A rocking chair is a universal attribute of any room, relevant both among the elderly and young people. It will fit perfectly into a Provence-style dacha, an urban office, and even an avant-garde apartment. Here you can read a book or drink coffee, watch the sunrise, relax after a hard day of work and calm your nerves.
The furniture industry is constantly growing and developing, manufacturers are offering more and more models of rocking chairs that are relevant in any interior. Demand for this model creates supply.
Depending on the material of manufacture (rattan, wicker, metal, wood), the cost also varies. Not everyone can afford a dream chair, but almost everyone can make one themselves!
Types of rocking chairs
Due to the fact that this item is incredibly popular, it has already been transformed many times, and rocking chairs have been made from wood and other various materials. We invite you to find out the most popular options.
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.
Classic - made of wood
In this case, beech is used, which is perfect for forming the necessary parts. At the same time, there is simply incredible demand for such models.
This is what justifies the popularity of armchairs in private homes, estates, summer cottages, as well as in the workshops of creative people.
Selection of material
A variety of materials are used for making furniture yourself, most often natural wood and plywood, as they are easy to process. A welded or forged metal structure is more difficult to make; its creation will require special tools, usually available only in professional workshops. To make an original bent-glued product from thin veneer, you will also need the appropriate equipment - a steam generator, various matrices, patterns, templates. Sometimes the structure is woven from wicker or rattan; plastic options are suitable for children, since their strength is low.
Basketry
They have real rustic charm. And if you choose a rattan rocking chair, along with a soft blanket or blanket, the interior will be ascetic and very cozy.
It so happens that only some parts can be woven, for example the back or seat. But there are also fully wicker rocking chairs, for the manufacture of which, as already mentioned, rattan, or willow, reed is used...
What are they good for?
The rocking chair differs from the usual model in its streamlined shape and in that it has curved runners that allow you to rock and maintain balance. During rest, uniform rocking calms the nervous system. A comfortable seat provides good support for the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine, which relieves stress and promotes muscle relaxation.
This item can also be used to rock babies. If you like the idea, then look for a model with a seat and a cradle. With it, the process of putting babies to sleep will be very quick and easy, because it will take a minimum of effort and time.
Furniture serves as a cozy place for reading
Suitable for children, elderly and young people. Items created for children are equipped with rocking mechanisms and belts, for mothers with a baby - a seat and a cradle, for business people - with leather seats and backs.
Such furniture will also decorate the interior. But for this you should choose chairs that are made by hand or those that have an original design.
Putting your babies to sleep will be very quick and easy
With metal elements
Since the twentieth century, famous designers have been working to develop interesting designs for such chairs.
Among them we can note the famous Italian A. Volpe, who proposed using metal rings as an alternative to runners.
Today, even bothering with thoughts about how to make a rocking chair makes no sense at all. After all, they are offered in a huge variety. And due to the metal body, the furniture will last a very long time!
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.
Hybrid options
Some may not even feel the difference at first glance from similar models, which have soft seats, backrests, and armrests.
The only redeeming component about them is the wooden runners. You can choose this version of a rocking chair if the interior of your home is American or contemporary.
Features of working with wood
Wood has long been considered the most popular material used in the manufacture of furniture to this day. This is due to a large number of positive qualities: wood is quite easy to process, even a beginner can handle this process. To prepare products, you can use simple tools; it is not necessary to purchase high-tech equipment.
You can even cut parts with a bow saw
You can purchase lumber at an affordable price in almost a hardware store, while ready-made furniture structures made from solid wood have a fairly high cost. That is why it is recommended to make such simple products as a chair with your own hands.
The main advantages of natural wood are:
- Environmental Safety. This material is non-toxic, therefore any harm to human health is excluded.
- Wood has good strength; it rarely deforms due to impacts and other mechanical influences.
- A structure of any configuration can be made from wood. In addition, such products will harmoniously fit into any room with any interior design.
In order to buy high-quality wood, you should consider the following features of the material:
- the humidity level should be no more than 12-13%;
- there should be no cracks, other damage or traces of mold on the surface;
- there must be a minimum amount of resin.
It is necessary to choose only high-quality lumber
You should pay attention to such points when purchasing ready-to-use lumber. In some cases, it becomes necessary to dry the wood independently, after which it will need to be treated with a special compound to protect against fungus
An equally important criterion is the type of wood. When making outdoor furniture, only varieties with the most durable texture are suitable. These include pine, rowan, larch, and oak.
