Ash · Walnut · Lathe-Turned
The Rocket
The Story
Team Rocket
Every project begins with a spark, and this one was lit at the kitchen table, not the workbench. My son — a little explorer who runs on Curious George episodes and questions about space — sketched a rocket on a napkin. Wiggly lines, crooked fins, and a very confident declaration: “Papa, build this.”
This wasn’t your typical “Dad’s in the workshop” deal. We worked on the rocket together from start to finish. He sketched the design (with lots of wiggly lines, of course), picked out the wood, and helped clamp pieces in place. He supervised every cut with the seriousness of a NASA flight director. Watching him light up with each step made this project as much about connection as craftsmanship.
This wasn’t a commission or a portfolio piece. It was a Tuesday afternoon that turned into something worth keeping — a family adventure that launched us straight into creativity, laughter, and a lot of sawdust.
The Craft
Ash Body, Walnut Soul
The rocket features two carefully selected woods. Ash, with its light tone and smooth grain, channels that nostalgic vibe of baseball bats and classic toys — a nod to timeless Americana. It has the kind of warmth that feels like it belongs in a child’s hand. Walnut, rich and dark, adds warmth and a touch of that “chocolatey” charm you’d find in Curious George’s adventures. Together, these woods tell a story of tradition and whimsy, perfectly balanced in every curve and joint.
Turned on the lathe in one piece, then shaped by hand. The fins slot into the base and lock tight. Three walnut dowel buttons run down the fuselage. A walnut disc inlaid on the nose cone gives it a porthole window. Every detail is tactile — meant to be touched, held, launched across the living room.
The inspiration — H.A. Rey’s Curious George, reimagined in wood.
The Build
Drilling, Turning, Shaping
The body started as a square blank of ash, mounted on the lathe and turned down to a smooth cylinder. The nose cone tapered first, then the fuselage took shape — the walnut band marking where the porthole window would sit. The fins were cut from walnut, shaped by hand, and slotted into the base.
Drilling the core — setting up the center bore.
Turning the fuselage — ash spinning into shape.
The Reveal
Ready for Liftoff
Two rockets came out of this project. The first one — simpler, three portholes, curved fins — was the prototype. The second one got the walnut window, the banded nose cone, and the swept-back fins that make it look like it actually wants to fly.
Sure, the rocket’s fun to play with, but it’s more than that. It’s a symbol of imagination — the kind that makes you dream big and aim for the stars. It’s a reminder of the beauty of family projects and how something as simple as a wooden toy can capture creativity, love, and a sense of wonder.
They sit on a shelf now, next to each other. One is my son’s. One is mine. Neither one is going anywhere — except maybe to the moon, if you ask him.
Specifications
The Details
