper. I didn't think it was too hard but then I cut my refinishing teeth on early 1900s oak furniture with lots of turned legs and spindles and annoying nooks and crannies. My grandmother's kitchen table and chairs had about a thousand coats of paint on them. Good times!

Sanding is not too difficult either. I was dreading the whole job but it all went a lot faster and easier than expected.

Oh how I'd enjoy rocking myself into a coma in Zephyr's sweet chair...wearing a fringed poncho and sipping gin. Who needs pants?

Best,

Aunt Mark

Don't forget your sombrero hanging from a back post, gently slapping the chair with each rock. I'm nearly unconscious just imagining it.

And we are talking a real Mexican poncho, not a sears poncho. Yes, I can see it now. Might I suggest some local northern Mexican specialty firewater like perhaps Sotol? Chihuahua