Wood is a favorite material among furniture makers.
After all, each piece of furniture made from natural solid wood is unique and inimitable in its own way. You don’t have to be a professional furniture maker to make a beautiful and practical chair for your home. The main thing is to choose the right materials and tools, show your imagination and stock up on free time and patience. By deciding to make chairs for your home from wood, you will fill the interior with a special atmosphere of warmth and comfort. This material combines harmoniously with glass, stone, textiles and even metal .
Current wood species
Wood is easy to machine. In particular, we are talking about sawing, drilling, planing, etc. But before you make a chair with a wooden back with your own hands, you need to decide on the type of wood from which each lumber will be made. For furniture it is recommended to use:
- Pine;
- Larch;
- Cedar;
- Oak;
- Hornbeam;
- Cedar;
- Maple;
- Ash;
- Nut;
- Pear;
- Apple tree.
Moreover, it is not necessary to choose expensive and durable oak, hornbeam, and walnut. They are luxurious for making something as humble as a chair. In addition, in addition to them, there are coniferous species that are resistant to moisture and convey a wonderful aroma. If only this breed did not have a tree with many knots. Birch and poplar should also be avoided - the first one turns black over time, and the second one quickly rots and turns into dust.
Emphasis on quality lumber
It is convenient to assemble chairs from ready-made parts. But if the latter are not available, then they have to be made from lumber in the form of bars and boards. The corresponding workpieces can be called high-quality if they lack:
- Knots;
- spots;
- Dents and holes;
- Roughness.
If unevenness can be smoothed out and dents can be repaired, then with knots things are more complicated. The fact is that they contribute to a break in the structure of the array. Therefore, when choosing furniture, the target audience should take a closer look at the legs and the supporting frame as a whole. The same applies to the choice of lumber for making thematic elements.
High chair
A children's high chair is a much more complex product. To connect parts together, it is better to use confirmats instead of conventional self-tapping screws, which will provide additional reliability. Cut out the necessary parts from plywood and drill holes for fasteners, accurately observing the dimensions. Sand the edges and surfaces of the parts themselves. Assemble the product.
Particular attention must be paid to sanding the edge parts remaining from the jigsaw.
Important! When tightening the confirmations, do not tighten them too much.
Paint is rarely used, mainly for children's furniture. Products for adults are coated with wear-resistant varnish as standard.
Chair design: general idea
At first glance, a wooden chair seems like a simple piece of furniture. However, looking at the drawings of a wooden chair, a combination of different elements becomes clear:
- Seat – allows you to sit down;
- Backrest – allows you to lean back and fix your back in a comfortable position;
- Rear crossbar - strengthens the load-bearing parts of the backrest and prevents the back from falling back;
- Tsargi - strengthen the fastening of the supporting legs on the sides;
- Side crossbars – help secure the load-bearing legs from above;
- Legs – raise the product above the floor to a certain level.
For more comfortable sitting, the finished product can be upholstered and filled with filling. Moreover, the upholstery, depending on its composition, definitely contributes to the style of the chair. The upholstery is made of textile or leather. The filler is foam rubber, synthetic fluff, and fabric scraps.
The back may have one or more crossbars. In this case, the crossbars are arranged lengthwise or crosswise.
It is recommended to supplement the legs with soft liners at the bottom. The latter prevent the formation of dents on the flooring from the load of the legs and chair, respectively.
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Features and Benefits
Furniture that does not need to be updated every couple of years to keep up with the growth of the child and his needs is economical and practical. The cost of a growing chair, of course, is not the lowest (on average it starts from 5,000 rubles), but it will more than pay for annual trips to the store for a new chair for a growing toddler, then for a preschooler, then for a student.
The chair, which is adjustable for different heights, can be both a dining chair and a computer chair.
It can ensure correct body position during creative activities, reading, and lessons.
“Growing” chairs (like tables and desks) are considered orthopedic furniture , recommended by orthopedists, surgeons and pediatricians. Correct fit is ensured not only by the adjustable height, but also by the ability to change the position of the backrest and footrest (if the model has one). It is almost impossible to sit crookedly or incorrectly on the wrong chair.
In most popular models, manufacturers have provided about one and a half dozen transformation options. Moreover, all models are equipped with a wide base, which makes the chair safe to use, eliminating the risk of tipping over.
Different materials are used - wood, plastic, a combination of both. All materials are of high quality and have a safety certificate confirming that they do not contain formaldehyde or other harmful compounds.
Type of chair design
Chairs differ from chair to chair, even if thematic products are made from the same type of lumber. The variety of designs contributes to the corresponding assortment. The problem of how to make a chair out of wood with your own hands must be solved, guided by the characteristics of the future project, as well as the factors that allow the chair to be special:
- Strength - type of wood, number of crossbars, quality of fastening, thickness of lumber;
- Functionality – the form of the model and its ability to be transformed (specifically, folding products should be highlighted);
- Convenience – product dimensions, back height, upholstery;
- Style – breed, upholstery, painting, shape.
