The Shaker Rocking Chair Plan – Complete Wooden Rocking Chair Guide

Are you looking for comprehensive wooden rocking chair plans to elevate your woodworking skills? You have arrived at the perfect place. Countless woodworkers ask me how to build a rocking chair that balances timeless elegance with unyielding durability. The answer lies in the iconic Shaker style rocking chair. This page offers free rocking chair plans to guide you through building a sturdy, comfortable masterpiece equipped with a beautiful woven tape seat. The finished piece measures approximately 28 inches deep, 22 inches wide, and 43 inches tall. Because it introduces advanced techniques, such as spindle turning and steam-bending, these DIY rocking chair plans are ideal for intermediate to advanced woodworkers. We will cover everything from milling the wood to the traditional art of assembling a shaker rocker plan. Let's build a chair that will be cherished for generations.

The Shaker Style Rocking Chair: History and Design

Before you begin building, it's incredibly helpful to understand the philosophy behind the Shaker style rocking chair. 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 an object should strictly follow its function.

Historical rocking chair woodworking plans reveal that the Shakers eliminated all superfluous decorations such as inlays, carvings, and heavy moldings. Instead, they used high-quality materials and precise joinery to create pieces that were both beautiful and functional. When you follow these shaker rocker plans, you are not just building a piece of furniture, you are continuing a tradition of craftsmanship that has influenced generations of modern woodworkers.

Materials and Supplies List

For these wooden rocking chair plans, you will need approximately 20 board feet of hardwood. Cherry, maple, and walnut are excellent, period-accurate choices.

• 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.

Essential Tools and Equipment

Learning how to build a rocking chair properly requires a well-equipped workshop. Here are the essential 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 wood.
• 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.
• Band Clamps: For assembly of the chair frame.

How to Build a Rocking Chair: Step-by-Step Shaker Rocker Plans

Executing these DIY rocking chair plans 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.
• Front Posts: 20 inches long with a "ginger-jar" profile for the front arm posts.
• Seat Rails & Stretchers: Front (21 inches), side (16 inches), and back (16 inches).

Step 2: Steam Bending Wood for the Posts and Slat

Steam bending wood is a critical technique for this project. The back posts, back slat, and back rails are heated in a steam box to become flexible, then clamped to custom bending forms.

• Steam Time: Back posts need about one hour at 200°F.
• 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. Work rapidly but safely.

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. Drill adjacent mortises at precise angles, 80° for front posts and 100° for back posts. Some adjacent holes will intentionally intersect to strengthen the glue joints.

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. Disassemble, apply wood glue to all mortise and tenon joints, and carefully reassemble. Measure diagonally to ensure the corners are perfectly square. Let the glue cure for 24 hours.

Step 5: Shaker Tape Seat Weaving

Mastering Shaker tape seat weaving adds the final authentic touch. Start by weaving the warp (front to back) using high-quality cotton Shaker tape, then seamlessly transition into weaving the weft (side to side). The traditional over-and-under weave is both remarkably comfortable and highly durable.

Step 6: Sand and Finish

Sand the entire chair from 120 up to 320 grit. Apply Danish oil, Minwax Antique Oil, or clear shellac according to the manufacturer's instructions for a beautiful, natural sheen.

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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