DIY rocking chair (made of wood, plywood, metal)

Diy rocking chair: preparation for work

Making a rocking chair is a rather painstaking and laborious process that requires special attention. First you need to decide on the design and material for manufacturing. Most often, beginners use plywood, which is much easier to work with. If you have the skills to work with metal and the appropriate equipment, you can make a welded or forged chair that can be used not only at home, but also installed on the veranda or in the garden. You can also make a great rocking chair out of the vine, but provided that you know how to prepare the material and know how to handle it. For a beginner, you can try yourself as a manufacturer of a rocking chair, having made a children's design for a start.

When calculating, you need to take into account the weight of the largest household in order to avoid the troubles associated with excessive load on the chair later (do not think that you will be able to use such a wonderful, comfortable piece of furniture alone, relatives will definitely find a moment to soak up in it). Sometimes incidents happen when the assembled rocking chair has an edge, leaning to one side or the other. Do not despair - you can correct the situation with an additional weight on the opposite side, for example, several wooden slats. To prevent the chair from overturning during a strong swing (and if there is a small child in the house, this cannot be avoided), you can attach a transverse bar to the runners from the back side, which will create an emphasis.

For greater strength, all connections must be fixed with self-tapping screws and glue (it is better to take a two-component moisture resistant one). It is better to install additional wear-resistant pads on the runners, which will extend the life of the product. If you have already decided how and from what you are going to make the structure, you need to draw up its drawing with all the exact measurements. It can be difficult for novice craftsmen to make it on their own, so you can use the schemes posted on the Internet. Accordingly, we select tools (their list will vary depending on the material) and all the necessary accessories.

Seat and back

The most common version of the seat is polished wooden slats. They are secured with screws. Allow to provide high strength, lightening the weight of the structure. The main drawback is rigidity. Sitting in such a chair will not work for a long time. Numbness of the soft part is guaranteed to you. To avoid this, very often the rocking chair is accompanied by a soft mattress. It completely covers the backrest with the seat. Fastens to the slats with straps. There is one more option. A layer of plywood, filler is laid over the details of the seat and everything is covered with leather or its substitutes.

As a filler, you can use:

• Foam rubber. Material with sufficient strength. At the same time, it is soft, keeps its shape well. The term of use is about 5 - 6 years. Further, it may begin to sag or crumble unevenly;
• Fiber. There are many types of material, but they all have a common principle. It is based on a synthetic fiber twisted in a spiral. Then they are pressed into a hard, springy layer. Withstands loads well, recovers quickly. Too thin sheets should be avoided. They deform quickly;
• Sintepon. Cheap material of non-woven nature. Too thin. The filler has to be laid in many layers with quilting. Over time, this causes deformation with displacement and clumping of the filler. Good as an additional single layer;
• Synthepukh. Very soft material, but quickly sags and crumples under stress. A budget option with a short service life. Mixing it with styrofoam balls will make the seat last longer.

As a covering, you can choose:

• Textile.These should be dense, durable fabrics with a well-pronounced weave texture. Jacquard, tapestry, linen matting, cloth have proven themselves very well. But, all of them are distinguished by some rudeness with tactile contact. In this regard, velvet, velor, flock, alcantara are more pleasant. But these fabrics are prone to gradual abrasion and "baldness", with the accumulation of dust;
• Eco leather. A good option for the street. Not afraid of sunlight and water. Does not fade. When used, it does not deform, retaining its shape. Very durable. Soft, pleasant to the touch;
• Leather. An expensive pleasure. If you can afford it for the outdoors, go for a well-made variety. The thinner it is, the softer the skin. Repels water, dirt. Easy to clean. Very durable.

Process of creation

For the independent production of a hanging chair, it is worth remembering:

• in the swing type of chairs, strong fabrics, special rope, wooden tiles are used;
• in a suspended cocoon, willow or rattan rods are used, as well as any other flexible branches;
• plastic or metal hoops for matching samples.

Regardless of the type of hanging chairs, it is necessary to use durable textile fabrics, high-quality fasteners and ropes.

