How to make a Teak Rocker or Teak Rocking Chair on your own

A rocking chair is a kind furniture which you can put in your patio or any part of your house and relax while you sit and move gently with the chair. Out of all the materials used to build a rocker, teak wood is definitely the best. The sturdiness and high durability, adding to its classic style, is a guarantee that your rocking chair can last for ages. It turns out that you don’t have to be a retailer to build a teak rocker. All you need is several materials, some spare time and some extra work and you can save much money by building your own teak rocking chair. Here are the steps of building a teak rocking chair :

Tools and Materials Needed :

1. Two 1 5/8 x 2 ¼ x 22 ½ inches teak wood as front posts
2. Two 1 5/8 x 11 x 40 inches teak wood as back posts
3. One ¾ x 3 ½ x 22 inches teak wood
4. Two ¾ x 3 ½ x 20 inches teak wood
5. Two ¾ x 3 ½ x 20 inches teak wood as side horizontals
6. Two 5/16 x 3 ½ x 20 inches teak wood as back slats
7. Two 1 x 4 ½ x 25 inches teak wood as arms
8. One 2 ¼ x 6 x 33 inches teak wood as rocker
9. Five ¾ x 2 ½ x 19 ½ inches teak wood as bottom slats
10. Dowels
11. Wood glue or clamps
12. Bevel
13. Sandpaper
14. Hack saw or band saw
15. Wood shaper
16. Paint brush
17. Wood varnish or paint
18. Measuring instrument

Here are the steps of making the chair :

Step 1 – Get your Rocking Chair Plan
First you have to plan a style of rocking chair to build. FOr this part, you can download your rocking chair plan for free from the Internet or you can make one of your own. This way, you will be able to assess the sizes of the wood you will be using.This is the most important part since this will be the blueprint of your rocking chair.

Step 2 – Cut the Wood according to plan
In this step, you have to cut the teak wood according to the sizes indicated in your rocking chair plan. To make it easier, usually the home depot provides a service where you thay can cut the teak wood for you in sizes you desire for a price. If you wanna save energy and time you can choose that alternative, but if not, you can cut it yourself or by hiring someone to do it for you.

Step 3 – Assemble the Posts

Square one end of each of the front posts. Remember that they should have the same length.The back posts, on the other hand, should be thicker. Grind a flat surface on the top and bottom corners of the posts. Consider making beveled edges.

Step 4 – Fasten the Other Wood Parts
Attach the different wood parts according to the plan that you have. You might want to consider using clamps in this regard. Use dowels and wood glue to fasten the wooden arms to the posts. For the back part of the rocking chair, you might need to bed wood according to the size required. Just remember that every surface curve must at least have a 22 inches radius.

Step 5 – Cut Mortises and Tenons
Check out for any mortises and tenons in the posts and rails. You should also see if the front width of the chair is bigger than its back width. There should at least be a two-inch disparity. Cut and lay off the tenons using a bevel.

Step 6 – Assemble the Bottom Slats, Side Rails and Other Parts
Fasten the bottom slats to the front and back rails of your rocking chair. If it is needed, create a ¾ inch groove to make them fit. Check the back and front parts for anything that needs extra fastening. If you choose to use wood glue, make sure they are completely dried before you assemble the side rails and arms.

Step 7 – Sand and Paint the Rocking Chair
Sand all parts of the rocking chair to take away rough surfaces. Apply paint, teak oil or varnish as desired.

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