The chair is a convenient and popular piece of furniture used in the home and in the work environment, and for rest, such as a rocking chair. Its features and the ability to make such furniture with their own hands will be discussed today in the article.
Types of chairs
The main varieties of this comfortable furniture are:
- homemade - intended for recreation (reading, afternoon rest), in addition, serve as a stylish addition to the interior;
- villa-garden - serve as furniture for socializing and relaxing after a hard week, working in the garden;
- office chair - help to relax in the small breaks between the work of staff and senior staff.
If you have a dacha and you like to create, learn how to make beautiful garden swings, brazier made of stone, swans from tires, build a pool, make sculptures, build and equip a bathhouse, waterfall, fountain, gabions, gazebo and rockeries.By type of construction, the rocking chair can be divided as follows:
- with radius runners - the very first kind created by mankind has a large swinging amplitude and can roll over;
- with runners of variable curvature - are steady, do not overturn;
- elliptical runners - often equipped with a step, springs, bump stops, have a soft "stroke";
- tumbler dog - the easiest option, often used in summer cottages, runners at the same time are the seat;
- glider - A modern design that is swinging with the help of a pendulum mechanism.
In general, such furniture is very conducive to sleep: if you are tortured by insomnia, then a few minutes of rocking with a cup of warm milk or herbal tea will correct the situation. Swaying in the same rhythm has a positive effect on the parasympathetic nervous system, and the shape of the curved backs relaxes the spine, relieving tension from it, a favorable effect on the autonomic system of the body.
Why chair swings
The center of gravity of such furniture is shifted from the seat to the angle between the seat and the back. The legs are two strips in the form of an arc, which allow you to swing without much effort from the person sitting. The amplitude of the swing depends on the length of the legs-skids: the longer, the stronger the angle of inclination of the chair, up to the position of "half-lying." Short runners give a small swing for measuring, power swinging.
Did you know? The first man-made armchairs were throne furniture for supreme rulers. This furniture was made of expensive material, could be inlaid with precious stones, gold, ivory. According to archaeologists, the back of the throne of Tutankhamen almost completely buried in a gold finish.
Materials that are suitable for building a rocking chair
The list of materials - basic and for individual pieces of furniture:
- tree - quality wood has a reasonable price, but the furniture always turns out to be stylish, durable and cozy. Processing the same raw materials requires minimal knowledge of joinery, in addition, you need to choose the right materials for final processing, which will protect the tree from external influence;
- plywood - for an amateur it is the most convenient material, it is easy to process it, the main thing is to think over reliable fixation of parts. The minus of the material is that it is not suitable for the street;
- vine or rattan - A great option for furniture, but weaving needs to learn, and the material is hard to get, you also need to know the processing rules;
- metal - working with it requires both skills and special tools, but with proper processing it is a strong and durable material, which is not afraid of weather conditions;
- shaped tubes more suitable for the manufacture of parts than the whole structure, they are strong and durable, but require skill;
- plastic pipes - also a good option in the absence of special skills. Cheap, easy, easy-to-use material, not afraid of weather tests.
Did you know? On the origin and authorship of the invention rocking chairs still goes a lot of controversy. The fact of introducing the new phrase "rocking chair" into English Dictionary in 1787, literally - "swinging chair", is undeniable.
Definition with chair type
Wicker furniture looks stylish, beautiful, it is comfortable and light, but not all models fit into the urban interior. This option is ideal for giving. The chair can be placed on the veranda or terrace, it is easy to move into the house (for example, for the winter), the ensembles with tables and small footstools look especially good.
Another great country option - metal products, where the frame is metal, and the seat and back are made of wood.
Important! In apartment conditions, metal runners can cause significant damage to the floor finish.A good option is a folding-type rocking chair made of wood, which can be easily removed from the street to the house. Separate attention is deserved by model of sofa type with a wide transverse part. Just a godsend for giving - an option with a shed: the product can be positioned in the garden and rest easy in its shadow.
Light model of plywood such as "roly-poly" can be located not only on the terrace, but also in the garden.
We advise each owner of a private house or suburban area to read how to make a wooden barrel, stepladder of wood with their own hands, build a cellar in the garage, a tandoor and a Dutch oven.Plastic products do not necessarily have a cheap look - these can be stylish items with an interesting design. Plus products in price, strength (not afraid of any pests or weather conditions), light weight. Also, the products are quite suitable for modern apartment interiors.
