Rocking Perch

This is a stool made from tri-wall cardboard. The bottom is curved to allow for some rocking. These stools are used in classrooms for students who need some sensory stimulation. For students who need additional stimulation, we use the Tippy Stool, instead.

The dimensions I provide in this Instructable are what I use in my class. They should be modified for the person who will be using the stool.

I learned cardboard carpentry at the Adaptive Design Association.

Tools

1. T-Square
2. Cardboard Knife
3. Awl
4. Mallet
5. Foam Brush
6. Box Cutter
7. Jigsaw

Materials

1. Tri-Wall Cardboard
2. Single-Wall Cardboard
3. White glue
4. Nails
5. Glue tape
6. Water
7. Primer
8. Paint
9. Polyurethane

Skills

1. Cutting cardboard with a knife
2. Punching holes with an awl
3. Joining with white glue
4. Inserting nails
5. Edging
6. Bending cardboard
7. Cutting curves
8. Reinforcing with thin cardboard

Using white glue, join pieces to create two side pieces

Clamp the pieces together to dry

1. Measure and cut the first side piece. I like to use something round like a mug or a plate to mark out the curves on the bottom before making my cuts.

2. Use the first side piece as a template for the second side piece

You can make the perch more or less stable by adjusting how rounded you make the bottom.

Use side pieces to measure out main piece. Leave excess for bends.

1. Mark out where you want to make your first bend

2. Make that bend, hold the cardboard pieces in position and mark out where you want your second bend

3. Make the second bend and check the fit

A note on bending cardboard: You lose some length when you bend cardboard, because some of the cardboard gets crushed and compressed. In the pictures above, I drew lines for both edges of the top piece. Then I made one of the bends and re-drew the line for the second bend. As you can see from the picture, the new bend location was about .75 inches away from the original bend line.

Punch holes for the nails before you start gluing!

Use hot glue to attach side pieces to main piece

1. Glue the side pieces to the top and let it dry

2. Insert nails in the top (2 on each side)

3. Glue the side pieces to the front and let it dry

4. Insert nails in the front (2 on each side)

5. Glue the side pieces to the back and let it dry

6. Insert nails in the back (2 on each side)

1. Use side pieces to measure out two pieces of single-wall cardboard

2. Glue single-wall cardboard to side pieces using white glue

3. Use masking tape to keep the single-wall pieces in place until the glue dries.

1. Measure bottom piece

2. Glue the bottom piece to the main piece in between the support pieces

3. Insert nails in the front and back (1 on each side)

You need to seal off the edges to help keep water out. I use gummed packing tape. You can look at this video from the Adaptive Design AssociationYouTube channel

o finish the footrest, you need to apply primer, paint and polyurethane. I use water-based products to make clean-up easier.

You can look at these videos from the Adaptive Design AssociationYouTube channel