How to Design a Chair Rocker

Set the 16-inch pizza pan in the center of one of the two 16-inch ½-inch thick plywood squares about 1 inch in from one of the edges. Then use the pencil to trace the curve of the pizza pan on the plywood square. This prepares the first of the side pieces of the rocker to be cut for the rocker curve.

Set the 16-inch pizza pan in the center of the second of the two 16-inch ½-inch thick plywood squares about 1 inch in from one of the edges. Then use the pencil to trace the curve of the pizza pan on the plywood square. This prepares the second of the side pieces of the rocker to be cut for the rocker curve.

Use the jigsaw to cut the rocker curves of the rocker from the two 16-inch squares along the guidelines that you have drawn in the previous two steps. This creates a curved side on the two squares that will serve as the two rocker curves of the rocker once it is assembled

Using the ruler, measure two points about 6 inches down from the edge opposite of the curved sides on each of the 16-inch squares, then mark these points with the pencil. Use the ruler and pencil to make a straight line along these points on each 16-inch square. These will be the guidelines for placing the rocker's seat.

Lay one of the 16-inch squares flat on the table with the guideline you drew in Step 4 facing up. Then lay a line of wood glue along the guideline on the 16-inch square. Now position one edge of the 14-inch square on the glue line you just laid. Apply pressure for about five minutes to allow the glue to quick set and hold the 14-inch square in place. Then flip the piece to where the opposite, unglued edge of the 14-inch square is lying on the table. Now insert the screwdriver bit into the drill and use the drill to drive the 1-inch screws into the glued edge of the ½-inch thick 14-inch square. Do this by driving the 1-inch screws through the side of the 16-inch rocker side that you glued to the 14-inch square on the same line where you glued the edge of the 14-inch square.

Lay the other of the 16-inch squares flat on the table with the guideline you drew in Step 4 facing up. Then lay a line of wood glue along the guideline on the 16-inch square. Now position the unglued edge of the 14-inch square on the glue line you just laid. Apply pressure for about five minutes to allow the glue to quick set and hold the 14-inch square in place. Then flip the piece to where the already-screwed side of the rocker is on the table, and the unscrewed side that you just glued is facing up. Use the drill to drive 1-inch screws into the freshly glued edge of the 14-inch square. Do this by driving the 1-inch screws through the side of the 16-inch rocker side that you just glued to the 14-inch square on the same line where you just glued the edge of the 14-inch square. This secures the rocker's seat to the rocker's sides.

Lay a line of wood glue along the back edge of the 14-inch square that is the rocker's seat. Then place one of the 14-inch edges of the 14-by-18-inch ½-inch thick plywood rectangle on the glue line that you just laid. Hold this in position for about five minutes to allow the wood glue to quick set. Flip the rocker upside down and use the drill to drive 1-inch screws through the back edge of the bottom face of the rocker's seat and into the bottom edge of the 14-by-18-inch rectangle. This fastens the rocker's back into place on the rocker. The rocker is complete at this point. It can now be used by a small child weighing less than 80 lbs.