Linden has good durability
If a heavy load is expected to be placed on the product, then it is better to choose linden or alder. Material of this structure is a little more difficult to process, but it will last for many years.
If the chair will be installed near any pond or swimming pool, then it is advisable to purchase fine-pored wood for manufacturing - this will avoid problems with deformation of the structure.
For two…
Thanks to modern technology, furniture design can be simply wonderful. At the same time, items can be the most functional, practical, and ergonomic, adapted to absolutely any room.
For example, a rocking chair made of plywood or any other material, with a high back and a fairly strong frame, is quite capable of supporting two people and also swinging freely!
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Such furniture can be installed in a children's room, where mom can comfortably feed and lull the baby to sleep, and dad can read a bedtime story.
An excellent option for double rocking chairs for coffee shops and other establishments with a terrace. Visitors will be delighted!
How to restore
If you have an old, shabby rocking chair, you don’t have to throw it away. With the exception of the most “severe” cases, any structure can be repaired with your own hands. The repair itself consists of assessing the general condition of the item, replacing completely worn parts with similar but new ones, replacing the padding, and reupholstering 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 break off from each other, replacement of wooden, soft surfaces for sitting. Items made of plastic cannot be restored, but in those woven from wicker it is easy to replace part of the braid.
During the restoration process, it is not difficult to completely change the style of the item, turning an old “grandmother’s” chair into a modernist, high-tech, minimalist item that is not embarrassing to place even in a youth lounge.
Necessary materials, tools
Since rocking chairs are usually made from a variety of lumber, you will need some woodworking tools. These include a jigsaw, drill, screwdriver, hammer, ruler, tape measure, screwdriver, brushes for varnishes and paints, a grinder or sandpaper of various grain sizes, and spatulas. The materials you will need are stains, transparent varnish, pieces of plywood, timber, boards, screws, PVA or other furniture glue, foam rubber (sintepon, other materials for padding), thick fabric (velor, tapestry, chenille, jacquard, leather, etc.)
Procedure
First, an external inspection of the item is carried out to see whether it can be repaired at all. If the chair has not yet crumbled into dust, rotted or been eaten by beetles, then everything will work out. Most often, the armrests require repair, and the seat, runners, and backrest require 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 in shape from the old ones.
When the frame is completely intact, the runners are not worn out, only the coating needs to be renewed. To begin with, the structure, using special attachments on a drill, is removed from old paint and varnish coatings, and places where there are cracks and chips are puttied. The parts sanded down to the wood are covered with stain, dried for four to six hours, and one or two layers of furniture varnish are applied. Each layer of the latter is dried for at least 20 hours.
The places where the old fasteners were located are usually puttied, if possible, placing new fasteners at the maximum distance from the old ones so that the workpiece does not crack.
Replacing seats and backrests
The method of replacing seat parts depends on their design and material of manufacture. Wooden parts are unscrewed, partially replaced, tinted, varnished. With soft seats and backs it is a little more difficult - the covering is completely removed from them by removing all the nails and staples, while trying not to damage the frame. If the frame or plywood to which the “filling” and the textile covering it is attached is cracked, 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 off to make it more beautiful. The padding is secured 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, secured with a thread and a needle. All edges must be turned in at least one cm so that they do not fray, and secured with a stapler on the wrong side of the product.
The furniture fabric is stretched so that wrinkles do not form, but if unevenness occurs already during the operation of the restored product, they can be easily removed by slightly pulling the material inside out.
Modern options
Such products look original and discreet, while being incredibly comfortable. The seat is molded plastic, the supports are thin made of metal, as well as wooden runners. All this very interestingly complements the modern interior.
Some rocking chairs are made in accordance with classic designs, resulting in very stylish and ultra popular models.
No. 1. Making a chair from plywood
First, you will need to prepare a transparent film with checkered markings (the length of the cage is 100 mm), since we will use it to draw the outline of the blanks from the drawings onto the wood.
You will need a wooden sheet 29800 (14900*2) mm² (with correct and rational marking, the area may be smaller). Its thickness is approximately 20 mm.
The most important thing is to draw the rounded parts of the chair well and correctly. This is a very important part, an error in the development of which can ultimately affect the quality of the entire chair
Thus, to create this rocking chair model you will need:
- A sheet of plywood 20 mm about 30,000 mm² for the main parts in the drawing and additional boards (approximately 1,600 rubles);
- Sheet of foam rubber for the seat (300-400 rubles);
- Dowels (200 rubles per pack);
- Fabric for the seat (400 rubles, depending on the type of fabric);
- PVA glue or other (100 rubles);
- Acrylic paint (450 rubles);
- Acrylic varnish (200 rubles);
- Acetone (150 rubles);
A total of 3,500 rubles, which is several times cheaper than ready-made chairs, plus you will have the opportunity to make everything “for yourself,” that is, in the way that is most convenient for you.
