DIY rocking chair - types, necessary materials and photos of the best projects

You won’t be able to make a rocking chair yourself without drawings and some experience. This is due to the fact that the product is quite complex structurally, and it must withstand the load of a person sitting in it. But this is not a reason not to try to acquire such interesting furniture for your home, which not only looks impressive, but also helps you relax well.

How to make a metal rocking chair yourself: drawings

Metal is a rather difficult material to process.
When there is no experience in forging or specific equipment for the production of bent products, then only simple rocking chairs will be available for self-assembly. However, their design can be quite interesting. First, the frame of the product is assembled from a metal corner or profile. Next, all workpieces must be treated with an anti-corrosion compound. Hammer paints are very popular now. The finishing decor depends on the preferences of the master. For example, the seat can be made of wooden planks or covered with soft fabric. To decorate a rocking chair, you should make small pillows for the back and seat, and cover everything on top with a large removable cover. Sometimes the metal frame is braided with a large amount of willow vine. For this work, you will need theoretical skills in wicker weaving, which are worth learning from numerous videos on the Internet.

Drawing

A drawing of a future rocking chair is a necessary component for the manufacture of a reliable, functional and aesthetic piece of furniture. With its help, you will be able to control the process, eliminate errors and perform all procedures as quickly and accurately as possible.

Before making a rocking chair, prepare a drawing; it can be obtained in three ways:

• Select a ready-made drawing from those offered on the Internet and, if necessary, modify it.
• Draw your own version using a specialized application.

Overall dimensions of a low rocking chair Source pinimg.com

• Draw a drawing by hand, calculate proportions and put down dimensions.

When choosing the design of your future rocking chair, give preference to models with a small number of parts. A plywood sheet is essentially a multi-layer gluing. If we compare plywood with solid materials, then dynamic loads affect it more strongly, and the destructive effect appears more strongly at the joints. Therefore, the fewer parts, the more reliable and long-lasting the operation.

Some general information

Whatever one may say, it is a rocking chair, especially one standing in the garden or near a lit fireplace, that many associate with comfort, a pleasant evening in a narrow family circle, peace and quiet. In such an environment you can have a great rest and relaxation by reading your favorite book or watching a good movie. The rhythmic rocking movements of the rocking chair will help you get ready for sleep and simply feel peace, which is so rare in modern life, filled with bustle and heavy thought processes.

Rocking movements increase concentration

It is still unknown exactly how and where the very first rocking chair came from. Usually many people associate it with old England, fireplaces and rugs. At the moment, there are two main versions of the history of the origin of this chair. According to one of them, the first rocking chair was invented by the Viennese furniture maker, experimenter and innovator, as well as a fan of bent wood, Michael Thoneta in the mid-19th century. However, there is one more fact that casts doubt on this version. Thus, at the end of the 18th century, the word “rocking chair” was added to the English dictionary, and since the 1800s, such chairs began to be produced by many English furniture manufacturers. But the fame and peak of popularity of rocking chairs came precisely in the 19th century. They were used mainly by rich and aristocratic people, as well as those involved in literary and artistic arts.

Plywood rocking chair

According to the second version, the rocking chair was invented by Benjamin Franklin. In terms of time, this was also the 19th century. But there are those who refute this version, believing that Franklin was just the one who became the first owner of the rocking chair.

In a word, we can say that the beginning of the history of the chair is the 18th-19th centuries. The sources are silent about the rest. And, nevertheless, rocking chairs still remain popular and in demand, and are primarily intended to create a special ambiance and comfortable environment in a certain place.

The rocking chair has its own story. Which plywood to use for a rocking chair?

Subtleties of balancing

A novice master is able to accurately reproduce the shape of a rocking chair; but making a dynamic design yourself comfortable the first time is not easy. If the resulting chair does not rock well and leans back too much when landing, then it needs additional balancing.

In order for the chair to swing well, they resort to weighting the rear overhang (the back of the runners). This can be done by connecting the rear ends of the arcs with a transverse part: a wooden beam or pipe with a load (a recess is made in the bottom of the beam for the load, the load is placed inside the pipe).

The size of the load cannot be guessed right away, so balancing is performed in several approaches. If the rocking chair falls backwards, the load is attached to the front overhangs, forming it in the form of a footrest.

Garden rocking chairs with soft seat Source thdstatic.com

Advantages and disadvantages for the child

A rocking chair is a comfortable piece of furniture designed for daily use. When rocking in a chair, people relieve muscle tension and fatigue disappears.

Most consumers like to sit in a chair in front of the fireplace while reading books, doing handicrafts, or just talking with family and friends. Some people use this type of furniture to watch their favorite TV shows or relax in the fresh air.

