How to make your own rocking chair out of wood. Do-it-yourself rocking chair made of wood: photos, drawings and progress of work Do-it-yourself wrought iron rocking chair

  • 16.06.2019

On the Internet and in various stores, there are many models of various chairs of this type - their color, material and style are different and are successfully combined in such a way that everyone can choose for themselves good model, which will satisfy him in all respects.

It is not difficult to create a rocking chair made of wood with your own hands. It takes hard work and skill to keep your homemade rocking chair happy for your whole family in a relaxation corner.

The list of necessary materials and tools for a rocking chair cannot be limited due to the fact that the choice of frame, substrate options and some other little things are different. But there is a mandatory list of required tools:

  • hammer;
  • screws and screwdriver;
  • a pencil for marking and a brush for painting;
  • jigsaw and saws (in case of using a wooden frame);
  • level (it would be a good option right angle with a long ruler and built-in level - these can be found in specialized stores).
How and what stones to use in landscape design, read in.

Step-by-step instructions for creating

Option one - standard wooden rocking chair

The wooden frame is the most common in the creation of such projects - it is reliable, practical and easy to handle.

When creating a rocking chair with your own hands, the drawings are important element for the subsequent development of the project.

A rocking chair made of wood is durable, environmentally friendly and attractive

In the case of using wood as the main material, you can find many options for templates and drawings with detailed explanations and small details.

To create such a chair, you need to use a jigsaw and a sander to cut out the details for the chair.

In the future, you can simply lay a blanket on the chair, or attach sewn pillows - this will add originality and uniqueness to your rocking chair.

The second option is the atmosphere of nature

Using wood as a frame, you can also use small twigs as upholstery. They can be collected in the forest in April or October.

After completing all the wood details and fastening them together, you need to carefully place all the collected branches in the empty space.

You can connect and strengthen such a system with glue or liquid nails.

It is important to remember that it is necessary to fill all the space allotted for branches - if available big gaps in a structure, it may break.

The third option is a timeless classic

Plywood is a running material in creating a rocking chair.

Cut two boomerang-shaped sides from a sheet of plywood

It is necessary to cut a number of narrow long strips of plywood and nail them to the two parts of the base on which the chair will roll.

Regarding the distance between the "stripes", it is customary to use the rule of the golden mean - the elements should not be close to each other, but a large gap between each element is undesirable.

Do not feel sorry for screws or other material with which you nail the plywood to the base - on each side it should be nailed in two places, for a total of four attachment points.

The shape of the plywood swing chair can vary, the decor depends on your imagination

How to properly plant and care for thuja Smaragd, read.

The fourth option is a part of the soul

Asking the question of how to make a rocking chair with his own hands, a person wants to make a unique, unique project.

You can make the parts on which the chair will swing from wood, the support system from metal frame... The seat itself is made of wool - it is knitted.

The scheme and technique of embroidery can be different, the main thing is to accurately measure the space for embroidery, to leave eyelets for attaching to the frame.

Such an armchair will look organic both at home and on the street - you will really put your soul into it.

These are just a few of the many seat models that exist. I would like to note that under the seat there may be, for example, a place for your animal. You can add any elements to a rocking chair made with your own hands - it all depends on the imagination and priorities of the person.

Everyone associates a rocking chair with comfort and coziness, and you immediately want to sit in it by the fireplace in country house with a cup of hot coffee. This is a very beautiful and original interior element that fits into almost any style. Plus, swinging in a chair is good for your health. So you can relax, relieve stress, gain strength, calmly read your favorite book, listen to music, or just take a nap. A rocking chair can be made with your own hands from wood, consider examples with photos, drawings and work progress using several technologies.

Features of wood structures

Most often, furniture is made of wood, so the rocking chair is no exception. Why do many people choose this particular material:


Why such a chair is attractive:


How to make a rocking chair with your own hands from wood according to the drawings is shown in the video with instructions and work progress.


Varieties of armchairs

There are many different models armchairs, all of them may differ in their functionality, dimensions, style of performance, materials and the presence of additional gadgets. We always choose furniture based on our preferences and habits, and the rocking chair is no exception.

