The legs of a rocking chair give it both its function and its graceful appearance.
A rhythmic rocking motion both relaxes and helps alleviate stress for many people. Rocking chairs are aesthetically pleasing as well as therapeutic. You can purchase a rocking chair from a number of furniture stores, second-hand outlets or flea markets. If you enjoy woodworking, however, you can make a rocking chair yourself. The legs of the rocking chair must be in a symmetrical relationship to ensure the chair sits and moves evenly on the floor. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Trace with a pencil the pattern of your rocking chair leg onto a piece of wood large enough to accommodate it. This gives you enough room to shape the leg to your specifications. The pattern helps you customize the leg to a particular style. Do this on a piece of scrap wood first to help prevent mistakes on your working piece. Use the same pattern on both legs, front and back, to ensure equal sizing.
2. Use a band saw to cut the design out of your source wood.
3. Line up the legs with the rockers you'll be sliding them into. Set the angle at which the leg goes into the rocker using a t-bevel sliding square, and saw the angle into the end of the legs as needed.
4. Drill holes into the legs where the other chair parts fit in, using a power drill. Clamp the legs to your work table while doing this to prevent movement that hampers the drilling process.
5. Sand the legs, using fine sandpaper, to smooth out any roughness in the texture and to round off any edges that need it. Use a thickness planer if necessary to reduce the leg's thickness while smoothing it out. Wipe away any sand or dust with a rag.
6. Apply a stain or varnish to the legs to give them both color and a durable finish.
Tags: rocking chair, into legs, legs rocking, legs rocking chair