Step-by-step manufacturing of a simple pendulum chair made of wood or metal

It is always difficult to choose gifts for the elderly, because many of them are conservatives and are wary of the new-fangled achievements of scientific and technological progress. A win-win case in this case will be a pendulum chair - the original product can be purchased at the factory or manufactured independently at home, using inexpensive materials at hand. Furniture, made by yourself, will be a very valuable gift, filled with home comfort and warmth. In addition, with a responsible approach to the task, it can look no worse than the factory one, and it can serve its owners much longer.

Features and Benefits

A rocking chair with a pendulum mechanism is furniture with a built-in function of uniform movement (rocking) back and forth. The movable seat is connected to a stable base with bearings to ensure lightness, smoothness. This product is very convenient for small rooms. The swinging angle depends on the size of the chair, the length of the elements that make up the frame, as well as on what fasteners were used in the production. The main advantages of this type of furniture:

• security;
• practicality;
• noiselessness;
• ergonomics.

The base of the pendulum mechanism consists of several bearings. They rock the seat, that is, direct its movement. In this case, the main part of the chair remains in a static position. This type of furniture is very loved by children and elderly people, and young mothers use it to rock a newborn baby.

Execution options

For the production of pendulum chairs, different materials can be used. Each of them has its pros and cons. These features should be considered when choosing.

Most expensive is furniture made of metal and wood. Also, garden rocking chairs are often made of multi-colored plastic. Such chairs look spectacular, but quickly break down, especially with daily use. Meanwhile, they are very convenient for children, because they are easy to use and light in weight.

Rockers made of coniferous wood are popular, they weigh little and have a low density, so it is convenient to move them around the room. Birch and oak are highly durable, but they are quite heavy.

Products made of galvanized metal - ideal for summer cottages. However, despite the presence of anti-corrosion coating, for the winter, the rocking chair should still be cleaned indoors.

How to do it yourself

To make a pendulum rocking chair with your own hands, you will need a drawing, carpentry tools and improvised materials. Working with wood at home is a bit easier than working with metal. If the decision is made to make a rocking chair out of iron, the finished furniture needs to be treated with an anti-corrosion coating.

From wood

At the preparatory stage, you should determine the type of furniture. The easiest way to make a rocking chair, in shape and design resembling a small copy of a garden bench, with a seat and backrest made of slats. This model is lightweight and easy to use. There is another kind of chair - with a monolithic base, but such a product will be more heavy.

Next, you need to prepare materials and tools. For work you will need:

• hacksaw;
• plane;
• hammer;
• screwdriver;
• Sander.

From materials suitable plywood (wood), timber and slats. Do-it-yourself drawings are done on small cell paper. An ordinary chair is taken as the basis, only in the lower part the runners join it. During operation, the recommended algorithm of actions should be strictly observed.

The pendulum mechanism consists of two bars connected by hinges. Components are seated on glue or inserted into special grooves. The seat is made on the basis of a frame repeating the shape of the back of the bars fastened by transverse rails. To assemble the pendulum of the rocking chair and support, hinges fixed on a fixed base are attached to the legs - the swing angle depends on the length of these elements.

Step-by-step instructions for manufacturing and assembly:

After that, the finished furniture is polished. Additionally, wooden parts can be primed. The final stage of finishing is varnishing.

To reduce the cost of work, instead of a tree, you can use chipboard. However, furniture made of this material does not look so impressive and has a shorter service life.

From metal

The swinging mechanism of the rocking chair made of metal profile is an ideal solution for a summer residence. As materials, iron rods or steel reinforcement, cut to the desired size, are suitable. Of the tools you will need:

• bar bending tool (device for extension of reinforcement segments);
• apparatus for welding;
• clamps;
• a circular saw;
• electric drill.

For measurements, it is recommended to use a tape measure and a metal (wooden) square. You should also prepare several drills for working on metal, they must be of different calibers.Experts also recommend purchasing quality paint and varnish materials for furniture decoration in advance.

If the chair is made for summer residence, it can be additionally galvanized.

Work algorithm:

After this, a bed of wooden bars is formed. You can also pull a cotton sling on a metal base or assemble an iron rocking chair from individual parts made using the art of forging.

If the chair is heavily tilted forward, transverse rails that perform a decorative function can be fixed behind the back. They will play the role of a counterweight, allowing you to maintain the stability of the structure. The bars may be metal or wood. If the pendulum leans back strongly, they are mounted in front.

Making a pendulum chair is easy. The most important stage of work on self-production is the search and selection of the drawing. The outline should be simple and accessible, with detailed text comments. The right choice of material is also of great importance. If you do everything according to the instructions, the finished rocking chair will please you for many years, it will become a real decoration of the interior in an apartment or country house.