The main advantages of a rocking chair include:

• the presence of streamlined structures that relieve tension from the spine;
• the rocking mechanism improves muscle tone, normalizes the functioning of the nervous system, and improves the condition of the musculoskeletal system;
• a wide selection of models that harmoniously fit into different stylistic directions.

As for the disadvantages, it is worth adding to them:

• the quality of the products sold is not always high;
• high cost.

But if you make furniture yourself, you can save your own savings and make a truly durable and reliable piece of furniture.

Tip: a rocking chair is an original and beautiful piece of furniture. It can be placed in any room, in the garden or on the terrace.

Pair of accessories

As with any furniture, the right accessories can also help make your rocking chair feel cozier. First, a blanket is placed over the back of the chair. When it's cold, you can wrap yourself in a blanket to keep warm.

It is worth choosing a blanket made from a soft fabric such as fleece, cashmere or chenille. A blanket is selected that matches the chair and its pillows. But if you want to make the room more visually interesting, then it is better to take a contrasting color.

Another accessory that can make a rocking chair more cozy is a rug. A plush rug made from a natural fiber such as cotton or wool is placed under the chair to keep the floor warm and soft underfoot while the person rocks in the chair. Just place the mat so that it does not interfere with the movement of the chair.

How to make a rocking chair with your own hands: the most affordable options

The main part of the rocking chair design is two runners (skis) that have an arched shape, due to which, in fact, the chair can rock. These runners can be short or long. In chairs with long runners, the depth and amplitude of the swing is quite large; a person goes from a sitting position to a reclining position. Rocking chairs with short runners provide a calm and sedate rocking motion, which is why they are especially popular with older people.

Short runners, and you sway smoothly and calmly, away from all worries

To make a simple rocking chair, you don't even need a detailed drawing of a rocking chair. It is enough to take a ready-made, for example an old, chair (1) with wooden legs. Let's make two supports (2), for this we make two elements from bars that will have the same curved base. We also saw out the cheeks (3), which we later use as the bottom for the chair legs.

Diagram of a simple rocking chair

For each leg of the original chair, we cut out two limiting bars (4) - a total of eight. We nail the appropriate stops at the required distance for each support for all legs. We screw in three (6) furniture bolts from the outside of both supports - this will give the chair stability and ensure safe swinging. Prepare a closing plate (7) for each limit bar. Having inserted the legs of the chair into the prepared grooves with limiters, we cover the limiters with closing plates and fix them using a hammer drill. For convenience, you can add a footrest (8) to the front.

Drawing diagram of a rocking chair

Similarly, you can upgrade a chair with metal legs by making special metal mounting loops

Sample of a rocking chair made from a regular chair and homemade runners

Plywood rocking chair

For plastic modeling, plywood is the most favorable material. Using a jigsaw, you can get a design that will greatly simplify the process, because structurally it combines the two most important (and most difficult to manufacture) elements of a rocking chair - the runners and the sides. In addition, the absence of joints significantly increases the strength of the structure.

For production we will need:

• jigsaw
• screwdriver
• plywood – sheet at least 15 mm thick
• oak (pine) slats with a cross-section of 10x50 mm - about 20-35 pieces, the length depends on the manufacturing option - a single or double chair. For a single seat, the length of the rail is 1200 mm.
• timber (pine, preferably oak) – 30x50 mm, 3 pieces, equal in length to the slats
• self-tapping screws

We draw a pattern on graph paper, transfer the design to plywood and cut out the side panel with a jigsaw.

After this, we sand all the parts and remove small chamfers.

If the rocking chair is intended for a summer residence, the ends will require special attention - they require maximum protection from dampness. Therefore, the ends of all parts are impregnated with hot drying oil, after which the wood fibers are slightly flattened with a hammer - this way the moisture will be absorbed much less

Before the general assembly begins, the finishing and varnishing procedure for the ends must be carried out twice.

We mark holes for connecting bars (tsars) at the foot, middle part and headboard. To achieve maximum accuracy, after preliminary marking, the sidewalls are aligned and a hole is drilled. The drawers are secured with Euroscrews and additionally secured with wood glue. After this, we evenly fasten the slats onto the already assembled frame with self-tapping screws. After completing the assembly, you need to fill the holes above the screws, sand all the parts again with fine sandpaper, treat them with an antiseptic, cover them with stain (if you like dark tones of wood) and cover the resulting chair with waterproof varnish.

If it is possible to use an angle grinder and a welding machine, you can assemble a metal frame. To do this you will need a steel corner (20x20x3 mm) and a steel strip (thickness 4 mm, width 40 mm). After assembly, the frame is painted, after which holes for self-tapping screws are drilled along the entire length of the seat and backrest, which will be used to fasten the wooden facing strips.

