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

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

Design features and types

A rocking chair is furniture designed for rest and relaxation. Specificity is achieved in two ways:

• The peculiarity of the shape of the legs is that they can be arced or solid circular.
• Hinged mechanism.

There are different types of rocking chairs:

• Classic, equipped with small-radius radius runners. This option is the simplest and for those who have an idea of ​​how to work with wood material, it will be quite simple to make such a structure.
• Rocking chairs equipped with runners with varying curvature. In this case, the radius element must have special stops and clamps that prevent the entire product from turning over.
• Ellipsoidal types of rocking chairs, equipped with arches in the shape of an oval or drop.
• Pendulum or so-called glider options.
• Multifunctional rocking chairs with special legs.
• Spring types.
• Suspended design options that have static support.
• Tumblers moving from a sitting position to a lying position.

Let's consider making several different options.

Model selection

The design and dimensions of tables made from profile pipes can be varied. Metal harmoniously combines with other materials: wood, glass, plastic, stone and others. The most popular designs today are the following:

1. Table-desk with a compartment for storing books. It has a slightly inclined tabletop, which allows the student to sit in the correct position. The height of the working surface must correspond to the height of the child. So, for a first-grader with a height of 130 cm, the optimal parameters will be 50 cm.
2. Table with a massive table top. Such models look quite brutal. The most popular are the standard rectangular options. Dimensions 120 x 70 cm will not take up much space and will accommodate 4 people.
3. Lightweight design for the garden. The optimal tabletop size is 80 x 120 cm. Smaller tables will be less functional, larger tables will be too bulky.
4. Workbench table. A working version that is used in workshops and garages. A suitable tabletop length is 220 cm, width 75 cm, height 85–90 cm.
5. Table transformer. In this case, metal elements are used to create folding parts. The folding version can have a variety of dimensions: 150 x 90, 200 x 110, 320 x 110, 90 x 90, 120 x 120 cm.
6. Small coffee table. The parameters depend on the shape of the tabletop. Standard dimensions are 80 x 80 cm, the height of the legs can be any.
7. Bipedal. Such structures are placed against the wall, which serves as additional support. The optimal height is 87–90 cm; the size of the tabletop depends on the number of people. There should be at least 60 cm per seated person.
8. In the form of a bar counter. The standard length parameters are 120 cm, width - 55 cm, height - 105 cm. These dimensions allow the models to fit organically into almost any room.

The design and dimensions of tables made of metal profiles must correspond to the style of the room or garden plot, as well as the purpose. A wide range of models allows you to choose the right model to solve various problems.

Table-desk

With a massive table top

For the dacha

Crafting table

Transformer

Magazine

Bipedal

Bar

Basic materials for production

Before you make a rocking chair with your own hands, you need to prepare the necessary materials and tools:

• Natural wood, which can be either untreated or coated with transparent or tinted paints and varnishes.
• Plywood 5 mm thick, which is glued together from several separate layers.
• Profiled metal or metal pipes.
• Plastic elements.
• Sufficiently strong metal chains.
• Polypropylene pipes.
• Dense and durable wicker in the form of rattan or made of alder.
• Jigsaw or saw, drill, hammer, screwdriver.
• Measuring tools – rulers, squares, flexible meters.

Step-by-step instruction

There are several types of interior items made in this way:

1. All metal chairs made using artistic forging.
2. Tubular products created from aluminum or steel rods by welding.
3. A combination of two materials, for example, metal and plastic.

Forging such products requires special skills and equipment. It is almost impossible to do this without skill. The connecting points in the second type are provided by welding or screwing the bolts with a drill.

Structural diagram of a metal rocking chair.

The first stage of design is to develop a drawing. To do this, you need to take the parameters of a regular chair and display them on a piece of paper. Manually draw an oval line at the base of the future chair. This way you can easily calculate the size of this semicircle. The larger radius ensures maximum safety. Then cut out such diagrams and attach these outlines to the original materials.

Then you will need steel rods measuring 20x20 mm. Cut them into 1 m sections each and weld them to the base, following the drawings exactly. Bend the steel following an oval and use a welding machine to connect it to the legs. The frame pitch should be about 6 mm.