Consider several options for the design of rockers:

Work technology

To figure out how to make a rocking chair with your own hands from wood according to the drawings and the right size, you need to purchase everything necessary materials and tools:

  • Screwdriver.
  • Paint brush for filling holes in fasteners.
  • Hammer.
  • Straight corner with a ruler.
  • Disc grinder.
  • Self-tapping screws.
  • Jigsaw for cutting blanks.
  • Clamp.

1 way

To create a rocking chair, you can use an ordinary chair by shortening its legs and attaching this structure to runners. To appearance was attractive, the chair could be braided with leather or plastic ribbons. If you wish, you can also sew a rocking chair cover yourself.

To make the structure of a more interesting shape, sidewalls can be cut out of plywood according to a pre-calculated pattern. The edges of the plywood should be well finished.

Plywood edges

Then we connect the two resulting parts to each other using three bars (30 * 50 * 600 mm).

To lay out the upper part, we use thin boards and plywood strips (10 * 50 * 600 mm).

In some cases, the length can be increased so that the strips protrude beyond the edges of the sidewalls. After assembling the chair, it can be varnished or painted.

2 way

We start the process of creating a rocking chair with a drawing. For a high-quality result, a sketch is required. In addition, we will be able to save ourselves from strong errors in calculating the amount of material.

Technique of work:

3 way

We will assemble a rocking chair according to the drawing, using high-quality types of wood. We use a regular wooden chair as a base. All parts will be mounted at right angles, so there is no need to cut out many additional elements.


Now you can create your own rocking chair and please your household. The main thing to remember is that the product can be scratched, and the material can quickly age and lose its appearance. Therefore, always treat the chair with varnish so that it delights you with its beauty for a long time and creates coziness in the house.

Reading time ≈ 5 minutes

This article is step by step instructions on the independent manufacture of metal rocking chairs, in which photos and videos are also presented. Thanks to detailed explanations, you will not be mistaken with the choice of materials, and, possibly, will acquire new skills that will be useful in future projects.

DIY materials for making rocking chairs

The first thing you need to do is purchase metal parts for your future rocking chair. You may need to seek help from someone who will make the exact shape of the wireframe for you that you need. If you work together with a professional, he will be able to give useful advice, help with the choice of materials, etc.

Ideal for the frame of a homemade rocking chair made of metal would be a 20 mm (diameter) steel rod. If you find that the rod is too heavy for the frame, you can use steel pipes.

As a result, as you can see in the photo, you should have a set of rods of the following sizes (pay attention to the drawings):

  • A: 4 x 650 mm
  • B: 2 x 268 mm
  • C: 2 x 867 mm
  • D: 2 x 600mm
  • E: 2 x 896 mm

Of course, you can change the dimensions of the metal rocking chair, but be careful when calculating.

Fitting metal rods

So that everyone steel element the future frame fit tightly to each other after welding, their ends need to be adjusted (to understand exactly how to do this, watch the video presented on the website). This will be easy if you have a desktop one. As a result, you should get the following:

  • Rods 'A' ground at both ends
  • 'B' rods, one side ground
  • Rods 'C' ground on one side
  • 'D' rods do not require grinding
  • 'E' rods do not require grinding

Welds

Start by connecting the rods of the two sides of the rocking chair (B, C, D) as shown in the photo. It is best to do this on the floor in order to ensure a perfectly flat structure. If you have a magnetic weld angle, use it. Otherwise, use a cinder block to achieve a 90 ° angle.

After welding the two sides (B, C, D), connect them with rods A.

Shaping

It takes a little imagination to figure out how to bend a 20mm diameter steel rod. Especially if you do not have any special tool such as a pipe bender. You will need a pipe and a tree with a forked trunk (as you can see from the photo, the trunks should be close to each other). Place the rod between the trunks and slide the pipe over it. By holding on to the latter and applying pressure, you will gradually be able to give the rod the desired shape. Try to keep the 'E' parts as similar as possible.

