Three easy ways to make a rocking chair with your own hands. We make a rocking chair with our own hands: drawings for the production of plywood Do-it-yourself plywood rocking chair

Hanging chairs are an alternative to a rocking chair on skids at home and a hammock in nature. Comfort and easy rocking will help you relax and unwind after a hard day. A variety of models and materials for manufacturing allows you to harmoniously integrate such a chair into any interior. And it is not necessary to spend money on the purchase. Some models are easy to make with your own hands.

Types of hanging chairs

They produce a variety of models and designs. They can be made of wood, metal, rattan, wicker, transparent plastic. There are models that you can easily make yourself.

1. Swing chair. Fastening is carried out at two points. Due to this, the structure sways in one plane. There are soft models (hammock chair) or on a rigid frame:
   • the basis of the first option is a soft fabric or woven fabric, which is easy to sew, weave with macrame technique or crochet - the ends of the panel are attached to the transverse bar with 4 slings, and it is already suspended from the ceiling or a stand-leg;
   • the second option has a rigid frame made of acrylic, plastic, wood, rattan or metal in the form of a hoop covered with a soft base.
2. Nest chair. The basis of the design is 2 strong hoops. The model has a flat bottom and low sides, which are braided with a cord, rope or tied with strong threads.
3. The chair-cocoon (egg) differs from its counterparts in greater closeness, often up to 70%. The back and sides are high and connected above the head. The rigid frame is braided with a suitable material or sheathed with fabric. Varieties of this model - a chair-basket and a chair-drop - ideal for a child's room.

Hanging chairs of various shapes - gallery

Techniques and finishing materials

Such chairs usually have a rigid frame and a seat made of various materials.

1. Textile. An affordable and easy-to-use material, the density and strength of which is selected based on the expected load. Suitable raincoat fabric, tarpaulin. The chair for children from old jeans with pockets and rivets looks original.
2. Knitted fabric. Craftsmen who know the technique of knitting or crocheting can use their skills to create an original chair from plain or multi-colored threads.
3. Macrame. Weaving from a durable cord will not only last a long time, but will also give a special flavor to any interior.
4. Vine, rattan. Armchairs made of eco-friendly materials will decorate any interior, but special skills are required to work with them. In addition, rattan does not grow in our country.

It is interesting! An unusual and very durable material for braiding a chair is a thread from plastic bottles. Such a chair will not get wet, does not deform, it can be hung on the street.

frame material

The base of the chair can be made from different materials.

1. Gymnastic hoop. Suitable only for a child seat, for an adult its strength is not enough, because the cross-sectional diameter is 16 mm, and for the frame of the chair you need 2 times more.
2. Metal pipe. The product from it will turn out to be durable, but heavy - at least 7 kg. For its manufacture, pipe bending equipment is required.
3. Wood. The design will be durable, lightweight, environmentally friendly. Since the material absorbs moisture and dries out in the sun, wood for outdoor chairs must be treated with impregnations. This will protect the material from decay.
4. Metal pipes. Durable, lightweight and non-corrosive material. When using coiled pipes, there is no need to bend them. The ends of the segment are connected with a wooden or plastic insert and fixed with self-tapping screws.

Do not use dilapidated material in the manufacture of chairs: such furniture will not last long.

Hanging rockers made of various materials - gallery

We make a hanging chair with our own hands

A handmade hanging chair will look good in the country house or on the veranda of a private house. The easiest to manufacture is a hammock chair. It can be done in several ways from different materials, but the most convenient and uncomplicated of them are macrame or textiles.

Hammock without frame

For work you will need:

• dense fabric - 1.5x1.5 m;
• durable cord;
• wooden rod for fastening;
• sewing accessories.

After preparing everything you need, proceed to the assembly process.

Swing on a rigid frame

To make it you will need:

• hoop with a diameter of 90–95 cm;
• durable fabric 3 m long and 1.5 m wide;
• lightning - 90–95 cm;
• strong cord or rope - 10 m;
• metal rings for attaching the structure to the ceiling;
• interlining;
• scissors;
• tape measure;
• sewing accessories.

When all the materials are prepared, proceed to the execution of the chair.

1. Fold the fabric in half and lay it out on a flat surface.
2. Place the hoop in the center, mark around the circle at a distance of 20-25 cm from it and connect the marks with a line. Cut out 2 circles.
3. On one of the blanks, make a cut through the center with a length equal to the diameter of the hoop, sew a zipper in this place.
4. Connect both blanks with a seam around the circumference.
5. Make cutouts on the finished cover for attaching ropes to a 10 cm long hoop. To do this, fold the cover in half and measure 45 ° C from the fold line in one direction, 30 ° C in the other, put marks.
6. Duplicate the marks on the second part of the circle. The distance between the cutouts in the front of the chair should be greater than in the back.
7. Treat the slits with tape.
8. Wrap the hoop with a strip of synthetic winterizer, to secure it, connect with a seam.
9. Insert the hoop into the case, fasten the zipper.
10. Cut the cord into 4 pieces 2.2 and 2.8 m long. Fold each piece in half and fasten to the hoop. To do this, thread a loop through the hole in the cover, and insert the ends of the cord through it and tighten them. Long cords should be in front of the chair, and short cords in the back.
11. Tie a short and long cord on the right side to one ring, on the left to the other. Make strong knots.
12. Hang the rings from the ceiling, a beam, or a thick tree branch outside.
13. Put pillows inside or sew a round mattress. So the chair will become even more comfortable.

