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How to Make a Bent Oak Rocking Chair

White oak and chestnut oak are two of the best hardwood species for bending quality, according to Woodweb.com, an information site for the woodworking industry. Woodworkers typically consider this wood for a rocking chair project because its elastic quality lets you stretch it slightly, and the wood can bend and permanently reshape without breaking, like soft wax. By steaming the wood, you can bend and shape the rocker, the design of the curves for style, and the backrest.

Things You'll Need

Jigsaw
Drill
Sander
Belt sander
Oak wood:
2 back legs, 3/4 by 5 1/2 by 30 inches
2 front legs, 3/4 by 3 1/2 by 21 inches
2 arm rests, 3/4 by 5 1/2 by 25 inches
1 lower front support, 3/4 by 1 1/2 by 44 inches
1 top front support, 3/4 by 5 1/2 by 45 1/2 inches
11 seat slats, 3/4 by 1 1/2 by 44 inches
1 back support, 3/4 by 3 1/2 by 44 inches
5 back slats, 3/4 by 3 1/2 by 26 inches
1 middle seat support, 3/4 by 5 1/2 by 16 inches
2 rockers, 3/4 by 3 1/2 by 34 inches

Instructions

- 1
  Designate one end of each of the two front legs as the top. Measure 6 1/2 inches from the bottom of each front edge and cut a notch to 12 inches wide and 3/4 inch deep to slot in the top front support.
- 2
  Glue and screw the top front support into the two square front leg notches.
- 3
  Level the front support to the bottom of the two legs to a height of 0 inches to 1 1/2 inches. Attach each leg into the end of the lower front support and fasten the support into place with a screw at each end.
- 4
  Design the shape of the back legs to your preference. Connect the back support to the back legs 17 inches from the front of the chair. Use the two back legs as a guide to cut out the middle seat support.
- 5
  Glue and screw the supports and attach them to the inside of the front legs. Pre-drill each end of the seat slats. Screw and glue the slats onto the back legs. Work from the front of the chair backward to cover the 17-inch seating area. Leave as little gap as possible between each slat. Attaching the seat slats will force the back legs to angle correctly.
- 6
  Construct the bottom back support. Cut a notch 3/4 inch deep and 2 inches high out of each end of the 3 1/2-by-44-inch piece of wood. Screw and glue the five back slats onto this back support. Allow the glue to dry.
- 7
  Cut the back using a jigsaw into a double curve with the highest point of the curve at 26 inches and the lowest part at 18 inches at each side. Or, steam and bend the wood for the desired curve. Cut the armrests. Attach a small block of wood to the underside of each armrest at the back. Screw the armrests into the top of the front legs allowing 1 inch beyond the front legs.
- 8
  Put a screw through each back leg into the notched part of the back support to attach the backrest. Put a screw through the wood under the armrest into the upper back support.
- 9
  Attach the middle seat support. Cut the back end of the seat support to an angle matching that of the backrest. Screw and glue the seat support into place halfway along the seating area. Attach the support using two screws running through the top front support and two screws through the bottom back support. Attach the middle seat support to the seat slats. Use screws to help distribute the seating pressure evenly.
- 10
  Build the two rockers. Cut each piece of 3 1/2-by-34-by-3/4-inch wood. Sand them into a smooth shape. Steam the wood and push on the ends slowly. Attach the rocker to the chair from the underneath of the rocker into the chair leg.

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