Attach the 'E' curves

A sturdy DIY metal rocking chair frame is almost ready. Now you need to weld the ‘E’ parts, after the ‘D’ and ‘B’ (most likely, they will need to be adjusted quite a bit to fit the curved ‘E’). The most difficult part of the path has been passed!

Sling test on carcass

If someone close to you has sewing skills, entrust the creation of the cover to someone of them. You can use an old blanket or a sturdy blanket, from which you will need to cut a 600 mm strip. It should be sewn to the two upper ‘A’ rods so that you get a kind of sling in which you will sit. Very simple and great!

Stripping

If you have welded seams similar to those shown in the photo, you must admit that such a rocking chair will not have the most attractive look. Grinding the seams will take some time, but the results will be worth it.

Painting

This is probably the most enjoyable part of the whole job. But first, thoroughly clean the frame of the chair with hot soapy water to remove dirt and grease. After rinse clean water and let dry completely.

Hang the frame wherever you like. It is better to paint on a warm, not too windy day. The first and second layers will be the primer (primer base). But the second is applied a few hours after the first. This is followed by two coats of the main primer (third and fourth), which are applied 24 hours after the primer. Better that the last two layers are gray. As a result, the appearance of the finished rocking chair will be much more spectacular. Then apply matte varnish.

Sling color selection

What color your rocking chair will be is up to you. It is desirable that it be a durable 100% cotton material. By the way, if you already have a piece of light-colored fabric, you can only purchase a special dye and, following the instructions, give it the desired shade.

Sling a sling

In terms of dimensions, you will need a piece that is 1200 mm wide and approximately 1300 mm long. It will need to be folded in half so that the result is a rectangle of 600x1300 mm. The two long sides of the rectangle are sewn together, and the resulting sleeve is turned inside out. Each end of the sleeve is also sewn with cut edges inward (as shown) to prevent the sling from wearing out sooner.


Many pieces of furniture are available for do-it-yourself production with access to materials, a specific list of tools and experience with them. The abundance of ready-made drawings in the public domain allows you to minimize preparatory operations before work. An example of an affordable product can be a rocking chair made of plywood, which is easy to make with your own hands if you have little experience with metal or wood.

Types of rocking chairs by material

Currently, due to the expansion of suburban construction and the population's craving for comfort and convenience, rocking chairs have acquired a steady wide demand. V furniture stores and on the sites you can find a lot of offers for every taste. The main materials used for the manufacture of such products are:


Each of the listed types has its own manufacturing characteristics. Working with solid wood requires skills in its carpentry, experience in using different ways connections of parts. The manufacturing process of such a chair is lengthy and complicated, which not many home craftsmen can do.

Thematic material:

Working with willow twigs also requires special skills. It is necessary to properly prepare and dry the material, prepare it for work. Know the properties of a willow twig, its features, the frame assembly technology for subsequent braiding. It will not be possible to master such a complex craft in a couple of days.

If you have a simple manual pipe bender and experience with tools such as an angle grinder and a welding machine, make the frame of the rocking chair from steel pipes round or rectangular section will not be difficult. Such products look original. Making the back and seat made of durable fabric or nylon or jute cord will help reduce weight.

It is much easier and faster to make a rocking chair out of sheet materials... The most affordable price and distribution in hardware stores in any city is plywood. It can be easily mechanically sawed and sanded, it is well connected with wood glue, perfectly holds metal connecting elements.

To work with plywood, you will need the following basic tools:

  1. electric jigsaw - a common tool available in the arsenal of any home craftsman working with wood;
  2. an electric drill will help not only to get any number of holes in the necessary places, but also to grind the parts if necessary;
  3. the grinder allows you to give the parts a perfectly smooth surface;

The minimum amount of equipment required is a guarantee of the availability of products for self-production. If desired, the finished product can be coated with wood stain, varnish or dyes using a spray gun, electric or pneumatic. In the absence of them, this work can be done with a simple brush.

Part marking

Immediately before starting work on such an interesting product, you need to stock up on the main material - plywood. Sheets with a thickness of at least 15-20 mm will help to obtain parts of sufficient strength. In the absence of those on sale, you can do it easier - purchase a ten-millimeter material and glue it in pairs using any available wood glue, for example, PVA.