Instructions for making a rocking chair from a hoop - video

How to make a wicker nest chair: step by step photos

By making the seat flat and providing the structure with sides, you can get a nest chair. For such a rocking chair you will need:

• two hoops made of a metal-plastic pipe with a cross section of 35 mm: for a seat with a diameter of 70 cm, for a backrest - 110 cm;
• polyamide cord 4 mm thick - 900 m;
• sling or strong rope - 12 m;
• a thicker cord to connect the seat and backrest.

To make this chair, you need to be able to weave.

1. First, braid both hoops:
   • wrap the pipe with a cord (it is worth taking a cord with a polypropylene core, as it will help to make a stronger knit);
   • pull the thread well (each next turn should fit evenly and tightly against the previous one);
   • every 20 turns, fasten the thread, pulling it as much as possible and twisting it;
   • for greater strength, coat the weaving with glue.
2. At regular intervals, fasten with a double loop on the braid of the hoop pieces of the cord folded in half. They should take half the length of the hoop.
3. Weave the bottom of the chair with flat knots in a checkerboard pattern, securing the remaining ends to a free semicircle. The tension of the cords when weaving should be quite strong. It's not scary if the hoop is slightly deformed, in the future the shape will be restored.
4. Connect the finished seat and back hoop by wrapping them together with a cord in front of the structure.
5. At the back, connect the seat and the back hoop with two wooden spacer rods, making cuts at their ends for a strong attachment. The length of the spacers is selected in accordance with the desired backrest height.
6. Attach the cords to the upper arc of the back and weave from top to bottom. Fasten the rest of the cords to the seat and form brushes out of them.
7. Connect the upper arch of the backrest and the seat with a thick cord parallel to the spacers, and then remove them.
8. Tie slings to the finished structure. They also need to be made using the macrame technique from cords.
9. Hang up a chair.

Weaving "chess" with macrame technique - video

How to make an egg chair at home

An egg chair (cocoon) is the most difficult option for a home master. The design is closed on three sides, and the side surfaces and the back are closed over the head.

1. For work, you can use metal-plastic pipes, assembling a frame from a hoop and additional arcs. To give additional rigidity, the structure is reinforced with several horizontal arcs, the elements are connected to each other with self-tapping screws.
2. The finished frame is braided with a cord using macrame technique, sheathed with fabric or crocheted.
3. For someone who knows how to work with wood, the frame is easy to cut out of thick plywood.

Fabric cocoon baby chair

For children, a cocoon chair can be sewn from fabric. It does not take up much space, organically fit into the interior of the children's room and is not traumatic.

To make it you will need:

• 2 meters of dense fabric 1.5 m wide;
• lightning;
• pillow or inflatable balloon;
• sewing accessories.

The technique for making a cocoon is simple, the main thing is to follow the instructions.

Instead of a pillow or an inflatable chamber, you can insert a hoop into the bottom of the chair, then you get a drop chair.

How to make a cocoon baby chair - video

Mounting suspended rocking chairs to the ceiling, rack, beam

For any suspended structures, the main thing is reliable fastening. The safety of those who will use the chair depends on it. There are several mounting options:

• to the ceiling;
• to the stand-leg;
• to a tree branch or beam (for the street).

If there is a stretch ceiling in the room, then installing the mount will be problematic. In this case, you need to mount the structure before fixing the ceiling or you should purchase a special stand-leg.

Consider different installation options.

1. You can drill a hole in the concrete ceiling, install a powerful anchor with a hook for hanging the structure. On sale there are special sets consisting of an anchor, a hook and a chain. Fasteners must withstand a weight of at least 120 kg.
2. Voids in the ceiling through the hole must be filled with a special solution of high strength polymers - chemical anchors. Such compounds are sold in tubes for building syringes. Then you need to insert the anchor into the hole and wait a day until the composition is completely dry.
3. For a ceiling with solid floor beams or for a terrace and a street, bolting is suitable.
4. For a suspended ceiling, it is worth purchasing a special suspension that has a bracket that is attached to the concrete ceiling and exits through the suspended ceiling. A hook is attached to it.

   The mounting bracket is installed on the concrete ceiling, then the hook is screwed to it

5. Slings are tied to a tree branch with a strong knot.
6. The leg stand can be purchased at the store. It is convenient because the chair is not fixed permanently in one place and can be moved, and if necessary, disassembled and transported.

Do-it-yourself rack drawing

The simplest stand-leg for a hanging chair can really be done independently.

1. The wooden rack consists of only 5 parts, but it cannot be made without special equipment, all parts are bent.
2. The most common option is a metal rack. For its manufacture, you will need a metal pipe, pipe bending equipment and welding.
3. A simple version of a metal rack: the design does not require complex drawings and special skills.

   For stability, a simple metal rack is attached to a vertical support with a chain or cable.

To fully relax, it is not necessary to spend a lot of money. With a creative approach to business, relaxation will become not only relaxation in a hanging chair, but also the process of its manufacture. And the product will cause legitimate pride.

A do-it-yourself rocking chair made by many craftsmen will cost less than a store product. Self-made furniture will be better and more environmentally friendly, you can think over your design and design concept. The rocking chair will be a good addition to the interior design of the room, a device that will calm you down, give you the mood to work, and relax. Such a product will become indispensable when rocking a child. For the baby himself, such a chair is a real swing.

If a person is not related to carpentry, then a natural question arises: how to make a rocking chair with your own hands? Initially, it is worth deciding on the type of rocking chair, there are several of them. There are types according to the design features:

• Rocking chair, which has radius skids. This model is classic and most popular. It has a low landing, as it is very difficult to keep balance when swinging on rounded "radii".

