Adirondack Rocking Chair

My Grandpa Chair plan has become my best seller in the last few years, and my Customers have asked many times for a rocking chair plan in my Adirondack style. Since the Grandpa Chair is more upright, it seemed better as a rocker, than the original low profile chair.

Most upper parts are the same, but the seat is now at 14 1/2" (36.83 cm) off the ground, typical of most rockers. This allows the average height person to rock with feet flat on the ground. I copied a rocker from an old large wicker rocking chair, and extended it by 3 inches. The long gentle curve allows for a slow, comfortable rocking motion, and it's still easy to get out. The rocker has 21" (53.4 cm) seat slats, 2" (5.1 cm) wider than the original chair. I have kept the height of the Grandpa Chair back, so that taller people can rest their head. The Rocker also has the curved back seat slat , to match the curve of the back slats. This eliminates the "butt-bite", of the original design, caused by the space left between the back slats and the last seat slat. The arms are still 7 1/2" (19cm) wide, and will hold a dinner plate or magazine, and comfortably rest your arms with coffee in hand.....as long as you don't rock of course ! The plans allow a few variations to the construction, dependent upon your tools and available wood. The rocker template also can be reduced 1/4" (.64 cm) in height to allow for the addition of a hardwood runner on the bottom, to alleviate wear on softer wood. The rockers taper in at the back, like most rocking chairs. This also centers the legs on the 3" wide rockers for a more balanced look.

Plans also include pictures and dimensions of the taper sled I use on my table saw, to cut the back slats and back support pieces. Dimensions - 34"W x 37"D x 45 1/2"H (86.4cmW x 94cmD x 115.5cmH)

Click on the PDF icon below, to see the complete instructions. You can purchasemailed full size patterns here,as well asdownloadable CAD files andDWG orDXF files for CNC routers in myEtsyshop.

"For those about to rock....we salute you"

Comments

[ginanddonic]

have you ever made a double rocker? i would love to build one with the same design as the single. i love single one i made.

[plansinwood]

Hey, thanks....yes, you could widen it easily, like I did the Family Bench from the Grandpa Chair. You would widen all horizontal parts to 48" and add structural cross members underneath attached to the front and rear legs. Widen the bottom and top back support parts and back seat slat to 48" from the middle...ie: keep the curves and cutouts the same at the ends, just stretch them to 48". Keep the left and right back slats the same, then add straight slats to fill the center section.
I would use 1" for the seat slats.

Phil

[peterakemann]

Can this be modified to make it sit higher for a tall person?

[PhilB132]

Yes, if you lengthen the front leg and the curve of the side panels. I have the Nana's Rocker on my site, that already has 3 heights marked on the leg pattern.

Phil

[Bchopper]

I'm submitting this question for a second time, I would like to get started on the project. For the Adirondack Rocking Chair, I purchased and received the paper templates, but I have no record of getting an email with a materials list. I see from comments online that I should have received one via email, but I can't find it in my inbox or junk mail folder. Can you pls resend? Thanks, Brad ([e-mail])

[crhart6470]

I am a novice and want to make the adirondack rocking chair. I have downloaded the plans, are the templates included? The first paragraph talks about cutting out the templates.

[plansinwood]

They are with the purchased plans.

[plansinwood]

Sorry, no....as indicated you can purchase mailed or digital patterns.

[moandmattross]

I was wondering where I might find a materials list so I know what lumber to buy? I'm straight for tools as screws and such, but I couldn't find anything noting lumber breakdown. Thanks, looking forward to building this!

[plansinwood]

Materials lists are on the purchased plans.

[plansinwood]

That's included in the rest of the emailed instructions after purchasing the patterns.

[Bchopper]

For the Adirondack Rocking Chair, I received the paper templates, but I have no record of getting an email with a materials list. I see from comments online that I should have received one, but I can't find it in my inbox or junk mail folder. Can you pls resend? Thanks, Brad ([e-mail])

[ericpm98]

Is there a parts list of the wood I need? Don't know if it's in the PDF or not but one of the previous comments says it isn't.

[plansinwood]

The parts list and full size patterns are included when you purchase the plans.

[MarkM243]

Where do I find out how much wood and size of wood I need. It's not on the pdf instructions or on the fold out olans

[plansinwood]

As indicated, you need to purchase the plans.

[Nuonaton]

Good design! I like to bend and laminate rockers though, They seem to last longer on stone floors that way.

[plansinwood]

Thanks. You will see that there are instructions to laminate a 1/4" layer of hardwood to the bottom of the rockers. Then you can replace it if it wears too much.

[plansinwood]

Thanks ! I added a strip of 1/4" hardwood to the rocker bottoms to alleviate that issue. My issue here at the cottage is rot....so I am thinking of adding a strip of PVC to the bottom of the rockers, arms or side panels of my chairs.

Phil

[charmrus]

Instructing us to buy. Kind of defeats the meaning of instructables.