In addition, you will need a high-quality drawing for all parts of the product. You can do it yourself if you have experience or use a ready-made one.

It is desirable that dimensions are present on the drawings of the product and its parts. Otherwise, they will have to be calculated independently based on the main parameters - the height of the chair and seat, the width of the seat, etc.

The presence of drawings with a transfer grid, for example, with cells of 10x10 cm, will allow you to quickly make templates for marking identical parts of a rocking chair. If you cannot find them, you will have to execute hard work on one's own. To make a template, take a sheet of Whatman paper or fiberboard and mark on it a grid of parallel lines equally spaced from each other.

Use a simple pencil to outline the details with light pressure. Carefully inspect and correct the resulting image, correlate it with the required dimensions of the product. Only after making sure in full compliance with the desired result, cut out the template. For fiberboard, it is convenient to use a jigsaw.

Process the edges of the templates sandpaper to remove possible irregularities. The corners can be slightly smoothed. Now, applying the stencil directly to the plywood, mark the parts of the rocking chair, tracing the template along the contour.

We cut and clean

The marked parts must be carefully cut out. For this we use electric jigsaw with a file for cutting plywood. If you could not get these, use files for curly sawing. They have a small tooth and a small blade width. They are convenient for cutting out curved parts with both small and large radius of curvature.

Sawing when cutting plywood is best done not directly along the line, but retreating from it outward by 0.5 mm. This is necessary in order to subsequently clean the edges while maintaining the natural dimensions of the parts.

Otherwise, in seats, where the parts will join, gaps may form.

The finished parts of the general structure must be prepared for assembly. For this, the parts are cleaned with sandpaper. Previously, using an electric router, you can round the corners of the edges.

The parts of the rocking chair sawn and sanded with sanding paper must be connected together according to the drawing. Most often, wooden parts are connected using quality glue and studded joints or threaded rods. All this must be foreseen at the stage of marking and sawing.

To eliminate possible drawbacks, we recommend performing preliminary assembly "dry", that is, without glue. If the assembled structure matches the drawing, you can perform the main assembly. The glue is applied to the protruding parts of the parts and insert them tightly into the grooves corresponding to the shape. To fix the structure and improve the quality of the connection, it is convenient to use sliding steel or wooden clamps... They can be purchased from tool stores, or you can make your own.

Finishing the finished chair

After the glue has completely hardened, which usually happens a day after joining the parts, the tightening devices, if any, can be removed.

When glue is applied excessively, it often comes out on the surface of parts in the form of drips. If it is not removed properly, it will not be possible to make a high-quality finish to the finished product.

After the final sanding of the plywood parts with fine-grained emery paper, you can apply certain decorative materials... Among the most used in the home carpentry workshop, the following can be noted:

  1. water-based or alcohol-based stain, perfectly imitating certain valuable wood species;
  2. tinted varnishes based on water, oil or nitro, which have their own advantages and disadvantages, application features.
  3. transparent varnishes;
  4. dyes and enamels.

The final choice of one type or another finishing material depends on the preferences of the master or customer, the existing interior, in which the finished rocking chair will be located.

Thus, we have outlined the main sequence of work for self-production rocking chairs from this available material like plywood. Specific points that a beginner should pay attention to, the most common mistakes in work are indicated.

Much has been written about the beneficial effects of relaxing in a rocking chair. It also helps to focus during intellectual work. Finally, it is just convenient, having pumped out, to take books from the rack behind your back or a cup of coffee with coffee table... The prices of ready-made rocking chairs, as it should be in a consumer society, react to such advantages in their own way: a rocking chair for 5000 rubles. it's still cheap. And the people are artisans and they also answer 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, sways. Secondly, so that it does not turn from a rocking chair into a kicker or a tipper, the entire product with the one sitting in it must have an accurate balance, which must be kept within acceptable limits for riders of different weights and builds. This publication is devoted to the consideration of the issues of how to achieve the required qualities of a rocking chair.