• Armchair with runners of variable curvature. In this case, the "radii" do not represent part of the roundness, which means that the wobble can have a large amplitude. In this case, the use will be safer and more comfortable.

• Armchair nirvana. There are two subtypes: elliptical and spring. The former is considered unsafe, as tipping over often occurs, but the swing is soft and smooth. Spring models are more adapted to widespread use, but making a rocking chair with your own hands for such an upgrade requires skills and experience.

• Rocking chairs 3 in 1. All three modes are presented here: chair, rocking chair, sunbed. Depending on the degree of reclining on the back of the structure, the position of the body is determined. Multifunctional furniture, but oversized.

The presented design options can be made from almost any material: wood, metal, wicker, rattan. The seat can be hard, soft or a combination. Materials can be combined, and in some models even necessary. Thanks to the photo on the Internet, you can choose your favorite model of the product.

braided pattern

It is quite difficult to make furniture from a wicker or rattan with your own hands. Rattan is an expensive material, but a product made from it has a long service life, and the body is more resistant to mechanical stress. The same cannot be said about the vine, but it is more accessible and malleable in work.

To create original wicker furniture, you can view the master class. Such instructions will be quite enough to implement the project. First, the material is prepared:

1. Rattan cannot be assembled on your own - it is a tough liana that grows in certain areas of America. The vine is harvested independently: the branches are harvested throughout the year. Length and thickness may vary. When the vine is harvested, it is placed vertically outside to dry.

2. Processing of rods consists in stripping. The branches are placed in a bath of warm water, where the material should spend about 12 hours. The branches will become elastic. When each twig begins to bend well, then you can remove the bark from them.

3. To continue working, you need to give each element the appropriate form. Thick branches are fixed in clamps in the appropriate position, and thin branches are divided into several parts, which are called taverns, with the help of a splitter.

4. Each shank must be passed through a press so that they become flat and fit for weaving.

5. The prepared vine is placed in a dryer for three days, where the shape of each element of the future product is fixed. Only from such a vine can a rocking chair be made.

The next step will be the production itself:

1. First, a frame is made from thick branches or wooden planks. The sizes are determined independently. All parts are fixed with nails or wire. The item is placed in the dryer for several days.

Frame is being made

2. The braid consists in pasting the back and seat with tatters. Furniture glue is applied to the body, which will serve as an additional connection. The taverns themselves braid the bars of the crate in a checkerboard pattern.

Weave the back and seat

3. When the body is ready, the skids are attached and the product is tested. The chair needs to be slightly rocked, if this process proceeds easily, and it does not tip over during swinging, then the center of gravity is determined correctly.

4. The last step is to open the vines with furniture varnish.

The made rocking chair can be used in the country house, veranda, balcony, garden, hallway. In addition to positive feelings during the use of this piece of furniture, this element will become a wonderful authentic design.

On video: making a fully wicker rocking chair

Wooden rocking chair

Making a rocking chair with your own hands from wood is quite simple, the main thing is to make the appropriate preparation. If such work is done for the first time, then a master class will help in this. . First, prepare the tools:

• wood saws, jigsaw;
• grinder or sandpaper;
• screwdriver;
• set of drills;
• measuring tape;
• a hammer;
• putty knife;
• level;
• construction angle;
• brushes, pencil.

Material preparation is also important. The wooden rocking chair is made partly from plywood. The remaining wooden parts are best selected from an elastic material. It's great if it's flannel.

After collecting the tools and material, you can get to work. Initially, a drawing of a rocking chair is made, performed in accordance with the parameters of the future product. The diagram is an exact copy, but on a reduced scale:

1. From plywood with your own hands, you need to cut out the side elements, which are semicircular bases with grooves for flannels. A jigsaw, wood saws and a grinder will come in handy here.

Making sidewalls

2. Flannels are being prepared, you can make them from plywood with your own hands, but on condition that the plywood is at least 30 millimeters thick and flexible in nature.

We make flannels

3. The plywood side parts are interconnected using 30x50x600 mm bars. Crossbars (flanels) are attached to the frame from above with a screwdriver at a distance of 2-3 cm from each other.

Assembling the structure

4. We attach flannels to the frame, for this we use a screwdriver.

We fasten the flannels to the frame

5. A plywood rocking chair is waiting for finishing. Places where there is an attachment of flannels to the sidewalls are covered with putty. When the putty dries, you can varnish the product on wood.

Finishing

A plywood rocking chair can be additionally equipped with other elements. For example, you can make the seat soft. To do this, a foam base is laid on a wooden base, on top of which a fabric is laid.

On video: how to make a rocking chair out of wood.

Metal armchair

There is another class of product - these are metal rocking chairs. Not every master will be able to make such a design, since this requires more serious equipment and skill. Although, it is worth trying to make a rocking chair out of metal with your own hands. This can be done by focusing on the pictures, or by viewing the master class.

For work we need the following components:

• steel bars;
• galvanization;
• steel corners;
• apparatus for welding;
• drill with special drills;
• Bulgarian.

Often, arcs for skids are made from a profile pipe, and corners are cut out of the profile itself, which will serve as fasteners. From a profiled metal sheet, you can make all the necessary elements to create such a design:

1. First, drawings are made according to product design. To do this, you can take a finished chair and transfer this sketch, but besides this, think about how to attach the rounded skids.

2. Steel bars are cut to a length of 1 meter. After that, the frame is welded, to which the rods will be welded. The distance between them is about 1 centimeter. The metal is twisted into an oval.

