Converting A Chair Into A Rocking Chair

Converting an ordinary chair into a rocking chair can be done in a few different ways, depending on what type of rocker you want to create. While conversion kits are available, designing your own conversion kit is a more personally rewarding way to go. This article will offer some suggestions and considerations to make converting a chair into a rocking chair both easier and safer.

Conversion Kits

There are many types of rocking chair conversion kits available. Some are simply a set of plans, and others come with everything you need to make the conversion. Such kits can be found in numerous places online, or at your local hardware store. Additionally, many craft and hobby shops offer some innovative ideas for rocking chair conversions, but these are more often geared towards modifying an existing rocker rather than creating a rocker from a regular chair.

Rocker Rails

Take a lesson from typical antique rocking chair designs. The rocker rails, or the bottom rails of the chair, should be approximately the same length as the total depth of the chair from the tip of the back to the front edge of the seat. If the back is built at a recline, the bottom rails need to be extended to account for the increased overall chair depth. The width of the rails is not a major concern, and some innovative designs use uncharacteristically wide or narrow rails to complement the design.

Simple Rocker Conversions

A simple porch rocking chair can be made by cutting two rails out of a piece of 2 x 6 or other material. These two rails are then shaped to match the curve of the rails. As a general guideline, the front and back ends of the rails should be approximately 1 1/2 to 2 inches above the floor when they are at full rest. This shallow curve is not written in stone, but makes a useful guide. If the curvature is too great, the chair will tip over easily, and if it is too shallow, the chair will not rock properly at all. The good news here is that some minor corrections can be made with a jigsaw after the chair has been converted.

Convertible Rockers

Another idea for a rocking chair conversion is to build a base that rocks as desired, complete with a solid, level flooring. Once this "sled" is built, place any chair on the stand. This type of rocker is not advised for children's use, as the chair may tip too easily to be considered kid safe. This can be corrected by building brackets that the legs of the chair fit into snugly, holding them place.

The Better Suggestion

Rather than trying to design your own conversion, it is probably safer and faster to purchase a conversion kit and install that. Using a kit saves you the trouble of calculating the curve of the rocker rails, and makes assembly of the pieces a relatively simple process. Unless you are moderately experienced with furniture construction, using a kit is a better suggestion for you to use.