Types of rocking chairs

You need to comply with your own requests already at the stage of choosing a prototype. There are several types of rocking chairs, aimed at users with different habits and needs. The main types of rockers are shown in the photo. The first to appear in everyday life were rockers on simple radius runners (arcs, rocker arms, skis). They are in use to this day, both in a modern and in a classic look, pos. 1 and 2. Their main advantage is constructive and technological simplicity.

Smooth and soft rocking radius skids provide only for relatively slight rocking, and with strong rocking they do not guarantee against overturning. Therefore, rockers "on radii" are made with a low fit, which ensures a large excess of the center of the generating circle (CG) over the general center of gravity (CG); see below for more details on rocker kinematics. If a seat of normal height is required, then the runners are equipped with bumpers, pos. 3. The jolts of the bumpers on the floor are noticeably given off at the "fifth point", and in any case, it is necessary to get out of the rocking chair on the radius runners, somewhat straining.

Note: stability when swinging with a slightly higher amplitude at a normal landing height is provided by rockers on radius runners with a closing horizontal arc, see Fig. on right. But, suddenly the limit is reached, the support surface is instantly reduced to a point and a sharp push in the back follows.

Rollover is excluded in rockers on runners of variable curvature, pos. 4. All of them are comfortable enough for riders of different physique. Themselves gently land the rider, who has risen and leaned forward, of a rocking chair of the nirvana type on runners of variable curvature, pos. 5 and 6. It is also possible to design them for any, within acceptable limits, landing height, by changing the progression index in the law of change of the generating radius (also see about kinematics).

Note: mothers and babies are given a complete rest with the complete unity of the rocking-cradle souls. Reliable rockers with a cradle are made only on runners of variable curvature, see fig. on right. Otherwise, all of a sudden the little one gets worried and mom starts up, you can tumble together. That is simply dangerous for a baby.

Nirvana rocking chairs on elliptical runners, pos. 7, provide light swinging truly blissful, but do not prevent overturning when strong swinging, therefore they are equipped with bumpers; the front is often combined with the footrest. Garden rocking chairs with elliptical awning, pos. eight.

Nirvana rockers on springs, see fig. on the left, swing as softly as on ellipses, because the mechanical characteristic of the springs is progressive. But making a spring chair with your own hands is difficult: you need 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. In addition, dirt accumulates in the gap between the spring and the runner and it can be very painful to pinch your finger in it. For the latter reasons, spring armchairs are now very rare on sale.

Rocking chair 3 in 1

Finally, there are also multifunctional rockers "3 in 1" on runners with smooth kinks, see fig. on right. When seated upright, this is an ordinary chair; leaning back, it can be switched to rocking mode at radii, and leaning back even more, it can be turned into a lounger. But the dimensions of the 3-in-1 rocking chair are too large for apartments below the business class, and the transitions from mode to mode are accompanied by rather sensitive jolts. 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 runners will help. Drawings of a simple sample, made, with the exception of runners, only from rectilinear parts, are given in Fig. To the dacha, veranda or garden, this chair can be made in half a day, using only a jigsaw, a drill and a pair wrenches(assembly - bolted). And having swayed to your heart's content, you may already think about a home rocking chair for the more sophisticated; then you will need a more thorough tool and knowledge.

How does it swing?

Most home craftsmen make rocking chairs from ready-made drawings, but prototypes often turn out to be designed and tailored for a specific person, and an exact replica is not so convenient. Therefore, before making a rocking chair, you need to get at least initial information about its kinematics.

CG straight standing man normal physique is located on the border of the lumbar and sacrum with inside spinal column. In a seated individual, it will mix slightly forward and even less downward. In the seat-rider system, the total CG is shifted back almost to the starting position and even slightly down. The downward displacement of the total CG for the design of a rocking chair is not particularly significant, and it can be assumed that the projection of the total CG onto the supporting surface (floor) is approximately the same as that of a standing person. In the future, the resulting error can be easily compensated for by the final balancing of the chair, see below.