3. After that, the master must attach the seat to the oval base. The seat itself is made of galvanized steel. Fastening is carried out using bolts, and the holes for them are made using a drill.

4. The final step will be painting and sanding sharp parts.

If we compare the operating conditions of wicker, metal and wooden furniture, then the most versatile option is wicker. It does not damage the floor surface, is easy to move, can be used in any room and on the street.

You can decorate such an element of furniture with textiles, in particular decorative pillows, quilted bedspreads, warm blankets. Thus, a note of comfort and coziness is introduced into the overall idea.

The rocking chair is advantageous because it combines three advantages. The first is an original and beautiful element in the home interior. The second is a simple and at the same time effective type of simulator. And the third is a comfortable place to relax, read a book, listen to music, and in general - do nothing.

The most common rocking chair models

metallic

Compared to other types, such rocking chairs are less common. Forged rocking chairs that imitate classic models with wicker or rattan weaving, for the manufacture of which special equipment is required, we do not consider. However, a metal chair for the braided style can be made by welding, using a profile pipe, preferably with an elliptical section.

rattan

The undoubted advantage of wicker furniture is a very spectacular look. At least one piece of furniture in the room will attract the attention of guests. A rocking chair is made from a wicker in a fairly simple way at home. However, for this you need to master some kind of weaving technique, prepare material, and perform other tasks. Before you get to work, you need to take into account all the features of working with a rattan vine.

Rocking chair made of wood

Models made of natural wood have an aesthetic appearance, but their cost is higher than that of plywood and metal. Still, a quality tree has its value.

Plywood rocking chair

Plywood is a material that is very often used in the manufacture of furniture products. It is easily bent, simply cut, simply processed. Since this is a familiar working material for designers, it is not difficult to find sketches of plywood furniture on the Internet. It is worth noting the high level of strength of the rocking chair made of plywood, since this material is twice as strong as wood. In addition, plywood is inexpensive.

If you are going to make a rocking chair with a collapsible design, then in this case a different technology is used. Here, for the frame, you need to take an array of wood - such material is designed for higher loads.

With this design, the chair will need less space if it is disassembled. A pattern for such a piece of furniture is also depicted on a sheet of cardboard. The side parts will be made as two racks of different sizes with a cross member connecting these two structural elements.

In our article for review, we offer the most popular rocking chairs and their sizes, which are made on our own. To make it clearer and more convenient to work with, all descriptions show drawings, photographs and video reviews. We hope that with these selected materials you will be able to build your favorite rocking chair for you and your loved ones to use it with pleasure.

from wood

From plywood

metal

Original rocking chair models: photo

Homemade rocking chair made of natural wood

Rocking chair with metal frame

Horizontal model of a rocking chair for those who like to lie down

In a homemade rocking chair - everything is exactly the way you want

A simple wicker rocking chair brings more comfort to your home

Some rocking chairs are easily transformed

Rocking chairs can be small and neat

We connect simple panels in the right way - and we already have a great rocking chair

The more comfortable and beautiful the furniture, the more pleasant it is to rest on it. And, by the way, some options for furniture products can greatly decorate the interior, give it individuality and completeness. One of these types of furniture is a rocking chair. It was invented a long time ago, but so far the designers have not been able to find a worthy replacement for it, which is distinguished by the same convenience. Such a chair is by no means cheap, but you can go the other way - with your own hands from plywood, you will save a lot of budget funds.

Some general information

Like it or not, but it is the rocking chair, especially standing in the garden or by a lit fireplace, that many people associate with comfort, a pleasant evening in a narrow family circle, calmness and silence. In such an environment, you can perfectly relax and unwind, reading your favorite book or watching a good kind movie. The rhythmic rocking movements of the rocking chair will help you tune in to sleep and just feel peace, which is so rare in modern life, filled with fuss and heavy thought processes.

On a note! Scientists have proven that shaking movements with a certain rhythm calm a person, increase the concentration of his thoughts. Sometimes it is sitting on a rocking chair that you can just solve serious life tasks and problems.

It is still not known exactly how and where did the very first rocking chair come 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 an admirer of bent wood Michael Toneta in the middle of the 19th century. However, there is another 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 began to be produced by many English furniture manufacturers. But the glory and peak of the popularity of rocking chairs fell 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.

According to the second version, the rocking chair was invented by Benjamin Franklin. In 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 XVIII-XIX 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 entourage and a comfortable environment in a certain place.

On a note! The rocking chair is still the only non-static piece of furniture.

Where can be used?

The rocking chair as a whole can be installed anywhere, whether it is a room or a veranda on a garden plot. But most often it can be seen in a spacious living room in a private house or in the garden. In the latter case, rocking chairs are often made of either metal or rattan. Products are distinguished by increased strength, with proper processing, they are not afraid of water, durable and really capable of not only decorating the garden, but also making it a real relaxation area. Moreover, the rocking chair will feel great both on the veranda and on the lawn or garden path, where it will not bother anyone.

On a note! In the garden, you can put not just a rocking chair for one person, but place a real rocking chair or a bench that can accommodate several people at once.

Also, rocking chairs fit perfectly into the interior of large and spacious rooms, especially those made in a particular style. Of course, with modern design solutions, the traditional rocking chair should be abandoned, but a stylized chair will fit perfectly even in a high-tech room.

Varieties of designs

Rocking chairs 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.

Table. Types of rocking chairs.

