How to Make an Upcycled Rocking Chair

Use an old chair, repurposed wood rockers and a fresh coat of paint to make a one-of-a-kind rocking chair.

Upcycled Rocking Chair

Make a stylish rocking chair using an old chair and a fresh coat of paint.

From: Danmade

By: Dan Faires

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Materials and Tools:

wooden chair
wood saw
3/4" hardwood dowel
paintbrush
clear satin polyurethane
primer
semi-gloss paint
painter's tape
orbital sander
220-grit sandpaper
(4) 1/4" washers
(4) 1/4" x 1-1/2" bolts
tape measure
drill
3/8" drill bit
3/4" spade bit
pencil
(2) repurposed wood rockers

Cut Dowel

Measure and mark the hardwood dowel at 1" with a pencil. Cut the dowel on the 1" mark using a hand saw. Repeat these steps to create a total of four 3/4" x 1" dowels.

Measure and mark 3/4” hardwood dowel at 1” with a pencil.

Measure and Mark Dowel

Measure and mark 3/4” hardwood dowel at 1” with a pencil.

Cut Dowel

Cut the dowel on the 1” mark using a hand saw.

Insert Dowels

Apply wood glue, and insert dowels to fill previous holes in reclaimed rockers. Using an orbital sander and 220-grit sandpaper, sand the dowels down flush with the wood rocker piece.

Lightly sand the rockers with 220-grit sandpaper.

Place Dowels in Hole

Apply wood glue, and insert dowels to fill previous holes in reclaimed rockers.

Sand Rockers

Lightly sand the rockers with 220-grit sandpaper.

Create a Countersink

Remove the feet from the chair legs. Lay the rocker and the chair sideways on a flat surface, and mark where the legs line up on the rocker with a pencil. Drill a centered hole using a 3/8” drill bit on each of the pencil marks. Flip the rockers over, and use a 3/4" spade bit to create a countersink that is approximately 1/2” deep.

Remove the feet from the four legs of the chair.

Lay the rocker and the chair sideways on a flat surface, and using a pencil mark where the legs line up on the rocker.

Drill a centered hole using a 3/8” drill bit on each of the pencil marks.

Flip the rockers over and use a 3/4” spade bit to create a countersink that is approximately 1/2” deep.

Remove Feet

Remove the feet from the four legs of the chair.

Mark Rocker

Lay the rocker and the chair sideways on a flat surface, and using a pencil mark where the legs line up on the rocker.

Drill Holes in Rocker

Drill a centered hole using a 3/8” drill bit on each of the pencil marks.

Create Countersink

Flip the rockers over and use a 3/4” spade bit to create a countersink that is approximately 1/2” deep.

Secure Legs

Insert a bolt with a washer attached into the countersink hole, and secure the legs to the rocker with a drill. Stand the rocker up, and ensure that everything works well before proceeding. Disassemble everything, separating the rockers from the legs and the seat from the legs. Note: The chair feet are threaded 1/4" bolts, so we used 1/4" bolts to secure the rockers to the legs.

Insert 1/4” x 1 1/2” bolts with a 1/4” washer on them into each hole.

Secure the legs to the rocker using 1/4” bolts.

Disassemble everything, separating the rockers from the legs and the wooden seat from the metal legs.

Insert Bolts

Insert 1/4” x 1 1/2” bolts with a 1/4” washer on them into each hole.

Attach Rockers

Secure the legs to the rocker using 1/4” bolts.

Disassemble Rockers

Disassemble everything, separating the rockers from the legs and the wooden seat from the metal legs.

Sand and Paint Wood

Tape a stripe down one side of the wooden seat with painter's tape. Lightly sand the rockers and wooden seat (avoiding the taped area) with 220-grit sandpaper. Apply primer, and allow ample time to dry. Apply a coat of paint, and allow ample time to dry. Slowly remove painter's tape, and apply clear polyurethane to all pieces to preserve and protect the finish. Allow to dry.