Models for an apartment or house should first of all fit into the overall look of the interior, be easy to move, and if possible do not take up much space if the room is small. The model of bent plywood will be ideal in all respects: the product is not expensive, compact, it can be decorated with covers and pillows of any material, the plywood can be painted in any desired color.
Light wooden models will also be perfectly combined with any type of furniture, a strip of PVC is usually attached to the runners of such products in order to protect the parquet or other covering from dents or scratches. There are many models that have additional equipment: a pouf or footstool.
A great option for a house or apartment is a glider: having no skis, but only a pendulum mechanism, the model will not cause damage to the flooring.
Installing the roof on a new building is an important step that requires proper coordination of actions. Learn how to self-cover the roof with a metal tile, ondulin, to make a mansard and a gable roof.A low chair with short legs and soft pillows is suitable for the nursery and will become a favorite resting place for the child. By the way, there are electronic products for sale for the little ones - a good help for mom when she goes to bed.
Luxurious openwork weaving from a rod or rattan, depending on the type of model, can favorably emphasize the design in different styles - "Provence", ethnic, classical, Victorian. These are durable and lightweight products, and they are also natural, which is important for use.
To decorate your home, familiarize yourself with removing old paint from the walls, glueing different types of wallpaper, insulate window frames for the winter, install a light switch, a power outlet and install a flowing water heater.
An example of the construction of a simple rocking chair
The simplest model is on two sides with crossbars. The sides will be made in the shape of a boomerang, 14 crossbars are attached to them with a distance of 4 centimeters between them, the supports will be supported from a bar.
The main material is 1.5 cm thick plywood, except for it you will need:
- self-tapping screws;
- jigsaw;
- drill or screwdriver;
- simple pencil;
- roulette;
- cardboard for patterns;
- sandpaper;
- carpenter's glue.
The sequence of actions is as follows:
- On a sheet of plywood using a piece to draw the sidewall according to the drawing.
- Cut with an electric jigsaw.
- Both parts are thoroughly sanding with sandpaper.
- Cut cross-pieces - 59 cm long, 6 cm wide, 14 pieces.
- Saw out of the beam supports 5 cm long, 6 cm wide, in the amount of 14 pieces.
- Sand the parts.
- Using wood glue to attach the cross member, first to one sidewall, then to another.
- At the rear of the structure, glue a support behind each crossbar.
- Support in addition to fix the screw.
- Also secure the crossmember with the support.
Paint the finished model with any composition to choose from (wood stain, paint). The back side of the frame can be upholstered with leatherette, and on the seat and back to sew a mattress of the same material. Options and models of upholstery can be different, depending on your preferences and furniture purpose.
If you like to do everything yourself, read how to properly sheathe the door, make a plasterboard partition with a doorway, install blinds on plastic windows and warm the window frames for the winter.
An example of making this rocking chair
Without knowledge of wood processing, however, it is possible to make a simple product with parts that do not have curved lines, with the exception of skis.
For work you will need:
- 3000/200/40 mm wood board for skis; 3000/100/20 mm board for basic construction;
- paper graph paper;
- pencil;
- roulette;
- jigsaw with wood saws;
- screwdriver;
- confirmantts;
- grinder.
- According to the drawing, the patterns are made of thick cardboard.
- Cut out blanks according to the patterns: back, seat, 2 rear and 2 front legs, 2 slats holding the seat, 2 armrests, skis, strap connecting them in front.
- All parts are carefully polished, treated with primer and paint.
- Then, referring to the drawing, they drill holes for confirmats.
- The final stage - the assembly.
- Now you can sew a soft cover or a few pillows, and the rocking chair is ready.
Alteration of an ordinary chair in a rocking chair
Surely in every household there is an old chair that has nowhere to put. He can be given new life by remaking him in a rocking chair. At the same time, if the chair is upholstered, you can change it to a fabric with a more modern pattern.
Important! The chair needs to be prepared, namely to slightly cut the rear legs, thereby displacing the center of gravity. You need to file, having ready-made runners to avoid mistakes.
For work you will need:
- chair;
- jigsaw with a saw on wood;
- 4 cm thick runner board;
- sandpaper or grinder;
- cardboard for patterns;
- pencil;
- ruler;
- screwdriver;
- the bolts.
Further sequence of actions:
- When calculating the size of the arcs, it should be noted that their length should be 30 cm longer than the distance between the legs of the chair. Cut the arc.
- Try on the runners on the legs of the chair, drill holes in the places of future fixings.
- Attach the runners to the legs with bolts.
- Once again they are sanded to smooth out all the irregularities, and paint the product in one color.