To make a frame hanging chair you will need:

• a pair of gloves;
• measuring tape and scissors;
• metal hoop;
• connecting ring;
• polyamide tape or thread;
• foam material;
• suspension ropes.

Photo tips how to make a hanging chair

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Model types

The variety of the model range of hanging chairs is amazing. To create your own design, there is always a choice from a large number of samples. But, if you are ready to show your imagination, then making a hanging rocking chair from a photo or your own ideas will not be difficult for you.

Hanging swing

The lightness and reliability of the structure, made of soft or hard materials, decorates any corner of the house or summer cottage. For manufacturing, you will need a thick rope and a strong textile base.

Hanging chair made in a hoop

This type of chair is very simple to make. You need a metal hoop braided with strong threads. The finished swing is suspended using dense ropes to the base or to the ceiling.

Hanging wicker chairs can be attached to a special stand or mounted on the ceiling. This is determined by the area of ​​the room or the space of the territory in which it will be located, as well as the desire of the owner of the chair.

Drawings and dimensions

To make a chair yourself, you need to prepare a drawing. This will help to make the product with exact observance of the dimensional parameters and follow the design rules, adhering to the style. The photo shows a modification of the chair, the manufacture of which is the simplest, which puts it in the list of the first models that can be made at home. The general nature of the drawing scheme can be free. However, the parameters of individual parts of the structure must be indicated with maximum accuracy and respect for proportions.

The diagram shows an option for designing an armchair of this model. According to it, the design of a rocking chair can be divided into two main components: a load-bearing or supporting part and a landing part. The sizes of the individual areas of the second part may vary depending on the needs of the user, but their ratio should be harmonious. This drawing shows a diagram of a chair designed for an adult of average height and weight.

Varieties

Before drawing up a project, you need to decide which type of chair is more to your liking.

Armchair-the rocking chair can be made by hand from scrap materials

There are the following varieties:

1. With radius runners. This was originally a rocking chair. This design is as simple as possible. Typically, this model has a low fit, which is associated with instability when swinging. If a large amplitude develops, there is a possibility of overturning. Therefore, a closing arc is required.
2. With skids of variable curvature. Such a structure will definitely not topple over. Great for rocking a child. Safety and comfort are a priority here.
3. The nirvana chair is spring and elliptical. They provide a smooth rolling motion. But their manufacture and operation are fundamentally different. The leaf springs are made of high quality wood and spring steel. Elliptical structures can tip over, but are characterized by smooth swaying.
4. Three in one - a combination of a chair, rocking chair and lounger. The advantages of this model are its versatility. The main disadvantage is its substantial dimensions. It is also not always convenient to switch from one mode to another.
5. Pendulum bearings. A modernized version of the classic design. But here there is a fixed base - you can hardly hear how the chair works. This model is also suitable to rock the baby.

The complexity of the construction process, the required amount of materials and tools depends on the features of the type of rocking chair.

Making a rocking chair

This version of the rocking chair can be placed in the garden and used for comfortable outdoor recreation on a warm summer day.

Step 1. First of all, you need to purchase everything you need - a sheet of plywood 30 mm thick, a hand router, a grinder, a screwdriver, a jigsaw, and various measuring tools.

What is required for work

Step 2. Next, you need to mark the parts on a sheet of plywood. The first step is to cut out a rectangle measuring 1820x1500 mm, and find the center on it.

Layout of construction details

Step 3. Now you need to draw the shape of the side parts of the chair, focusing on the drawing. Curved lines can be drawn using a tape measure with the ability to insert a pencil into it or a rope of the required length with a pencil tied at the end. It turns out a kind of compass.

The pencil is inserted into the tape measure The shape of the side details is drawn Another photo of the process

Step 4. Next, you need to make holes in the plywood so that you can make cuts of the inner radii of the parts.

A hole is drilled

Step 5. Then you need to cut out the side elements of the rocking chair using a jigsaw.

Side elements are cut out Jigsaws are used

Step 6. Using the first part as a template, you can make the second one without unnecessary movements.

The part is used as a template

Step 7. The finished parts of the rocking chair should be sanded well using a sander.

Grinding parts

Step 8. Now you can start making the seat slats. They need to be cut from plywood.