Selecting a drawing or drawing it

Before you start work, you need to obtain an accurate drawing that will show the dimensions. If you couldn’t find it on the Internet, you can draw it yourself. True, without experience in furniture production or making accurate drawings with projections, you should not do this.

Limit yourself to what you can find on the Internet. This is due to the fact that the production of a chair requires knowledge of the anatomy of the human body, so that in the future the design will be comfortable and safe for sitting and swinging.

When the drawing has been selected, you need to enlarge it and transfer it to graph paper or thick cardboard. This will make it easier to cut out or complete individual elements.

When the stage is completed, you can proceed directly to cutting out the elements and assembling the complete structure.

How to restore an old chair

Old, dilapidated and broken products will get a new design if you plan all the steps to improve them. The first step is to remove the wooden elements of the armrests and legs. They are cleaned of varnish, if necessary, their integrity is restored with glue and varnished again. The old upholstery is carefully removed. In most cases, the filler is replaced, and a new one is attached with a furniture stapler. New parts are cut out from the old upholstery and attached in a similar way. The chair is then restored with updated elements of the armrests and legs. You should not throw away chairs on which some miniature part has broken or the upholstery has simply worn out - their repair will be quick and relatively simple. At the same time, chairs from the mid and second half of the 20th century with narrow, old-fashioned armrests are most often repaired. There are many such Soviet-made products left in apartments and houses.

What is needed for making

• Wood (Any species you like)
• Band-saw
• Plane
• Planer (if available)
• Fraser
• Ball cutters
• Hand saw
• Chisel
• File
• Tape measure and pencil
• Wood glue
• Clamps
• Dowels 10 mm
• Drill 10 mm
• Drill
• Screwdriver
• Screws 40 mm

Types of chairs

Today you can find a huge number of models of wooden rocking chairs of various shapes, sizes, breeds, styles and purposes.

Rocking chairs are:

1. Homemade. These chairs are needed for rest, relaxation and stress relief after a busy day at work. The frame of the structure is most often covered with soft fabric or covered with a beautiful cover. Such furniture can become a real piece of art and can decorate any interior.
2. Office. Allows you to take a break during work to stretch and relax your muscles a little. Office rocking chair models often have elegant leather upholstery and can be equipped with wheels for movement.
3. Dachas. They are placed on the veranda of a country plot or inside a country house. Garden versions of rocking chairs look especially harmonious near a fireplace or stove. These structures also serve for relaxation and relaxation.

To make a rocking chair for your dacha with your own hands from plywood, you will need drawings and instructions from experienced craftsmen, as in the video below.

Depending on the type of chair design, there are:

• With radius runners. Swinging occurs smoothly and softly. For such an assembly, only a low landing is suitable, otherwise the rocking chair may tip over. If you need to increase the height, bump stops are simply installed on the runners.
• With runners of variable curvature. In such a chair, accidental tipping is excluded. The design is suitable for people of different body types.
• With a cradle. Designed especially for children. The chair is equipped with runners of variable curvature, is completely safe, swings gently and without jerking.
• Nirvana rocking chair on ellipses. It has elliptical runners, making the swing soothing, smooth and almost blissful. Strongly swinging is not recommended to avoid falling.
• Nirvana on springs. These chairs are characterized by soft rocking and safety. However, it is quite difficult to make them yourself; this will require wood species such as dogwood, teak or boxwood. Sometimes a rubberized strip of spring steel is used, which will eliminate scratches and dents on the floor.
• On runners with smooth breaks. This is a “3 in 1” rocking chair, it is multifunctional and can change position: from a regular chair to turn into a small lounger. The disadvantage of such structures is their large size, so they are unlikely to be suitable for small city apartments.
• Children's horse chair. This is the most comfortable and safe design for a small child with the right size of arms and backrest angle.
• Tumbler. In this product, the runners are also a seat. It can be placed both in the country house and in the apartment.
• Glider. This is a modern model of a rocking chair with a pendulum mechanism.

How does rocking happen?

Many people assemble rocking chairs according to ready-made drawings, but the products may not always fit the size of a specific person. Therefore, before starting production, you should understand the kinematics of this product:

• If a person stands upright, the center of gravity (CG) of the body is between the lower back and the sacrum inside the spinal column. If a person is in a sitting position, the CG shifts slightly forward and down. In rocking products, the overall CG is always shifted back and down to its original position. In this case, there is a slight error in the projection of the main center of gravity in relation to the supporting surface (floor, soil, etc.), which can be corrected at the end during balancing.
• The stability of the structure is most affected by the displacement of the overall CG relative to the vertical central axis (CO). If the CO coincides with the COG, this is a state of free balance, which is impossible to achieve in a rocking chair. If the center of gravity is greater than the center of gravity, there is a high probability of tipping backwards. It is necessary that the central center is 450 mm or more higher than the central central point (recommended excess is 600-700 mm).

