The Shaker Rocking Chair Plan – Complete Build Guide

Looking for a complete Shaker rocking chair plan? You've come to the right place. The Shaker rocking chair is one of the most recognized and beloved furniture designs in American history. This plan will guide you through building a sturdy, comfortable Shaker rocker with a woven tape seat. The finished chair measures approximately 28 inches deep, 22 inches wide, and 43 inches tall. This is an advanced-level project that introduces you to spindle turning, steam-bending, and important hand-tool techniques. The design draws inspiration from classic Shaker furniture—known for its simple, functional lines and honest craftsmanship. In this Shaker rocking chair plan, we will cover everything from milling the wood and turning the parts to steam bending the back posts and weaving the seat. Let's build a chair that will be cherished for generations.

Understanding Shaker Furniture Style and History

Before you begin building, it's helpful to understand the philosophy behind the Shaker furniture style. The Shakers were a religious community that flourished in America from the late 18th century through the mid-19th century. Their furniture reflected their core beliefs: simplicity, utility, and honesty. They believed that "to make a thing well was in itself an act of prayer" and that the appearance of a thing should follow its function.

Shaker furniture history reveals that the Shakers eliminated all superfluous decorations such as inlays, carvings, and moldings. Instead, they used high-quality materials and precise joinery to create pieces that were both beautiful and functional. The Shaker rocking chair is one of their most iconic designs, combining clean lines, graceful curves, and exceptional comfort.

Today, Shaker furniture has had a lasting influence on modern design, inspiring designers from the Bauhaus movement to mid-century modern furniture makers. When you build this Shaker rocking chair plan, you are not just building a piece of furniture—you are continuing a tradition of craftsmanship that has influenced generations of woodworkers.

Materials and Supplies List

For this solid wood chair plan, you will need approximately 20 board feet of hardwood. Cherry, maple, and walnut are excellent choices that were commonly used by the Shakers.

• Hardwood (Cherry, Maple, or Walnut): Approximately 20 board feet of 4/4 and 8/4 stock for posts, rails, stretchers, spindles, rockers, and arms.
• Shaker Tape: Approximately 50 yards for weaving the seat and back.
• Wood Glue: Titebond III or similar waterproof wood glue.
• Finish: Danish oil, Minwax Antique Oil, or varnish.
• Sandpaper: 120, 220, and 320 grit.
• Optional Lining: Felt or leather for the rocker bottoms.

Essential Tools and Equipment

Building a Shaker rocking chair requires a well-equipped workshop. Here are the essential tools and machines:

• Lathe: With a bed extension to accommodate 43-inch-long turning between centers.
• Steam Box: Shopmade or purchased, with a propane burner and a 4-inch diameter pipe for steam bending.
• Bending Forms: Made from plywood or MDF to shape the back posts, back slat, and back rails.
• Drill Press: With a mortising attachment or a dedicated benchtop mortiser.
• Chisel Set: 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch, and 3/4-inch bench chisels for hand-cutting mortises.
• Marking Gauge and Combination Square: For precise layout.
• Spindle Turning Tools: Roughing gouge, spindle gouge, skew chisel, and parting tool.
• Band Clamps: For assembly of the chair frame.
• Coping Saw or Bandsaw: For cutting curves and waste removal.
• Random Orbital Sander: For final sanding.

Step-by-Step Build Instructions

This Shaker rocking chair plan involves several distinct phases: turning, steam bending, mortising, assembly, and weaving.

Step 1: Mill and Turn the Chair Parts

Begin by milling all the stock for the rails, stretchers, posts, and spindles to length, slightly oversized in thickness. You will turn these parts on the lathe. Here are the key parts to turn:

• Back Posts: 43 inches long, requiring a steady rest to prevent chattering when turning the center region.
• Front Posts: 20 inches long with a "ginger-jar" profile for the front arm posts.
• Spindles: Several turned spindles for the backrest.
• Seat Rails: Front (21 inches), side (16 inches), and back (16 inches) rails.
• Stretchers: Front (21 inches), side (16 inches), and back (16 inches) stretchers.
• Rockers: 1/2 inch thick, book-matched from figured maple.

Pro Tip: Use an open-ended wrench to size your tenons precisely. Turn the tenons until the wrench slides over them—this ensures a perfect fit for the round mortises.

Step 2: Steam Bend the Back Posts, Slat, and Rails

Steam bending is a critical technique for this Shaker rocking chair plan. The back posts, back slat, and back rails are heated in a steam box to become flexible, then clamped to bending forms.

• Steam Time: Back posts need about one hour at 200°F; the back slat and rails need 15-20 minutes.
• Working Time: You have approximately 30-60 seconds to move the part from the steam box to the bending form and clamp it in place.
• Safety: Always wear heavy gloves and eye protection when handling steamed parts.

Build a shopmade steam box using a propane burner, a 5-gallon gas tank for boiling water, and a 4-inch Schedule-80 drainpipe for the steam chamber.

Step 3: Drill Mortises Using Shopmade Jigs

The mortise and tenon joinery in this chair requires precision. Use two shopmade jigs to hold the posts steady on the drill press.

• Story Sticks: Create four story sticks to locate the center points of the seat rail and stretcher mortises.
• Drill Angles: Drill adjacent mortises at precise angles—80° for front posts and 100° for back posts.
• Intersecting Mortises: Some adjacent holes will intersect, which is intentional. The intersecting holes strengthen the glue joints when the chair is assembled.
• Hand-Cut Mortises: Mortises for the curved back slat are best done by hand using a handheld drill and chisels.

For more details on woodworking joinery techniques, see the mortise and tenon guide.

Step 4: Dry Fit, Assemble, and Glue

Dry-fit the entire chair using band clamps to hold the parts in place. Check that all joints fit snugly. Then disassemble, apply wood glue to all mortise and tenon joints, and reassemble. Clamp the chair squarely—measure diagonally to ensure the corners are square. Let the glue cure for 24 hours.

Step 5: Weave the Seat and Back with Shaker Tape

Weave the seat using Shaker tape. Start by weaving the warp (front to back), then the weft (side to side). Weave the back in a similar pattern. The Shakers used a simple over-and-under weave that is both functional and attractive.

Step 6: Sand and Finish

Sand the entire chair from 120 to 320 grit. The Shakers generally finished their chairs with varnish. Danish oil, Minwax Antique Oil, or clear shellac are also excellent choices. Apply the finish according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Tips for Perfect Mortise and Tenon Joints

Mortise and tenon joinery is the backbone of this Shaker rocking chair plan. Here are some expert tips:

• Cut the mortise first: Then size the tenon to fit snugly. It's easier to adjust the tenon than the mortise.
• Mortise width: Should be 1/3 the thickness of the workpiece.
• Mortise depth: Approximately 1/2 to 2/3 the width of the workpiece.
• Avoid mortising near the end: Keep mortises at least 3/8 inch from the end of a workpiece to prevent splitting.
• Chamfer the tenon: A small chamfer on the end of the tenon helps it slide into the mortise easily during assembly.

Frequently Asked Questions

About the Author

Mahasa — Master Woodworking Educator Since 2004

Mahasa has been teaching woodworking for over 20+ years and has helped 2,800+ students worldwide build beautiful furniture with confidence. His expertise spans furniture design, joinery, turning, steam bending, and wood finishing. He created the 23+ Essential Woodworking Plans PDF Bundle to make woodworking accessible to beginners and students everywhere.

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