Plywood is required for the slats.

Step 9. The side parts also need to be chamfered.

Chamfering

Step 10. Using a Forstner drill, you need to make recesses for the jumpers between the side parts of the chair. On both parts, they should be clearly opposite each other.

Creating grooves for lintels

Step 11. The elements of the chair can be painted with a water-based stain and dried well before further work.

Stain application

Step 12. On the rails for installing the seat, you need to fix metal corners at the edges, on which they will hold between the side elements.

Fastening metal corners

Step 13. The two side elements of the chair must be connected with round jumpers. They are sure to be securely fixed.

Side parts connection

Step 14. Next, it's time to screw on the seat rails. They need to be fixed at the expense of the corners, previously screwed to the rails, on the side elements.

Seat slats are attached

Step 15. This chair has a small roof that will protect the resting person from the scorching sun. You can fix the material (and this is fabric) using a construction stapler.

The fabric is attached with a stapler

Step 16. In order to lie comfortably on the rocking chair, you can lay a thin mattress or foam rubber on the slats. The rocking chair is ready.

Rocking chair

Video - Making a simple rocking chair

In general, it turns out to be quite easy to make a rocking chair out of plywood. Of course, we are talking about the simplest designs. More complex products will require a lot more work and costs. But these chairs, the instructions for creating which are given above, can be made in just one day if desired.

Project of the future chair: drawings, diagrams

When making a rocking chair, the main thing is to calculate everything well, make careful measurements, and make the most accurate drawings for them. If there are inconsistencies, the balance will be upset, the product will come out skewed, it will tip over on its side.

Usually master classes with ready-made drawings, templates are found on the Internet, but if there are people in the family with a high body weight (over 100 kg), the piece of furniture will have to be made in such a way that it can withstand them. For this, up to 15-20% is added to the recommended thickness of the parts. The size of the child seat should correspond to the height of the child, otherwise the design is practically the same - if the chair is low, a pillow is placed on its seat.

If you wish, you can find or develop with your own hand a product equipped with directional light lamps, solar panels, phone charging connectors, massage elements, etc. A two-seater "structure" is more like a full-fledged sofa, especially if you throw a blanket over it, lay pillows.

Alternatives: benches, chairs, sofas, and so on

Benches, chairs, sofas are an excellent alternative option for an armchair.

A bench is a wonderful element of the landscape, without which it is difficult to imagine a rest on a site among green spaces. It usually consists of a metal frame to which the seat is attached. There are also benches with backs and armrests, which provide a complete outdoor recreation.

Such a necessary landscape item as a bench, if necessary, is supplemented with a textile cushion, and in rainy weather it can be covered with a protective film. Benches can last for decades, and wooden elements can be changed over time.

Forged chairs are purchased either complete with a table or separately. But in any case, an ensemble of four chairs for a garden plot is considered an invariable attribute of a summer vacation. The seat and back of the chair are made of plastic or wood.The design of the product is distinguished by the backrest and the presence of armrests.

This piece of wrought iron furniture also looks great in the kitchen or living room. The chair is usually in harmony with the table. You can choose the upholstery for the interior and then the harmonious ensemble will perfectly fit into the design style.

By the way! Chairs purchased for a country house are better to buy complete with textile pillows!

A wrought-iron sofa can be placed in any room of the house: in the bedroom, in the kitchen, in the hallway and in the living room. The sofa goes well with a hanger and a mirror in an openwork frame. In the hallway, as a rule, there is not much space, so compact sofa models are placed there.

• Kitchen. Laconic models, not abundant in decoration, are most often placed in the kitchen. And in combination with a table and chairs, the sofa will look great in a single style ensemble.
• Living room. A wrought-iron sofa in the living room will create a cozy and homely atmosphere. The sofas with an ornate pattern on the back suit the baroque style. The sofa is complemented by a coffee table, a TV console and a chandelier.

A sofa with a wrought-iron back. Belkovka Photos

• Bedroom. For a bedroom, an excellent solution would be a sofa in light colors in the Provence style. It can be supplemented with a bed with an openwork back, a bedside table and a lamp.
• Bathroom. The bathroom can accommodate a small sofa, which is convenient for cosmetic procedures.