In other words, the overall center of gravity of the rocking chair should be shifted from the seat to an angle intermediate between the back and the seat. The supporting legs are two arched strips, thanks to which smooth swinging is possible. The amplitude depends on the length of the runners.

Swing principle

Basically, there are three types of rocking chairs, regardless of their modification options: chairs with curved runners, hanging models and pendulum models. Although they have external differences, swinging still occurs according to the principle of a pendulum.

This principle is achieved by shifting the center of gravity. The first swing always occurs with effort, when all subsequent swings occur by inertia, which ultimately gradually weakens.

Process of creation

When creating such a chair from plywood with your own hands, you need to choose the right dimensions. For the average person, the most comfortable height will be approximately 90 cm, if the chair is without a headrest. If with a headrest, then it should be about 115 cm. Sheets for such work should be even and smooth.

It is recommended to make the seat in such a rocking chair 50 cm in width and length, then you can sit comfortably in it. The backrest should be tilted approximately 15°. It is advisable to place the armrests slightly away from the seat, approximately 12-15 cm.

Preparation of plywood

To make a rocking chair, it is recommended to use FC plywood sheets. It is environmentally friendly and safe for human health. And also easy to process. Sheets with a thickness of 4, 10 or 15 mm will be required. You can also take thinner plywood, from which you can cut several parts of the same shape and glue them together. To do this, the surface is sanded with sandpaper, then the dust is carefully removed from it. The glue is carefully applied with a brush along the fibers. The glued parts are installed under the press. Thin sheets are cut with a knife, thicker ones with a jigsaw.

In order for a rocking chair made of plywood to serve for a long time, it is recommended to treat the material with drying oil, paint or varnish; you can also use fiberglass for this. You should choose a varnish without epoxy and polyester additives.

The plywood can be bent to give the piece the desired shape. To do this, it must be moistened, after which it can be bent as required and left in this position. After a few hours it will dry and take the desired shape.

Transferring a drawing

The prepared patterns are laid out on sheets and outlined with a pencil. At the same time, you should definitely save space to avoid waste of material.

Sawing

After marking, sawing is carried out to produce chair elements according to the drawing. Sawing is performed along the grain to prevent delamination. If a side cut is required, then notches are applied to the plywood using a bench knife. If you don’t have an electric jigsaw, you can use a special file for figure cutting. It is suitable for cutting curved parts with curves, large and small radii.

You should not cut straight along the drawn line, but step back from it outward by about 1 mm, so that you can then carefully clean the edges without violating the specified dimensions of the part. Otherwise, gaps may appear at the joints. After finishing cutting, the edges of the parts need to be sanded. To do this, use a file, a grinder, or a drill with a grinding attachment.

At specially marked places, holes are drilled for fastening the frame and all parts. The drill must enter exactly vertically, without tilting. At the end of this procedure, the entire surface of the sawn part is sanded with fine-grained sandpaper. Then varnish is applied.

Assembly

When all elements of the rocking chair are completely ready, assembly can be carried out. To connect, you need to use more than just wood glue. The mechanical load on the rocking chair is high, so additional fastening with screws and nails will be required.

All protruding parts are covered with glue and inserted into the grooves. They should be firmly embedded in them. Excess glue is removed from the surface immediately; do not allow it to dry out. After this, for the glue to harden, you need to leave the finished rocking chair for a day.

Making a rocking chair from plywood yourself is an opportunity to show your creativity and get a beautiful and useful piece of furniture. Such work will not require large material costs, and the creation process itself will bring considerable pleasure. The main thing is effort, accuracy and attentiveness, and everything will work out!

Transformation of an ordinary chair

An ordinary chair can be easily converted into a rocking chair. The first step is to purchase or make runners and take the appropriate measurements to cut the chair legs to the desired height.

Then holes are drilled in the runners where the legs will be attached, and the legs are attached to the runners using wood glue.