The vertical position of the CG relative to the CG affects the stability and comfort of the rocking chair much more strongly; the latter is also a determining value when designing rockers on runners with variable curvature. If the CG and CO coincide, this is an indifferent balance: for any physically possible tilt of the chair, the projection of the CG on the floor falls on the point of contact of the runners O, pos. 1 and 1a in Fig. The chair does not swing, and if you lean back too much - an instant somersault with the risk of breaking your neck. Fortunately, the exact coincidence of CG and CO is possible only theoretically.

If the CG is higher than the CO, then its projection at any inclination "runs" outward, backward or forward, from the point of contact. At the slightest tilt, an overturning moment Mo arises (pos. 2 and 2a), the rocking chair turns out to be unstable. To avoid such a situation for a family rocking chair, it is calculated and balanced on the tallest, overweight and pot-bellied rider possible so that its CO is 450 mm or more higher than the CG. Then, when the chair is tilted, it will “run away” from the projection of the CG, the restoring moment Мв (pos. 3 and 3а) will constantly act and the chair will not tip over when swinging within the permissible limits. For those who are smaller, the excess of the CO over the CG will be too big, and the swinging will be rather harsh, but this can be easily compensated for with pillows under the back and seat. In general, the less the CO elevation above the CG, the softer and smoother the rocking, but the likelihood of overturning, sharply straightening up and standing up in the chair, is higher. Therefore, it is better for novice carpenters to set the CO exceeding within 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 his absence), the radius of the generating circle R is taken equal to the average height of the users minus 5 cm.Suddenly, the rocking will be harsh, this can be corrected by placing a permanent pillow on the seat.

In a chair on runners of variable curvature, there is no need to lug your own pillows with you: it will automatically rise to the position of the greatest comfort. At the same time, the big man will lean back more, and the slender one will be sitting more upright. When swinging backwards, the t. O will run away from the projection of the CG the further, the greater the angle of inclination, and it is simply impossible to swing until overturning. And if you "swing" forward, which is generally difficult, the chair will smoothly land the hyperactive on the floor: where should you rest? Go do something.

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

The construction of the front branch is carried out at a constant R, but with each rotation of the generatrix of the circle, the central center is raised vertically (ibid., At pos. 4, fig.). 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 index as for the posterior branch. Δh1 in this case is a rather critical value; a lower value should be taken for thin ones, and a larger value for fat ones.

In conclusion, the resulting points are connected using a smooth curve. Do not be embarrassed if the tangents to it turn out to be not perpendicular to the radii: for the chair to be stable, at every moment of swaying it should appear as if on the opposite slope. It is advisable to take the scale at construction not smaller than 1: 5.

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

Final balancing

It is unlikely that a rocking chair will immediately be comfortable enough for a novice master. Most likely, the product will need to be balanced. If the chair does not swing well, and when you leave it shoves, you need to make the rear overhang heavier. The easiest way to do this is by connecting the ends of the rear branches of the runners with a low U-shaped beam made of boards, with a notch facing down. Weights are placed in the recess. The lever arm in this case is long, so you don't have to hang the weights. Another option, depending on the design, is a transverse tube-beam with an internal load. But in the process of balancing it will have to be removed and put back several times. If the rocking chair tries to fall back, you need to make the front overhang heavier. The easiest way to do this is by placing a footboard and attaching weights to its underside.

About materials

Rocking chairs are mainly made of wood. Metal, for all its manufacturability, low waste and greater resistance to outdoors is too heavy. The influence of the chair on the overall CG is significant, the moment of inertia of the system is large and, as a result, the rocking is too sharp. Or you have to set an extremely small initial elevation of the central heating over the central heating, risking that the rocking chair will overturn under someone. However, we will return to metal rockers later in the course of examining individual samples.