Type	Description
With simple skids	These are chairs that are mounted on skids with radial curvature (for example, rocker arms, skis, arches). This is the very first version that began to appear on sale. Such chairs are the easiest to make, but you need to use them carefully - if you swing hard on them, then there is a risk of the product tipping over. So in this case, it is important in the manufacture to take into account the location of the center of gravity - it should be located as low as possible.
On elliptical skids	Such chairs have a very soft swing, sometimes have small bumpers, and are also often equipped with springs or a footrest. By the way, it’s not so easy to make a chair on springs at home.
Gliders	This chair has a fixed base, but sways due to the fact that it is equipped with a pendulum mechanism. The design is complex, but interesting, but it may not be possible for a novice master to make it.
On skids with variable curvature	Such chairs cannot tip over due to the special structure of rather long skids with variable curvature. It is rather difficult to build a drawing on your own, it is better to use a ready-made version, but it will be quite possible to make such a chair yourself.
Roly-ups	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.

Possible materials and why plywood is good

You need to choose the material for the rocking chair, focusing on the operating conditions. So, in the garden, where it will be affected by light, wind, and precipitation, the material should be used as resistant to all these types of impact as possible or have a special treatment. For an indoor rocking chair, the requirements are much less, and a simpler material can be used.

In general, the following material options are used for rocking chairs:

• tree and its derivatives, as a rule, treated with special compounds;
• metal, treated with anti-corrosion compounds (by the way, this is a very difficult option, and it is advised to put such a chair in the garden on a solid base, and not on a lawn);
• plastic(it is not durable, but it is not afraid of water. It can fade in the sun);
• willow vine(allows you to create beautiful wicker chairs).

On a note! In the garden, it is best to use plastic or well-crafted metal, and you can also take tree species that are resistant to various influences. There should not be any soft upholstery. But indoors, you can install a rocking chair with a soft finish from any material.

If we talk about creating a rocking chair with your own hands, then the easiest way for the first time is to try to make a product out of plywood. Plywood is a material that has several layers, which is based on wood veneer. It is glued together with a special glue and allows you to create fairly strong canvases.

Plywood is easy to work with, it is not expensive, and you can buy it at almost any hardware store. It is easy to saw, glue together, and to give a beautiful and finished appearance, plywood can be painted with paint, stained, varnished and other substances. You can also burn a beautiful pattern on it and use other decoration options.

Advice! To create a rocking chair, you should use thick (from 15 mm) high quality plywood. It is she who will achieve the required level of strength of the product. It is also worth taking environmentally friendly plywood if the chair will be installed indoors - some varieties contain adhesives containing formaldehyde, and they will not work.

What will be required?

In order to work with plywood at home, you do not need a lot of tools. The mandatory list includes a jigsaw with a suitable saw blade, a drill for drilling holes, a grinder or sandpaper, and a brush for applying paint and varnish. It is necessary that a pencil, a ruler, a template also be at hand.

As for materials, in addition to the required amount of plywood, you will have to purchase fasteners, as well as a composition that will be applied to the product in order to decorate it and protect it from external influences. May require wood glue.

The drawing is one of the aspects that must be thought through before buying everything you need. It is he who will allow not only to immediately imagine what the rocking chair will look like, but also to calculate the required amount of materials, to make sure that the chair will turn out to be as safe as possible. It will also facilitate the assembly process and the application of the necessary markings on the materials. You can draw a drawing yourself, or you can download a ready-made one from the Web. It is important to understand that it is recommended to make a scheme on your own only if you have at least some experience in this matter.

Important! On the drawing, you must immediately note all the dimensional parameters of the product. This will make the job easier.

It is recommended to transfer the drawing before starting work on a large sheet of paper or polyethylene and thus create templates according to which it will be easiest to cut parts of the same shape. In general, this requirement applies only to complex curved elements.

How to make a rocking chair?

Using an example, let's see how you can make a rocking chair from plywood sheets with a minimum of costs, and also see if you can make a rocking chair with a place to sleep. Below is an instruction for creating a simple chair.

Step 1. The first step is to create a drawing. In this case, the drawing of the lower part of the chair was found on the Web, and the master completed the rest of the elements by hand. It is also worth immediately purchasing the necessary materials. This is plywood with a thickness of 2 cm and 1 cm. The first option will be needed to create the main side elements and fasteners for the crossbars, and the second for the crossbars themselves, of which the seat will consist.

Step 2 Next, the drawing must be transferred to sheets of plywood and cut out with a jigsaw the elements of the desired shape. You should get two side parts, elements for fastening the crossbars (also 2 pcs.), As well as 22 crossbars measuring 55x5 cm, and one narrower (55x2 cm). All elements need to be well polished after cutting out, using a grinder or a simple device with sandpaper made by hand. As for the sawing process, in the case of plywood, it is recommended that the jigsaw not be driven clearly along the contour line, but retreating from it to the side by about 0.5 mm. Then, during grinding, it will just be possible to achieve the size of the parts required according to the drawing.

Step 3 Next, you can assemble a rocking chair. It is necessary to fasten the crossbars, connecting the sides of the chair with them. In this case, the crossbars were fixed at a distance of 10 mm from each other. The elements can be connected with a spike connection or with threaded studs.

Step 4 This is what the product should look like. After the chair is assembled, it needs to be painted or varnished or stained. If the chair will be painted, first plywood should be primed with a special wood primer. This will reduce paint consumption.

Video - How to make a rocking chair

Making a rocking chair

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

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

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 desired length with a pencil tied at the end. It turns out a kind of circle.