Tips for choosing a rocking chair

To choose a rocking chair that is ideal for you, be guided by the following points:

• Consider the height and weight of the future owner. A rattan product will not support people weighing more than 120 kg, but wicker or metal will do. And for a tall person, an appropriate backrest is required.
• When choosing upholstery material, think about the layout of the model. For the street, wicker or forged models are best. Also, a rocking chair in the interior should not be an alien element.
• Monitor product quality. Find out the country of manufacture. Rattan products are made in Indonesia, Malaysia and Latin America.
• If you choose a wicker chair, check the number of joints. Due to improper transportation, there are products with small tears. Over time, such holes stretch due to pitching, and the chair breaks.
• The cheapest ones are wooden models without soft elements. But that doesn't mean you have to live on a bare tree. Immediately purchase soft mattresses with ties. They can be easily removed and washed if necessary.
• The degree of pitching depends on the structure of the chair. Sit down and try out the chair to see if it is comfortable for you. The neck and legs should not become numb.
• Determine whether the window sills are conveniently located relative to your hands.
• The back and seat should follow the curves of the body, and not be flat boards.

Possible difficulties and problems

Do not forget to properly test and check the manufactured structure before you begin finishing. The problem may be insufficient swing amplitude. It indicates that the balance is disturbed.

To eliminate this difficulty, you will have to slightly weight the back of the rocker. This can be done by adding an additional crossbar between the runners. For greater effect, use a heavier material.

Advantages and disadvantages of hanging models

A hanging chair, like any piece of furniture, has its pros and cons. The undoubted advantages of a product made independently include originality and uniqueness. This copy is absolutely exclusive, as there are no others like it. Its second advantage can be called comfort. A comfortable soft seat that sways steadily in space promotes relaxation and tranquility.

The downside of the design is the difficulty of carrying it. Dismantling takes a lot of time, and after a massive hook the ceiling will be damaged. The chair on the stand is also too massive and heavy to be constantly moved.

Briefly about the main thing

A rocking chair is a good way to make the interior more comfortable, especially since many models are simple enough to assemble with your own hands. The easiest way for a novice craftsman to make a rocking chair with radius runners is from plywood. If the furniture is intended for indoor use, the FK brand is suitable, if for the garden, then FSF.

When choosing plywood, you need to pay attention not only to the brand, but also to the quality (grade) of the material. To work, you need a drawing, according to which the design patterns are prepared. After marking, parts are cut out from the sheet using an electric jigsaw. Assembly is carried out using glue, screws and self-tapping screws. If the rocking chair does not maintain balance, it is balanced using additional weights.

Assembly steps

Modern furniture manufacturers are ready to offer a huge range of models of various shapes, colors, styles and materials. However, if you have the time and desire to independently assemble a home rocking chair, you need to safely purchase all the necessary materials and get to work.

The simplest model

Tools and materials:

1. Screwdriver or drill.
2. Tape measure for measurements.
3. Self-tapping screws.
4. Special wood glue.
5. Electric jigsaw.
6. Thick cardboard for patterns.
7. Sandpaper for sanding.
8. Sheet of plywood.

A simple model of a rocking chair

Step-by-step instruction:

• Apply markings to a sheet of plywood using a pattern.
• Using a jigsaw, cut out two parts.
• Sand the resulting elements well.
• Then you need to cut 14 transverse strips from plywood (length - 59 cm, width - 6 cm).
• After which 14 support strips are cut (length - 5 cm, width - 6 cm). The entire surface is well sanded.
• The transverse strips are glued to the two side parts. Support strips are glued to the inside of the structure and secured with self-tapping screws.
• The rocking chair on two sides in the shape of a boomerang with cross bars is ready! The product can be varnished or painted, and beautiful upholstery can be sewn onto the back.

How to make a rocking chair with your own hands is shown in the video master class with detailed step-by-step instructions.

Rocking chair with curved skis

For assembly you will need:

1. Tape measure for measurements.
2. A simple pencil.
3. Graph paper.
4. Screwdriver.
5. Electric jigsaw for working with wood.
6. Sander.
7. Metal confirmants.
8. Wood board for cutting skis 300/20/4 centimeters.
9. Board for frame 300/10/2 cm.

Country chair with curved skis

Step-by-step assembly instructions:

• According to the drawing, templates for curved skis are cut out and transferred to a wooden board.
• All parts are carefully cut out according to the markings: 2 armrests, 2 front and rear legs, 2 fixing strips for the seat, the shape of the back and seat, ski elements, front connecting strip.
• All cut out structural elements must be sanded well, and then holes for confirmants must be drilled.
• Next comes the final assembly of all the parts, and the chair is ready! Now you can think about decorating it in the form of a soft cover and decorative pillows.

Balancing Recommendations

In most cases, additional balancing of the product will be required so that the chair does not cause inconvenience when rocking, sitting down and standing up.

How to balance a swing structure:

• If the chair falls forward, you can make the back heavier by attaching cross bars to the rear runners.
• To increase the weight, weighting decor can be mounted on either side of the part.
• If the product tilts backwards, a counterweight should be created in the front part of the rocker. A foot bar or niche is suitable for this.