There are different types of sofas: sofa-bed, sliding, corner, ottomans, banquettes, with a carriage coupler, garden, with a wrought-iron back, Art Nouveau, Baroque and more. Forged sofas are perfect for public spaces, offices and leisure areas.

Types of rocking chairs

The stores offer a wide range of this type of furniture, differing in material, type of construction, upholstery, color, design and scope.

By type of structure

Glider - sliding silent structures. They are based on a fixed base, the movement is carried out due to the pendulum mechanism. Very often, such models are recommended for motion sickness and feeding small children.

On runners, simple (arcs, rocker arms), variable or elliptical. A simple type of chair is easy to manufacture and has one significant drawback - the ability to tip over when rocking. That is why it is better to make such models according to individual parameters (weight and height), according to pre-designed schemes.

Novice craftsmen need to take into account that in such chairs a low landing is provided for the greatest increase in the center of the resulting circle over the assumed center of gravity.

Tumblers. Such chairs are most often used in personal and garden plots, as they can be installed on any surface and are characterized by the greatest stability. The seat and runners are one-piece construction that does not roll over when moving back and forth.

How to restore

If you have an old, dilapidated rocking chair, you don't have to throw it away. With the exception of the most "difficult" cases, any structure can be repaired by hand. The repair itself consists of assessing the general condition of the item, replacing completely worn-out parts with similar, but new ones, replacing the padding, constriction with a suitable fabric.

Metal rockers break much less often due to their inherently high strength. But if necessary, welding of individual parts is done, if they suddenly broke off from each other, the replacement of wooden, soft surfaces for sitting. Items made of plastic cannot be restored, and in wicker wicker ones it is easy to replace part of the braid.

Required materials, tools

Since rocking chairs are usually made from a variety of lumber, woodworking tools will be needed. These include a jigsaw, a drill, a screwdriver, a hammer, a ruler, a tape measure, a screwdriver, paint and varnish brushes, a sander or sandpaper of various grain sizes, and spatulas.Materials will need stains, transparent varnish, pieces of plywood, beams, boards, self-tapping screws, PVA glue or other furniture, foam rubber (synthetic winterizer, other materials for stuffing), dense fabric (velor, tapestry, chenille, jacquard, leather, etc.)

Procedure

First, an external examination of the object is carried out - whether it can be repaired at all. If the armchair has not yet crumbled into dust, has not rotted and has not been eaten by beetles, then everything will work out. Most often, the armrests require repair, and the seat, runners, backrest - a complete replacement. The chair is completely disassembled using a screwdriver. If there are completely "incompetent" parts, instead of them, others are cut out with a jigsaw, indistinguishable from the old ones in shape.

When the frame is completely intact, the runners are not worn out, only the cover needs to be renewed. To begin with, the structure, with the help of special nozzles on the drill, gets rid of old paint and varnish coatings, places where there are cracks, chips are putty. The parts sanded to wood are covered with wood stain, dried for four to six hours, one or two layers of furniture varnish are applied. Each layer of the latter is dried for at least 20 hours.

Replacing the seat, back of the chair

The method of replacing parts for seating depends on their design, material of manufacture. Wooden parts are unscrewed, partially replaced, tinted, varnished. With soft seats, backs, it is a little more difficult - the casing is completely removed from them, by taking out all the nails, staples, while trying not to damage the frame. If the frame or plywood is cracked, to which the "filling" is attached, covering its textiles, they are also replaced with new ones.

When the packing is still "in order", it is left, otherwise it is completely replaced with a new one. Suitable parts are cut to size from foam rubber, the corners of which are carefully cut to make it more beautiful. The padding is fixed along the edge with staples from a construction stapler. Next, you need to cut the fabric - usually a rectangle is cut out of it, the corners of which, falling on the corresponding corners of the furniture, are neatly folded, fastened with a thread and a needle. All edges must be tucked at least one cm so that they do not crumble, secure with a stapler on the seamy side of the product.