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

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

Step 7 The finished parts of the rocking chair must be well sanded using a grinder.

Step 8 Now you can do the manufacture of seat rails. They need to be sawn from plywood.

Step 9 The side parts also need to be chamfered.

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 located clearly opposite each other.

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

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

Step 13 The two side elements of the chair must be connected using jumpers, round in cross section. They must be securely fastened.

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

Video - Making a simple rocking chair

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

A lot has been written about the beneficial effects of relaxing in a rocking chair. It also helps to concentrate during intellectual work. Finally, it's just convenient, pumping out, to take books from the rack behind your back or a cup of coffee from the coffee table. The prices of ready-made rocking chairs, as it should be in a consumer society, react to such advantages in their own adequate way: a rocking chair for 5,000 rubles. it's still cheap. And the people are artisans and also respond adequately in their own way: those who want to make a rocking chair with their own hands arrive. However, the rocking chair differs from other pieces of furniture, firstly, in that the whole thing moves and sways. Secondly, so that it does not turn from a rocking chair into a kicker or a tipper, the entire product with the person seated in it must have an exact balance, which must be maintained within acceptable limits for riders of different weights and builds. This publication is devoted to the consideration of questions on how to achieve the required qualities of a rocking chair.

Types of rocking chairs

It is necessary to be consistent with your own requests already at the stage of choosing a prototype. There are several types of rocking chairs, oriented to users with different habits and needs. The main types of rocking chairs are shown in the photo. Rocking chairs on simple radius skids (arcs, rocker arms, skis) were the first to appear in everyday life. They are in use to this day, both in modern and classical form, pos. 1 and 2. Their main advantage is constructive and technological simplicity.

Smoothness and softness of swinging are provided by radius skids only at relatively small swinging, and in case of strong swinging they do not guarantee against tipping over. Therefore, rocking chairs "on the radii" are made with a low landing, which ensures a large excess of the center of the generatrix of the circle (CO) over the common center of gravity (CG); see below for more details on the kinematics of rocking chairs. If a seat of normal height is required, then the skids are equipped with chippers, pos. 3. The shocks of the fenders on the floor are noticeably given off at the "fifth point", and in any case, you have to get out of the rocking chair on the radius skids, somewhat strained.

Note: stability during swinging with a slightly larger amplitude at a normal landing height is provided by rocking chairs on radial skids with a closing horizontal arc, see fig. on right. But, suddenly the limit is reached, the supporting surface is instantly reduced to a point and a sharp push in the back follows.

Overturning is excluded in rocking chairs on skids of variable curvature, pos. 4. All of them are quite comfortable for riders of different builds. They themselves gently land the seated and leaning forward rider of a rocking chair of the nirvana type on runners of variable curvature, pos. 5 and 6. It is also possible, by changing the progression indicator in the law of changing the generatrix of the radius (also see about kinematics), to design them for any, within acceptable limits, landing height.

Note: mothers with a baby are given a complete rest with the complete unity of the souls of a rocking cradle. Reliable rocking chairs with a cradle are made only on skids of variable curvature, see fig. on right. Otherwise, suddenly the little one will get worried and the mother will start up, and you can somersault together. Which is just dangerous for a baby.

Nirvana rocking chairs on elliptical skids, pos. 7, provide a truly blissful slight rocking, but do not prevent tipping over during strong swinging, therefore they are equipped with chippers; the front is often combined with a footboard. Garden rocking chairs with an awning on ellipses never tip over, pos. eight.

Nirvana rocking chairs on springs, see fig. on the left, swing as gently as on ellipses, because the mechanical characteristic of the springs is progressive. But it is difficult to make a spring chair with your own hands: either high-quality boards of special types of wood (teak, boxwood, dogwood) or rubberized so as not to scratch the floor, a strip of spring steel are required. In addition, dirt accumulates in the gap between the spring and the skid and it can be very painful to pinch your finger in it. For the last reasons, now spring chairs are very rare for sale.

Rocking chair 3 in 1

Finally, there are also multifunctional rocking chairs "3 in 1" on skids with smooth kinks, see fig. on right. With a direct landing, this is a regular chair; leaning back, it can be switched to the rocking chair mode at radii, and leaning back even more, it can be turned into a sunbed. But the dimensions of the 3 in 1 rocking chair are too big for apartments below the business class, and the transitions from mode to mode are accompanied by quite sensitive shocks. In unsuccessful models, for this you have to either get up at all, or twitch, wriggle and fidget like a puppet on strings. Therefore, rocking chairs 3 in 1 are a piece of furniture for an amateur.

To start

Without any special claims, just to relax after work, a rocking chair on radius skids will help. Drawings of a simple sample, made, with the exception of skids, only from straight-line parts, are given in fig. To the cottage, veranda or garden, this chair can be made in half a day, using only a jigsaw, a drill and a pair of wrenches (assembly - bolted). And having rocked to your heart’s content, it’s possible to already think about a home rocking chair for the more sophisticated; then you need a tool and knowledge more thoroughly.

How does it swing?

Most home crafters make rocking chairs according to ready-made drawings, but prototypes often turn out to be designed and tailored to a specific person and an exact replica is not so convenient. Therefore, before making a rocking chair, it is necessary to obtain at least initial information about its kinematics.

The CG of an upright person of normal build is located on the border of the lower back and sacrum on the inside of the spinal column. In a seated individual, it is somewhat mixed forward and even less down. In the seat-rider system, the overall CG is shifted back almost to the starting position and a little further down. The downward displacement of the general CG for the design of a rocking chair is not particularly significant, and it can be assumed that the projection of the general CG on the supporting surface (floor) is approximately the same as that of a standing person. In the future, the resulting error can be easily compensated by the final balancing of the chair, see below.