A rocking chair will always remain a desirable piece of furniture, because it is so pleasant to sit in it and forget about all the problems. It is not at all necessary to spend a lot of money on a purchase; you can make such a product yourself. And ready-made instructions and drawings will help with this.

Materials and tools

To make the simplest chair you will need the following materials and tools:

• Plywood;
• Drawing;
• Self-tapping screws;
• Milling cutters;
• Hardware;
• Wood glue;
• Paint and varnish;
• Jigsaw;
• Screwdriver;
• Drills, bits;
• Clamps;
• Tool for sanding wood surfaces.

Features of models made of plastic pipes

A rocking chair made of plastic pipes is an excellent way to “use” leftover material after making a drinking or irrigation water supply. To create a frame, you will need scissors for PVC pipes and a special soldering iron (welder).

For the side surfaces you will need a pipe with a diameter of 32 or 25 mm, for jumpers - 20 mm. Tees are purchased based on the number of connection points. It is better to plan to purchase with a reserve in order to practice soldering on individual parts. The price of tees starts from 5 rubles, so a supply of 4–5 parts will not cost much.

A template is prepared in advance, according to which pipe sections are cut, providing a margin of 3–4 cm for each part: when soldering, the tube is inserted into the tee by 1.5–2 cm.

If you work carefully, the runners can be given a rounded shape without heating. If this cannot be done, then clean sand is poured inside the tube, heated in the oven to 90–100⁰C. To prevent the sand filler from spilling out, a plug is welded to one side. It will remain on the part even after the work is completed to prevent moisture from getting inside. The same plugs are welded to all open ends of the pipes.

Once the frame is assembled, a foam rubber mattress covered with raincoat fabric is attached to it if the chair will be used outdoors. For fastening, strips of fabric (ties) sewn to the mattress are used.

Welder for plastic pipes

Side element diagram

Scraps of reinforcement are inserted inside the pipes

We weld the fastening points with a welding machine

Rocking chair made of plastic pipes

Teak

Teak is one of the best woods for outdoor furniture, better than other woods such as pine, oak or bamboo.

• Teak is durable and elastic because it produces its own oil. It is a hard wood, so it is not easy to dent or scratch it.
• It is completely wind and water resistant, so it can stay outdoors all year round.
• It is difficult to care for and needs to be treated regularly to avoid a 'silver patina'.
• Teak is one of the more expensive options.

Varieties

Despite the variety of types of rocking chairs, they all share a number of advantages:

• positive effect on the musculoskeletal and nervous system;
• providing a relaxing effect;
• Possibility of use both indoors and outdoors for people of any age category;
• safety and reliability in operation.

The purpose of such chairs is very different - without meaning and with meaning. For example, this will be a significant help in rocking the baby and at the same time rest for the mother herself.

Mothers with babies will especially appreciate rocking chairs

It is a mistaken belief that rocking chairs are bulky and take up a lot of free space. In fact, modern models are quite compact and convenient. Such chairs are universal, but there are still some aspects of separation, which depend on the place of use - garden or home. For outdoor use, it is recommended to select furniture with removable seats that can be removed when it rains. For them, they choose a stronger and weather-resistant material from which the chair is made.

On skids

Inertial type design with a base in the form of two rounded runners and a weight limit of 100 kg. The model is simple due to the absence of unnecessary parts. Designed for use on hard surfaces.

The design has no unnecessary parts and is simple to implement

Pendulum

They have a fixed base with a possible pendulum mechanism on hinges for swinging. Due to this, uniform and silent swing occurs while maintaining inertia for a long time. Suitable for all floors.

The peculiarity of the mechanism is that it gives inertia, and the chair can swing for quite a long time

Spring

They consist of a stationary base on a massive spring and a seat directly. Permissible load - within 150 kg. Most often made from rattan.

These chairs are made mainly from rattan.

Hanging

A chair attached with ropes or chains to a vertical support. Essentially, these are the same swings.

Well, isn't it a pleasure to swing in such a chair?

Finishing

Once all the flaws have been identified and corrected, you can safely begin finishing.

The decorative compositions used are:

• Varnish;
• Alcohol stain;
• Paints.

The option where the seat and back are covered with fabric cannot be ruled out. Upon completion of finishing, you need to pay attention to the places where the fasteners are located.

They must be masked using special furniture plugs. Or there is an option using sealant.

How to do it at home?

Making a rocking chair with your own hands will still be possible for those people who have basic carpentry or welding skills, depending on the chosen master class.