Some general information

Whatever one may say, but it is a rocking chair, especially one standing in a garden or by a lighted fireplace, that many associate with coziness, a pleasant evening in a narrow family circle, calmness and silence. In such an environment, you can perfectly relax and unwind by reading your favorite book or watching a good kind movie. The rhythmic rocking motion of a rocking chair will help you tune in to sleep and just feel the peace that is so rare in modern life, filled with bustle and heavy thought processes.

Swaying movements increase concentration

It is still not known 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 Toneta in the middle of the 19th century. However, there is one more fact that casts doubt on this version. So, at the end of the 18th century, the word "rocking chair" was added to the English dictionary, and since the 1800s, such chairs have been produced by many English furniture manufacturers. But the glory and the peak of popularity of the rocking chair came just in the 19th century. They were used mainly by rich and aristocratic people, as well as those who are involved in literary and artistic art.

Plywood rocking chair

According to the second version, the rocking chair was invented by Benjamin Franklin. In time it 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 rest of the sources are silent. And, nevertheless, rocking chairs are still popular and in demand, and are primarily designed to create a special environment and a comfortable environment in a certain place.

The rocking chair has a story of its own

Welded option

Rocking chair drawing.

To create a structure from metal bars, you can use a welding machine or a drill and bolts.

First, a drawing is made. For a sample, a simple chair is taken, and all its dimensions are transferred to paper, and in order to make a rocking chair out of it, it is necessary to draw a segment of an arc on the drawing to the legs. All this is done on the same scale, and therefore its radius is freely determined from the drawing.

The swing of the swing depends on it: the smaller the radius of the arc, the greater the likelihood of injury.

In the construction market, purchase steel rods with a section of 20 X 20 millimeters. They are cut to size and then the base of your rocker is welded according to the drawing. Then the arc is bent out of the bar and welded to the legs on the frame. There are several ways to create a seat:

• pieces of the required length are cut from the bars and welded into the main frame with a step of 5-6 mm - the chair will turn out to be very durable, but the volume of work will increase and the metal consumption will increase;
• a sheet of metal 2 mm thick is welded onto the frame along the entire length of the seat and back of the rocking chair or screwed on with screws.

Diagram of a rocking chair made of aluminum sheet.

One of the options for this design is a bed completely curved from a metal sheet with arcs curved from steel or aluminum pipes.

When using this option, take into account that sitting on metal is not always pleasant, and therefore do not forget to put small pillows on the seat and backrest.

To lighten the base, it can be made of aluminum pipes with a caliber of 20 millimeters. They are cut to the size you need and connected with screws and steel squares.

The seat stock can be made of tarpaulin or any dense material in the same way as it is made on the couch, or made of wooden blocks, as described above.

Varieties of designs

Rockers can be conditionally divided into several categories depending on the purpose of use or the material from which they are made. But there is also a certain classification of such chairs, according to which rocking chairs are divided into several types, depending on the design features.

A rocking chair is an important element of a summer residence

Table. Types of rocking chairs.

Type of
Description
With simple runners
These are chairs that are installed on runners with a radius curvature (for example, rocker arms, skis, arcs). This is the very first version that began to appear on the market. Such chairs are the easiest to make, but you need to use them carefully - if you swing strongly on them, then there is a risk of overturning the product

So in this case, it is important to take into account the location of the center of gravity when manufacturing - it should be located as low as possible.
On elliptical runners
Such chairs have a very soft rocking, sometimes they have small bumpers, and are also often equipped with springs or a footrest. By the way, it is not so easy to make a chair on springs at home.
Gliders
This chair has a fixed base, but swings due to the fact that it is equipped with a pendulum mechanism

The design is complex, but interesting, but a novice master may not be able to make it.
On skids with variable curvature
Such chairs cannot tip over due to the special structure of sufficiently long runners with variable curvature.It is quite difficult to build a drawing on your own, it is better to use a ready-made version, but you will be able to make such a chair yourself.
Vanka-vstanki
Simply put, this is a tumbler chair. Usually placed in the garden and very stable. Here, the chair and runners are a single unit. It is almost impossible to turn it over, it always returns to its original position. The drawing is quite complicated, but you can find ready-made options on the Web.

Drawings of a simple rocking chair