The location of the central heating element vertically relative to the central heating unit has a much stronger effect on the stability and comfort of the rocking chair; the latter is the determining value in the design of rocking chairs on skids with variable curvature. If the CG and the CG coincide, this is an indifferent equilibrium: for any physically possible inclination of the chair, the projection of the CG on the floor falls on the point of contact of the skids O, pos. 1 and 1a in Figs. The chair does not rock, and if you lean back too much - an instant somersault with the risk of breaking your neck. Fortunately, the exact coincidence of DH and DH is possible only theoretically.

If the CG is higher than the CG, then its projection “runs away” outward, backward or forward, from the point of contact with any inclination. At the slightest inclination, the overturning moment Mo occurs (pos. 2 and 2a), the rocker turns out to be unstable. To avoid such a situation for a family rocking chair, it is calculated and balanced for the tallest, heaviest and pot-bellied rider possible so that its CO is 450 mm or more higher than the CO. Then, when the chair is tilted, t. O will “run away” from the CG projection, the restoring moment Mv will constantly act (pos. 3 and 3a) and the chair will not tip over when swinging within acceptable limits. For those who are smaller, the excess of the CO over the CO will turn out to be too big, and the rocking will be harsh, but this can be easily compensated with pillows under the back and buttocks. In general, the lower the elevation of the CO above the CO, the softer and smoother the rocking, but the probability of tipping over, sharply straightening up and sitting up in the chair, is higher. Therefore, it is better for novice carpenters to ask for an excess of CO in the range of 600-700 mm.

Note: if it is impossible to determine the position of the CG of the largest of the riders (say, in its absence), the radius of the generatrix of the circle R is taken equal to the average height of the users minus 5 cm.

There is no need to drag your own pillows with you into a chair on runners of variable curvature: it will itself rise to the position of greatest comfort. At the same time, the healthy man will lean back more, and the slender one will be sitting straighter. When swinging back, t. O will run away from the CG projection the farther, the greater the angle of inclination, and it simply will not work to swing before tipping over. And if you “pump” forward, which is generally difficult, the chair will smoothly land the hyperactive person on the floor: where do you want to rest? Get up, do something.

To construct a profile of skids of variable curvature, the radius of the generatrix of the circle (it is determined as in the previous case) will, firstly, have to be rotated several times by a fixed angle α; usually take α = 10 degrees. Secondly, to build the rear branch of the snake, R is increased at each turn according to the law of geometric progression with the index k=1.02-1.03. That is, it will be (see pos. 4 of the figure) R1 = kR; R2 = kR1; R3 = kR2; R4 = kR3 etc. if required. In fact, R changes according to a certain trigonometric function, but for furniture accuracy and the size of a rocking chair, it is more convenient to replace it with a progression, it is easier to count this way.

The construction of the anterior branch is carried out at a constant R, but with each turn of the generatrix of the circle, the CO is raised vertically (ibid., at pos. 4 of the figure). The initial elevation Δh1 is taken equal to 2-3% R, i.e. (0.02-0.03)R, and the subsequent ones also follow a geometric progression with the same indicator as for the back branch. Δh1 in this case, the value is quite critical; its smaller value should be taken for thin ones, and the larger one for thick ones.

In conclusion, the obtained points are connected using a smooth curve pattern. Do not be embarrassed if the tangents to it turn out to be not perpendicular to the radii: in order for the chair to be stable, it must be on the opposite slope at every moment of rocking. When building, it is desirable to take a scale no smaller than 1:5.

Note: if a nirvana chair is being designed, but the front ascending branch of its runners will be an ellipse arc (green dotted line in pos. 4), tangent to the constructed runner profile in point I in the same place.

Final balancing

It is unlikely that a novice master will have a rocking chair immediately comfortable enough. Most likely, the product will need to be balanced. If the chair does not sway well, and shoves when leaving it, you need to weight the rear overhang. The easiest way to do this is to connect the ends of the rear branches of the skids with a low U-shaped beam of boards, with a notch facing down. Loads are placed in the recess. The arm of the lever in this case is long, so the weights do not have to be suspended. Another option, depending on the design, is a transverse tube-beam with a load inside. But in the process of balancing it will have to be removed and put back several times. If the rocking chair strives to fall back, you need to weight the front overhang. The easiest way to do this is by placing a footboard and attaching weights to its underside.

About materials

Rocking chairs are made mainly of wood. Metal, for all its manufacturability, low waste and greater durability in the open air, is too heavy. The influence of the seat on the overall CG is significant, the moment of inertia of the system is large and, as a result, the swaying is too sharp. Or you have to set an extremely small initial elevation of the DH above the DH, risking that the rocking chair will tip over under someone. However, we will return to metal rocking chairs in the course of considering individual samples.

Plywood is a completely different matter, especially for beginner carpenters. Firstly, when making the parts of the rocking chair with 3-layer glued ones, it is possible only with the help of an electric jigsaw to make accurate and durable tenon-groove joints, on the left in the figure, if you follow the following. regulations:

• Plywood of the middle layer is taken twice as thick as for the extreme ones. For example, if you need a total thickness of 20 mm, then glue 5-10-5 mm.
• Assemble parts from blanks on a 2-component waterproof adhesive. If on PVA - be sure to reinforce with small nails.
• The joints are assembled with gluing (wedging is unacceptable in this case) and reinforced with diagonal pairs of self-tapping screws from 2 sides.
• The supporting surfaces are protected with overlays made of thin (6-10 mm) slats of hard durable wood or dense sheet rubber 4-5 mm thick. Plywood under concentrated load splits very well from the end.