Next, you need to place a metal seat with a back on the frame base. It is secured by welding or screw fixation.

Selecting a drawing or drawing it

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

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

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

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

Ceiling vs. pillar

In many photos and videos there are 2 main options for hanging chairs. This is the ceiling, or its own stand.

The chair is suspended from the ceiling with hooks, rings, chains or shock-absorbing springs. The idea is to find a solid area on the ceiling, drill a hole and install the fastener. Like a hanging bed. Just don’t confuse it with a floating bed, where the installation principle is completely different.

A freestanding rack is mostly made of metal. There are also wooden structures.

What to choose is a personal decision

But it is important to consider the material from which the chair is made. If it is rattan, then it is better not to use it outdoors

The material does not like ultraviolet radiation and humidity.

Synthetic materials will be relevant for the street.

I think this is where we can say goodbye

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Plywood construction

It is plywood that allows you to obtain complex curved shapes, and without much effort or skill. For such a rocking chair, you must perform the following steps:

• Glue together several layers of plywood and clamp them in a position that matches the radius of the runners. It is important to make two elements at once and clamp them equally and at the same time in order to obtain identical parts and eliminate unevenness.
• After this, complete all other structural elements in accordance with the drawing. This is usually done with a jigsaw. Sand them and soak them in drying oil.
• On the side elements there are 3 through holes for the footboard and the middle part of its headboard.
• The side elements are connected using a special beam - this is done using either self-tapping screws or additionally reinforced with glue.
• Then the remaining frame slats are also secured with self-tapping screws, assembling the structure in accordance with the drawing and maintaining the dimensions.
• At the final stage, everything must be decorated with a protective coating of a matching color or transparent varnish.

Recommendations

When the chair is ready, the only question left is the hanging. Methods for attaching a hanging chair always depend on the type of ceiling. The wooden one requires screwing a metal plate onto self-tapping screws; it can be supplemented with an iron ring. It is better to install an anchor hook with a ring in a concrete ceiling.

If there are voids in the concrete ceiling, then they will initially need to be treated with a chemical anchor , this is a special composition ready for use. After filling the voids, the anchor is screwed in. The chair hangs up only after 2 days. If you have to mount a hanging chair in a room with a suspended ceiling, then you will initially need to remove it (or expose a certain area) and use a long anchor with a threaded coupling. A ring is screwed into the coupling, and then it is hidden under decorative overlays.

Proper care of furniture will significantly extend its service life; it is better to wipe wooden elements with a cloth and polish, and degrease iron elements and coat them with paint and varnish to avoid corrosion or destruction of the metal.

Fabric or thread elements will have to be dried thoroughly.

When planning a location, choose one where there will be a convenient approach to the chair. In the house it should not come into contact with other furniture, but on the street it is better to place it under a canopy or on the veranda. Well, the main requirement for a hanging chair is the ability to swing.

In the next video you will learn how to make a hanging chair for a summer house in 3 hours from improvised materials.

Rocking chair made of profiled metal pipe

Such a design can be made if there is a special installation for bending metal pipes. Despite the apparent difficulty, it is actually not that difficult to make such furniture; moreover, it is heavy and at the same time stable.

Manufacturing steps:

• Metal pipes are taken and bent on a special machine by rolling the element between three rotating rollers.
• Then two pipes are welded to the two skids, which form the base and form a kind of triangle with one rounded side.
• There is also a semicircular element in the middle, which is welded to the support elements. This is done to increase sustainability.
• Then the transverse elements are assembled in accordance with the drawing.
• After this, the armrests and back of the chair are completed. They are fixed with self-tapping screws and adhesive.
• At the final stage, everything is complemented with soft elements in the form of pillows or special upholstery with foam parts.

Frame swing

Frame garden swings have a durable, fixed base. This is a more monumental structure than rope structures. Execution options depend on the selected material.

Log

Swings made of logs are very relevant. Although they look cumbersome, they are very original and reliable.

You can hang the seat on U-shaped, L-shaped and A- or X-shaped frames.