First, trace the outline of the part with a marker, and then cut it out of the film. A utility knife is best
Using the stencils cut out of the film, we trace the outlines of the blanks on the wood using a marker. After this, we drill holes in the places of internal cutouts for more convenient work with a jigsaw or hacksaw.
It is best if you attach two boards, fasten them together and cut out two blanks at the same time, so you will definitely get the same parts
After cutting out all the parts, you will need to carefully sand the ends, without damaging or breaking off small particles along the contour. It is very important that the legs of the chair are very smooth and even, this way you can achieve the smoothest swing possible when relaxing on the chair.
You have already cut and processed the main parts of the chair, now you need to cut the boards for the seat itself. The length and width of the planks may vary depending on your body type. Recommended sizes: 70-80 mm in width and from 500 mm in length. You will need 6 of these blanks. And one about 100-120 mm wide, which will be the top one. They also need to be sanded and processed.
Next, on each side part we drill 7 pairs of recesses for fastening with dowels. The location of the recesses is shown in the photo; try to maintain the same distance between each pair.
It is best to mark half the length of the dowel on the drill with electrical tape, so you can drill to the ideal depth for the dowel.
Now you need glue. You can use PVA, or you can use Moment, whichever you like best. It is necessary to lubricate both the holes themselves and the dowels.
Next, fasten the side parts together using sawn planks. In order for the structure to hold tightly, you need to fix it in this position using ties. And leave to dry.
In the meantime, you can drill holes in the two legs that will be attached to the side walls. In total, you need to drill 6 holes on each side - 3 in the leg and 3 in the side part.
You should leave everything in this state for about a day, maybe more for a couple of hours, depending on the temperature and humidity in the room
Now you need to decide whether you will paint the chair or leave the natural wood color. In principle, both options are good in their own way, but here you need to choose wisely according to the color and style of the interior. If you want to use a rocking chair in a country house or cottage, it is better to leave it as is, but a painted product would be appropriate in an apartment.
If you decide to paint the chair, you will need a separate room for painting. Perform all painting work wearing a respirator .
The first step is to clean the surfaces from dust and degrease with acetone. Next we prime with one, maximum two, layers of primer. Aerosol acrylic will do.
After the primer has dried, you can begin painting. If you are using spray paint, shake the can for about 30 seconds before use. After applying the first coat of paint, wait about 20 minutes until it dries before applying the second coat. When painting wood, it is recommended to apply 3 layers of paint.
Now to complete the work, all that remains is to coat the surface with acrylic varnish. It takes about 3 hours to dry, so don't rush, it's better to wait longer than to ruin everything.
If you don’t want to paint it a certain color, but want to leave it natural, then you do everything the same, only skipping the painting process. Use the varnish right away. You can use alcohol-based or oil-based paints.
After painting, you can begin attaching the side walls and legs, which will allow the chair to swing
Thus, the rocking chair is assembled, but the only thing missing is the seat upholstery, which can be made from foam rubber. Then you need to take a fabric that is pleasant to the touch and has a color that matches the interior.
Using a construction stapler, secure it all to the chair itself. Well, that's all, the rocking chair is ready!
Where to put the rocking chair?
Options, really. There may be a lot. For example, on a terrace or balcony. Everyone also knows from history that this furniture was previously used as garden furniture, and it was mainly famous English personalities who rocked in it.
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Accordingly, today it is also customary to use this item in gardens, on terraces, verandas in gazebos of private houses, especially country houses and summer cottages.
If you live in a high-rise apartment, such a chair can be placed in any room. For example, near the window in the kitchen/dining area, or on the balcony.
You can also use it to decorate your living room or bedroom.
Pamper yourself, purchase similar options and be sure that this furniture will be useful and will serve you for many years!
Assembly Tips
The elements of the future rocking chair are connected, as a rule, using wood glue and fasteners. Since the load on the structure will be considerable, glue alone will not work. Nails will help secure the parts.
It is necessary to cover the parts with glue in those places where they come into contact with each other, and then secure the work done using nails. They are driven in all the way.
In places where excess glue appears, a rag is used to remove it. This must be done immediately after applying the material to the surface, otherwise, after it has completely dried, it will be impossible to remove it. The chair should stand untouched for about a day for the glue to completely harden.