Secondly, plywood makes it possible to apply non-standard technical solutions, for example. as on the right in Fig. Such a plywood rocking bowl can be made using, again, only a jigsaw. Comfort is high, stability is absolute, and can serve as a hanging hammock or swing chair. The thickness of the lamella boards is from 12 mm; connecting half washers on the poles - from 24 mm.

Note: in any case, the finished plywood rocking chair must be impregnated twice with a water-polymer emulsion or water-based liquid acrylic varnish. This will not only increase the strength of the product and its resistance to external influences, but also remove excess residual stresses in joints and bent parts.

How to put overlays

Wear-resistant wooden pads on the runners of the rocking chair are installed next. way:

1. We turn the chair upside down;
2. Thoroughly warm the bar-blank with a building hair dryer;
3. We lay the workpiece on the skid and tightly wrap it along the entire length with cotton tape. Don't burn yourself, the wood is very hot!
4. We also grab the second blank on another runner;
5. After the strips have completely cooled down, we remove the bandages from the braid and glue the PVA overlays on wood or with 2-component glue;
6. We attach the ends of the slats with small nails until the overlays fit snugly along the entire length. We put washers or pieces of plywood under the nail heads;
7. After the glue has completely dried (2-3 days), we remove the temporary fasteners. We drill blind holes for self-tapping screws and fasten the ends completely;
8. We rub holes with fastener heads with putty from sawdust of the same tree, densely mixed with PVA.

Note: metal hardware linings need to be fixed only at the ends. Otherwise, when the lining is abraded during use, the fastener heads will stick out and begin to scratch the floor.

Examples of rocking chairs

metal

Let's start the review of rocking chairs with metal ones, because. making rocking chairs out of it is justified in a few cases. Forged rocking chairs imitating classic wicker or rattan wicker, both requiring special equipment, a forge, etc. qualifications, do not touch. But a metal rocking chair "under the braid" can be made by welding from a profile pipe; preferably - elliptical section. In this case, it is necessary to choose the kinematic scheme of the nirvana rocking chair as the least sensitive to the excessive elevation of the CO above the CO, it also corresponds well to the design of the wicker rockers, see fig. The seat, in order not to increase the moment of inertia, is made of braided cables, belts, etc.

It also makes sense to make garden rocking chairs out of metal, see below, due to its strength and wear resistance. But a welded frame like the one in pos. 1 fig. on the right - the solution is not optimal, too complicated, labor- and material-intensive. It is much easier to make a steel frame of a garden rocking chair of the Concept type, pos. 2. Pipe - round from 40x2. Actually the bed can be sewn like a hammock; balancing - by changing its tension and, accordingly, sagging. As a result, labor and costs are much less than for repeating the established forms of rocking chairs coming “from the tree”, and comfort is no worse.

Another interesting option is visible here: the frame of a rocking chair A concept from ... gymnastic hoops. Only not aluminum or propylene, but carbon fiber (carbon). Strength - monstrous, durability - absolute, weight - miserable. What, however, can not be said about the cost.

Vanka-vstanka

Recently, garden rocking chairs have become popular. If you lean back completely in this and tuck your legs in, it collapses back at almost 90 degrees without losing stability; the rider will be lying on his back with his knees at the zenith. And if you stretch your legs forward, the rocking chair - roly-poly-stand-up becomes in the usual position and then you can sway as always.

The roly-poly toy with a spherical bottom sways quite sharply. Comfortable swinging of the roly-poly rocking chair is achieved by profiling its runners according to a complex law. It will not work to build their sidewalls “in a school way”, as described above. It is necessary to be guided by proven samples and draw markup on a grid, see fig. The variant on the inset, with a sheathing of planks 30-40 mm thick, is more expensive, but less laborious. It also allows you to increase the length of the rocking chair by placing intermediate skids.

Note: wooden balls are mounted on the protruding ends of the longer rods (1050 mm) and form handles for swinging and carrying.

rocking bench

Rolling with your heels in the sky, throwing your hands behind your head and admiring the clouds floating in the blue heights through the trembling foliage is a heavenly pleasure, but not for everyone. It is desirable for someone to look more impressive while relaxing. A garden bench - a rocking chair is more suitable for this, see fig. It is a little difficult to swing on it, its own moment of inertia is large, but it also swings for a long time. The maximum span between supports with skids is 750 mm with 40 mm thick lathing. The back paneling is decorative.

Sunbed with awning

Both those and other requests will be satisfied by a garden rocking chair on elliptical runners and with an awning. The dimensions of its sidewalls are given in fig. their material is 24 mm plywood. The bed width is up to 900 mm, its sheathing is made of slats 50x50. The places of the sidewalls, indicated by gray circles, are connected by round wooden crossbars with a diameter of 60 mm or more.

rocking chair

Here we are not talking about rocking horses, they are toys, not furniture. But it’s also not harmful for children to relax, swaying, so it makes sense to make a rocking chair for a child. Its proportions will be slightly different than for adults, due to the influence of the square-cube law.

The device of a child rocking chair, its assembly diagram and specification of parts are given in fig; material is wood. It will not be difficult for a more or less experienced home craftsman to build a rocking chair for a child, guided by these data, and beginners can first watch a master class on making almost the same children's rocking chair.