Plywood is a completely different matter, especially for novice carpenters. Firstly, by performing the rocking parts with 3-layer glued ones, it is possible only with the help of an electric jigsaw to make accurate and strong connections thorn-groove, on the left in the figure, if you follow the trace. regulations:

  • The plywood of the middle layer is taken twice as thick as for the extreme ones. For example, if a total thickness of 20 mm is needed, then 5-10-5 mm are glued.
  • Parts are assembled from blanks on a 2-component waterproof glue. If on PVA, they must be reinforced with small nails.
  • The joints are assembled with gluing (wedging in this case is unacceptable) and reinforced with diagonal pairs of self-tapping screws from 2 sides.
  • The supporting surfaces are protected by overlays made of thin (6-10 mm) laths of solid 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 rocking bowl made of plywood can be made using, again, only a jigsaw. Convenience - high, absolute stability, and can serve as a hanging hammock chair 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 apply overlays

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

  1. Turn the chair over with runners up;
  2. We thoroughly warm the blank bar with a construction hairdryer;
  3. We lay the workpiece on the runner and tightly fasten it along the entire length with cotton braid. Do not burn yourself, the wood is very hot!
  4. We also grab the second workpiece onto another runner;
  5. After the strips have cooled completely, 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 planks with small nails until the overlays fit snugly along the entire length. Place washers or pieces of plywood under the nail heads;
  7. After the glue is completely dry (2-3 days), we remove the temporary fasteners. We drill blind holes for self-tapping screws and finally fix the ends;
  8. We wipe the holes with the fastener heads with a putty from sawdust of the same tree, thickly mixed with PVA.

Note: with metal hardware, the overlays need to be fastened only at the ends. Otherwise, when the pads are abraded during use, the fastener heads will protrude and begin to scratch the floor.

Rocking chair examples

Metallic

Let's start our review of rockers with metal ones. making rocking chairs out of it is justified in few cases. Forged rocking chairs, imitating the classic wicker from a vine or rattan, as requiring special equipment, forge, etc. qualifications are not concerned. But a metal rocking chair "for a braid" can be made by welding from shaped pipe; preferably elliptical section. In this case, it is necessary to choose the kinematic scheme of the rocking chair-nirvana as the least sensitive to the excessive elevation of the central center over the central heating, it also matches the design well with wicker rockers, see Fig. The seat, in order not to increase the moment of inertia, is made braided from cables, belts, etc.

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

Here you can see another curious variant: the frame of the rocking chair Concept made of ... gymnastic hoops. Only not aluminum or propylene, but carbon fiber (carbon). Strength - monstrous, firmness - absolute, weight - scanty. Which, however, cannot be said about the cost.

Vanka-vstanka

Recently, garden rocking chairs - tumblers have become popular. If in this one lean back completely and curl your legs, it falls back almost at 90 degrees, without losing stability; the rider will be kneeling on his back to the zenith. And if you stretch your legs forward, the rocking chair - the vanka-stand-up gets into the usual position and then you can swing as always.

The toy vanka-stand with a spherical bottom sways quite sharply. Comfortable rocking of the tumbler-rocker is achieved by profiling its runners according to a complex law. It will not work to build their sidewalls "in a school manner", as described above. You need to be guided by verified samples and draw the markings on the grid, see fig. The inset version, with planking made of strips 30-40 mm thick, is more costly, but less laborious. It also allows you to lengthen the rocker arm by placing intermediate runners.

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

Rocking bench

Wallowing with your heels in the heavens, throwing your hands behind your head and admiring the clouds floating in the blue heights through the quivering foliage is a heavenly delight, but not everyone's satisfaction. Someone desires to look more impressive while resting. This is more suitable for a garden bench - a rocking chair, see fig. It is a little difficult to swing on it, its own moment of inertia is great, but it also swings for a long time. The maximum span between supports with runners is 750 mm when sheathing with 40 mm thick slats. The back paneling is decorative.

Sunbed with awning

Both those and other requests will be satisfied by a garden rocking chair-lounger on elliptical runners and with an awning. The dimensions of its sidewalls are given in Fig. their material is plywood 24 mm. The width of the bed is up to 900 mm, its sheathing is made of 50x50 slats. The places of the sidewalls, marked with 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 resting, swaying, is also not harmful for children, so it makes sense to make the child a rocking chair. 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 the specification of parts are given in Fig. material - wood. A little bit experienced home master it will not be difficult 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 rocking chair.