On skids

The easiest way to make a homemade chair on runners is from an ordinary old armchair or chair. In fact, all that remains is to add the runners themselves, securely fasten them to the legs and, possibly, sew a cover. In addition to the chair itself on legs, you will need runners, a screwdriver, screws, a drill and sandpaper. To give the rocking chair an aesthetic appearance, paint and a brush will be useful. The runners themselves are cut out independently into shape using a pattern, or they are ordered from a craftsman.

It is important that the gap between the legs is 20-30 centimeters less than the length of the runners. At those points where the chair is fixed on the legs, holes are drilled, after which the runners are “fitted on.” If the result is positive, the latter can be sanded with sandpaper and painted in several layers.

The finished “skis” are put on the legs and fixed with screws in the already prepared holes

If the result is positive, the latter can be sanded with sandpaper and painted in several layers. The finished “skis” are put on the legs and fixed with screws in the already prepared holes.

Pendulum

An excellent pendulum rocking chair is made on the basis of bearings. Compact and durable design creates even swing and is ideal for outdoor use. For manufacturing, it is necessary to prepare two steel strips with dimensions of 40 by 4 millimeters and 60 by 6 millimeters, as well as profile pipes with dimensions of 20 by 20 millimeters and with a wall thickness of two millimeters. The movement of the rocking chair can be ensured by 8 bearings, the outer diameter of which is 32 millimeters, and the internal diameter is 12 millimeters, as well as 8 bearing cages. They are created by hand on a lathe, or cut from a tube. Finally, you can’t do without a pair of garage hinges and bolts with nuts size M12.

In order to minimize welding, profile pipes can simply be bent using a homemade jig. To avoid making mistakes, it is better to first apply markings every 100 millimeters. The entire frame of the rocking chair is made from a profile pipe, that is, the support part, two sidewalls, the seat and the back. As a rule, for a standard size of outdoor furniture it takes about 20 meters. From the strip and profile, parts are created that regulate how much the back of the chair tilts, in the amount of 2 pieces.

A steel strip measuring 6 by 60 millimeters is cut into two equal parts. From it, as well as bearings and bolts with nuts, pendulums are created in the amount of 4 pieces.

On springs

It is not recommended to make a spring rocking chair with your own hands, since this mechanism is very complicated to implement. The design has a powerful and motionless base, above which there is a large spring. It is she who is responsible for rocking the soft seat mounted on top. It is much easier to make a hanging rocking chair, which will decorate both the summer cottage and the children's room.

The easiest way to make a homemade swing is from a hoop with a diameter of 90 centimeters, a piece of thick fabric with dimensions of 3 by 1.5 meters, non-woven fabric, 4 metal buckles, 8 slings and a metal ring, from which the chair itself will be suspended.

The hoop is either created independently or formed from a metal-plastic tube or bendable wood. First of all, a pair of equal squares with sides of 1.5 meters are formed from 3 meters of fabric. Each of them is folded 4 times, after which a circle with a radius of 65 centimeters is cut out of the workpiece. The blanks are marked with an internal contour and holes for slings.

At the next stage, both blanks are ground together, leaving a hole for the frame. The remaining free allowance is cut with teeth, after which the finished cover is turned inside out and ironed again. The hoop itself is covered with the selected filler, cut into strips with a width of 6 to 8 centimeters. The frame is inserted into the case, both parts are connected to each other. The cover is filled with strips of padding polyester sewn to the fabric with a hidden seam. The sling is cut into 4 two-meter pieces, the edges of which are melted on both sides. The slings are pulled through the patterns and stitched several times. Buckles on the free ends allow you to adjust the height and inclination of the rocking chair. All slings are assembled and fixed on a metal ring.

How to make a hammock chair from a metal hoop is described below.

Choose the right place

Even with the right color, cushions and accessories, a rocking chair won't be as cozy as it can be if placed in the right place. If the house has a fireplace, then place the chair directly in front of the fireplace. This way you can feel the warmth and, most importantly, comfort from the fire while relaxing or reading on a rocking chair.

You can also place a chair in front of a window with a stunning view to enjoy the scenery. A small alcove with plenty of peace and quiet, and a nearby reading light is another good spot for a rocking chair.

A small table that allows you to place coffee, tea or cocoa without leaving your chair will complement the cozy atmosphere.

Types of chairs for self-production

Conventionally, the options can be divided into:

• hard;
• semi-soft;
• soft;
• rocking chairs.