The latter are the easiest to make: a supporting crossbar is placed on top of logs fastened with a cross (about 2.5-2.7 m long and 10-15 cm in diameter). The cross is approximately 40-50 cm from the ends of the logs. Threaded spokes (10 mm) are well suited for fastening; after installation, they are secured with nuts on both sides.

The lower ends of the supports are cut at an angle of 45 degrees inward.

Then, on each cross, you need to apply ties in the form of small-diameter logs with a length of 2 to 2.3 m at a level of 30-40 cm from the lower ends.

We place both crosspieces and fasten the third tension beam between them at the same height as the first two, and also fix the supporting beam in the upper grooves. The swing frame made of logs is ready.

All that remains is to put together and hang the bench. The simplest seat is quite easily made on a frame made of 5*7 cm timber, which is covered with a magpie board. The bench parameters are as follows:

• length 150 cm;
• seat depth 50 cm;
• back height 65 cm.

The role of suspensions can be chains, strong ropes, cables, ropes. They are attached to the bench with knots or carabiners. But to attach to the cross beam you will need two large bolts and two eye nuts.

Hanging installation process:

1. In the supporting crossbar at the places where the hangers are attached, two holes are drilled from top to bottom, all the way through.
2. Bolts are inserted into them, and eye nuts are screwed on from below.
3. Ropes or carabiners are threaded into the rings of the eye nuts (if the garden swing is on chains).

If you used not a rounded log, but improvised dead wood trunks, then you get such a brutal option as in the photo.

Next to the large seat, as a combined option, you can hang a single bungee swing on an elongated load-bearing log.

timber

The material is very easy to assemble, so making a wooden swing from timber is not particularly difficult, but skill will not hurt.

To make your own swing from timber you will need the following material:

• four beams 10*10 cm 3 m long for side supports;
• one beam 8*8 cm 2.5 m long per crossbar;
• one edged board 3*10*60 cm for tightening the crosspieces;
• for a bench: approximately 12 linear meters of timber with a section of 4.5 * 5.6 cm; 18 linear meters of boards 2.6*4.6 cm (for cladding); hangers and fastenings.

First of all, we assemble the crosspieces. This is done in the same order and according to the same principle as a garden wooden swing made of logs: we mark, trim, fasten, hang a bench or chair.

On a swing made of timber, it looks great if the crosspieces are framed with thin slats on which you can hang flowerpots with flowers. A light roof would also be appropriate. Interesting options are when it is made as a “house”, like over village wells.

With some imagination, this garden “haven” will be a favorite place for family relaxation. Especially with soft cushions on the bench.

It will be useful to read:

Homemade flower beds made from wooden boards Flower beds are a decoration for any area. If you think about it, they have many functions, but decorativeness is just...

Wooden pallet

Who hasn’t seen wooden lattice stands for various products in stores and warehouses? Everyone saw it. They often remain in summer cottages after the goods have been delivered. But the idea of ​​​​making a garden swing from it can only come to the mind of a person with a remarkable imagination.

The most important thing is that the pallet is strong and not rotten. You should immediately treat it with antimicrobial and water-repellent agents, paint and dry it.

Here is another quick option for making a garden swing:

A rope, cable, chain or rope is attached to four sides of the pallet and suspended from a support or any frame. Thus, you get either a wide seat where two children can easily fit and rock together on both sides. Or, putting a mattress and a pillow on it, we get almost a cradle.

If there are two pallets, then, by fastening them with corners, we will build a bench that will look great on any frame support.

Board

Two fastened boards can completely replace timber in terms of strength. A version of such a wooden swing is shown in the photo.

The ties are placed between the support boards. Fastenings for suspensions can be fixed both in the top crossbar and on the side in the form of pins or eye nuts.

Hanging rocking chair

A DIY rocking chair can have a more original, modern design; for this you will need appropriate drawings, as well as materials, because this type of furniture is made of wood.

