Child's Rocking Chair

Child Size Rocking Chair

This Child's Rocking Chair is made from a single board of 5/4"x6"x10' (actual size 1"x 5½"x10') pressure treated decking lumber.

(20) 1¾" Wood Screws

(36) ¾" x ⅜" Crown Staples

-Wood Glue

-#40 Sanding Wheel

-#120 Grit Sandpaper

-Wood Filler

-Paint or Stain and Brush

Please be sure to use proper personal protective equipment, eye and hearing protection, and mask for respiratory protection from breathing saw dust.

Carefully review plans.

Cut the 10' board into correct length pieces with circular saw or miter saw, carefully following the cut plan. If you don't follow the cut plan, you will not be able to get all the pieces from one 10' board.

Use a table saw to rip all pieces to 2¾" width, then set aside the armrests, rockers, and seat rails. Rip all remaining pieces again to a 1⅜ " width. Seat slats and back slats require ripping to 1⅜ " width and ½" thickness.

Use an old paint can as a guide, to mark cut line on armrests round ends for cutting. Cut with bandsaw or jigsaw the curved shapes of seat rails and armrests as shown in the plan. Use a grinder, with 40 grit sanding wheel, to refine final shapes of the armrests and seat rails.

Use three screws to bend a thin board or other flexible material into curve for rocker, mark cut line, then use bandsaw or jigsaw to cut bottom rocker shape. An alternate method is to use a piece of construction paper to make template for marking cut line.

Seat back, top and bottom rails, require a dado slot ½" wide and ½" depth to accept back slats. Use table saw to cut dados. If you don't have dado blade, make multiple cuts to create slot. Use one of the back slats as a gauge to set fence width on table saw.

Use miter saw or circular saw to cut 15 degree angle on one end of each of seat back side rails. The angle cut is across the 1⅜" width. Refer to cutting plan and photos to assist with this step.

Use a router with ½" round-over bit to round edges on all pieces, except the top edges of the seat rails.

Sand all pieces to prevent splitters using 120 grit paper.

Organize all the pieces

Drill ⅛" pilot and ⅜" counter sink holes in legs. Square the rocker and seat rails to legs, then use 1¾” wood screws to attach legs to seat rails and rocker bottom rails. Complete assemble for both sides.

Attach seat slats to sides assemblies, using #16 nail as a spacer to evenly space slats. Glue and fasten slats at each each with ¾" staple.

Insert back slats into dados on the top and bottom seat back rail. Use ⅛" even spacing between slats. Glue and fasten with ¾" staples.

Drill ⅛" pilot and ⅜" counter sink holes in back side rails. Use 1¾” wood screws to attach the back side rails to top and bottom back rails. The side rails should extend 1" above the top seat back rail.

Drill ⅛" pilot and ⅜" counter sink holes in the back legs. Use 1¾” wood screws on each side of back legs to attach the back assembly to seat assembly at 105 degree angle between the back and seat rails.

Drill ⅛" pilot holes and ⅜" counter sink holes in armrests. Place armrest on top of legs and secure to legs with1¾” wood screws and glue. Also screw armrest to back side rails.

Fill screw and staple holes with wood filler. After filler dries, sand and apply paint or stain.

Find a brave volunteer, with painted toes 😀 to test chair. Love you, Mal!