First, individual elements are created. Then they are processed and holes are made, paint and varnish materials are applied to them. In some cases, a completely finished product is improved. As for certain types of chairs, a feature of hard chairs is the lack of upholstery. Usually these are just chairs with armrests. Semi-soft options are a chair with upholstery and filling inside. Soft upholstery is usually present on the seat, armrests, and backrest. The fabric consumption will be small. The first two models of chairs are more suitable for the garden. A soft type of chairs - completely upholstered in elastic material, an excellent option for the interior of a home. A rocking chair is suitable for the garden, veranda and the house itself. This can be furniture made of various materials or wickerwork. Different types of chairs are made from pallets, boards with beams, bars, and wicker. Sometimes they use metal, and the algorithm of work will not be much different from master classes with wooden models.

Nuances of choosing plywood

Plywood sheets are selected based on the specifics of the project. In this case, you can adhere to the following recommendations:

• For large and visible (external) parts, elite grades of plywood that do not have visible flaws are suitable. Quality will guarantee that chips and cracks will not appear during cutting.
• If you are going to laminate or paint the chair, the luxury material can be replaced with 1st grade plywood. There are a small number of pin-shaped, fused and/or falling knots on its surface; edge defects and closed cracks are possible.

A creative approach to the design of a rocking chair Source kayabaparts.ru

Drawing with dimensions for children and adults

Rocking chairs are intended for both children and adults. For children, models are made from various materials, but most often natural wood or plywood is used. The principle of their manufacture is practically no different from adult models. The only differences are the dimensions of the product and the absence of sharp corners. When painting products, non-toxic paints are used, the backs are decorated with ornaments in the form of flowers or hearts.

As for the size of child seats, it all depends on the age and weight of the kids. For the little ones, various manufacturers offer universal products measuring 75 by 70 by 66 cm, capable of supporting weight up to 12 kg . Making such a piece of furniture with your own hands will be problematic. Most often, people make such furniture for older children; their sizes are selected based on the height of the children.

As for the standard sizes for adult furniture, they are:

• width – 70 cm;
• height – 1.5 m;
• depth – 45 cm;
• the length of the runners is 2.2 m.

Step-by-step instruction

The manufacturing process for a rocking chair from any material always consists of the following sequence of actions:

1. Selection of design and development of drawings.
2. Procurement of materials and preparation of tools.
3. Frame assembly.
4. Installation of seat and backrest.

A wooden rocking chair is created with your own hands using the following algorithm.

Diagram for a rocking chair made of plywood Diagram for a rocking chair made of metal

Design

It is difficult to design swinging furniture yourself without experience. When calculating the curvature of the runners and the geometric dimensions of parts for assembly, the following are taken into account:

• weight and anthropometry of the user;
• center of gravity of the finished product, which affects the smoothness of the “run”;
• body tilt angles in different modes of use;
• radii of curvature for comfortable rocking and prevention of capsizing.

For the first experience, it is better to find ready-made drawings of a rocking chair made of plywood. This will help avoid mistakes, waste of time and materials.

Having decided on the design, life-size drawings are transferred to a sheet of paper of a suitable size, for example, Whatman paper. By cutting out the configuration of the side walls, runners, jumpers, and other parts, templates are obtained for application to the prepared materials.

Sizing chart

Tilt angles in different modes

Making the base and runners

Using an old frame is an example of how easy it is to make your own rocking chair. In this case you will need:

• restore the surface of the wood by sanding it and covering it with paint and varnish;
• sew and secure a new seat.

One of the options for making runners is cutting out the sidewalls from plywood. To give strength, each wall is made of 3 layers: the inner one is made of a sheet 10–12 mm thick, the outer ones are made of 8 mm material.

The sequence is:

• using a template, transfer all the elements of the rocking chair drawing onto prepared sheets of plywood;
• cut out parts with a jigsaw;
• fasten the sheets with bolts through through holes or self-tapping screws;
• clean and polish parts on all sides;
• coat the workpieces with varnish or paint;
• install protective rubber or plastic pads at the points of contact between the runners and the floor.

For runners, you can use boards that are wide enough to cut curved parts. Board thickness from 40 mm.

For another option for obtaining curved parts, bars soaked in water are bent according to a template. This process is time-consuming and requires powerful clamps. This method is not suitable for making a chair with your own hands; it is better not to use it without experience.

Prepare the template Cut out the parts according to the template Fasten the sides with self-tapping screws Cover with varnish

Assembly

The final assembly of plywood models involves making cuts in the parts and attaching strikers to them using self-tapping screws, glue, or using metal corners and screws. Parts in solid wood products are secured with glue using a tongue-and-groove joint. Exposed glue is immediately removed with a clean rag so that no traces remain.

Let's sum it up

Now you know which chairs can be assembled from a profile pipe and how to do it yourself. If you still have questions about assembling metal furniture, ask them in the comments to the article.

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October 25, 2022

Furniture,Pipes

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