Sequencing:

• Two massive curved legs are made from plywood of sufficient thickness (usually 15 mm).
• They are connected to each other by two transverse elements with self-tapping screws and the entire fastening is completed with glue.
• After this, two identical arc elements of large radius of curvature are made. They will support the chair on a chain, which will hang freely downwards.
• Next, the elements are fixed to the legs, and at the top point they are assembled together and a chain is fixed between them. This is all done using eyebolts or fairly reliable studs. A cylindrical element of a stud or bolt is passed into a chain link and twisted on the opposite side of the elements.
• After which the hemispherical seat itself is made directly from stacked slats. Another massive arc is fixed to it below.
• It is its upper end that is suspended from the chain so that the seat hangs down freely.

Thanks to such descriptions, it is quite easy and quick to make rocking chairs of different styles at home. They will not only serve as interior decoration, but will also help you relax and enjoy their use.

Metal frame houses

General information about frame construction

Previously, metal frame construction was used only in industry - frames and trusses made of profile pipes or channels were used in the construction of workshops, warehouses, hangars and other similar buildings.

However, today the modernization of technology makes it possible to use a frame made of profile pipes for the construction of:

• Residential buildings (low-rise construction - up to three floors)
• Cottages
• Commercial buildings (shops, cafes, gas stations, office buildings)
• Public buildings

Also, metal frame technologies are widely used in the repair and reconstruction of buildings - adding floors, constructing attics and outbuildings.

Advantages of metal frame houses

Metal frame construction technology is used all over the world. This technology is most common in the USA, Japan, and Western Europe. In these countries, the share of residential buildings built using this technology ranges from 40 to 70%, and continues to grow.

The advantages of such houses are as follows:

Houses built using metal frame technology are distinguished by their low cost (compared to buildings built using traditional technology).

• The speed of construction of a frame house is also impressive
  . The use of a profile pipe as the main material for the frame can significantly reduce the construction time of a building.
• Frame technology for the construction of residential buildings does not provide for so-called “wet” processes
  (with the exception of laying the foundation). This makes it possible to install the frame at any time of the year and in almost any weather conditions.
• Another advantage of such houses is the absence of any shrinkage
  - both during construction and during operation of the house.

Well, we must not forget that the construction of a frame house in terms of labor costs is significantly lower than the construction of a house using traditional technology. This means that you will need the services of only a few assistants - and it is quite possible to cope with the work with one team during a month’s vacation. As practice shows, in such a period you can easily complete the main stages of construction - and all that remains for you is the interior decoration of your house.

Disadvantages of metal frame houses

Despite the impressive list of advantages, houses with a frame made of wood also have disadvantages:

The first, and most basic, is a rather complex design. Calculating the load on a profile pipe in a particular frame node is quite difficult, so in this case, most likely, you will have to turn to professionals for help so that they can calculate which one.

Choosing the cross-section and thickness of a pipe is somewhat easier - an online profile pipe calculator will help - however, the calculations are still more difficult than calculating the thickness of a wooden beam.

The next disadvantage is the relatively high cost of a metal frame compared to a wooden frame. Also, having chosen a profile pipe as the main material for the frame, you will be faced with a difficult choice: take a thicker pipe (for example, 100x100 mm with a wall thickness of 8 mm) and overpay. But get a safety margin, or save money and go with the 60x60 mm option.

Well, and finally - problems with thermal insulation. The metal frame is an excellent “cold bridge”. Consequently, it is necessary to insulate a house on a frame made of a profile pipe very efficiently (which means spending money on it).

Manufacturing of support skis

The easiest way to bend an arc under a rocking chair is to use a pipe bender. If such a device is not available, then you can use any groove that is durable. This could be a vice, nearby pillars or tree trunks. To impart curvature, the pipe must be inserted into the groove. To increase the leverage, you can insert a rod into the pipe and bend it to a certain radius.

When making runners, it is necessary to achieve maximum coincidence of curvature. Finished runners can optionally be equipped with wooden overlays. This will reduce noise and add aesthetics to the entire structure.

Afterword

This article discusses only two types of plywood chairs, which are the easiest to make for beginners. To make it yourself for the first time, you need to put in maximum effort, endurance and patience. With a little practice, you can move on to heavier models.

A DIY plywood chair is a stylish, original solution that is not inferior in quality to expensive store-bought counterparts!