Low, high, soft, dark - a wooden chair can be made in different types. The main thing is that the corresponding event welcomes an independent approach (without the help of joiners and carpenters).
Some useful tips
- Plywood is inexpensive. It will last longer if it is made of birch. Birch wood is durable, easy to process, and easily tolerates painting and various finishes. You cannot use sheets of plywood that are too thin. Be sure to stick to the specified thickness. A thin sheet will not support the weight of a person, it will break, and can even lead to injury.
- An assembly jig is not a home tool. It can only be found from a person who has long been engaged in the independent production of furniture structures. If you don’t have such a tool, it’s better to purchase one. He will help you assemble the chair structure as professionally as possible.
- It is not necessary to use foam rubber with furniture fabric to create a comfortable seat. The seat can be hard, especially if the chair is needed for household needs.
If the room is decorated in a classic direction, then folding plywood chairs should be truly graceful.
Plywood is inexpensive. It will last longer if it is made of birch.
Optimal sizes
The normal height of a chair seat is 75-80 cm above floor level. The seat itself has an area of about 30x30 cm.
The height of the backrest is calculated depending on the height of the user. However, it should only support 1/2 or 2/3 of the back length.
If you need to make a children's chair with your own hands, then the height of the product is increased so that the child can freely hold his elbows above the table top. The exception is the youngest children. A transformable high chair with an integrated seat will suit them. The latter should be located above the floor at a height of 45-50 cm. Moreover, crossbars for the back and legs are required.
Step-by-step assembly instructions
Having prepared the pattern, materials and tools, you can safely begin to work. Remember - work does not tolerate haste and fuss. An experienced craftsman knows that it is necessary to measure several times, weigh everything and only then cut.
Stages of work.
- We apply the pattern made according to the drawing to the plywood and cut out the first part of the side legs. It is necessary to make the workpiece with a small margin of a few millimeters. This reserve will prevent mistakes when cutting.
- Using a copy cutter, we bring the workpiece to the ideal size.
- We cut out three more legs with a margin.
- Stack all four legs.
- Using the first perfect piece, we grind the remaining three legs. This approach will save time on grinding.
- Glue two pieces together and let them dry.
- Using a router we make grooves on the inside of the legs. The groove dimensions should be 10 mm deep and 24 mm wide. This groove plays a key role in further adjustment of the positions of all elements.
- Exactly in the middle of the groove it is necessary to make through holes in which the seat and footrest will be secured. Holes must be made at equal distances from each other. It is important to place a block under the leg when drilling to avoid chipping and deformation on the outside.
- We are preparing the runners. The slider allows you to fix the seat or footrest in the desired position. You will need 4 of them - two on each side. The sliders must correspond to the size of the foot and not look beyond it - height 20 mm and width 24 mm.
- All corners and edges of the runner are rounded, and a groove is made in the center. The gutter is intended for further gluing into it the slats, which will be inserted into the groove of the leg.
- The rail should be made based on the width of the groove into which it will be inserted on one side and the groove on the other side.
- The slider and the rail are glued together and dried.
- A hole is made in the slider for a bolt that will secure the selected position.
- Next, the back and footrest are cut out. The dimensions of the seat for a child are chosen independently and depend on his age and the calculated reserve. The shape of the parts can also be arbitrary - square, semicircular or oval.
- The next step is to make the back for the chair. The back can have a wide solid surface or be made of several slats of various sizes.
- Don't forget about the crossbar that secures the legs in their lower part.
- Finished parts are not assembled using the final method, but rather the baiting method. This will help evaluate the final result and identify flaws that need to be eliminated.
- If the chair for the child corresponds to the initial plan and drawing, it is necessary to disassemble it and begin final processing using sandpaper. We clean the surfaces, preparing them for painting.
- The paint color is chosen independently. Some craftsmen prefer to prime and then varnish, thereby emphasizing the existing wood pattern. Plywood, however, is best painted because it does not have a uniform appearance.
- The dried parts are assembled into a structure and are ready for use.
The seats, footrest and backrest can be made of 22 or 16 mm plywood.
These parts can be mounted using bolts and subsequently removed from the chair.
For studying at the school table, armrests are not needed, since the hands are always on the table.
A growing chair for small children can be additionally equipped with armrests and a safety front bar so that the child cannot fall from it. These parts can be mounted using bolts and subsequently removed from the chair. For studying at the school table, armrests are not needed, since the hands are always on the table.
The parts of the child's chair are fastened using hex bolts and furniture countersunk nuts.
Plywood, however, is best painted because it does not have a uniform appearance.
Required Tools
One copy of a real wooden chair, i.e. seats made from solid wood are relatively expensive - 6,000-20,000 rubles. The cost is affected by the brand and the complexity of manufacturing the structure.
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It is easier for the target audience to make a wooden chair themselves than to pay an average salary for the entire furniture set. The question is whether the creator has the necessary tools:
- Measuring objects - ruler, square, meter, level;
- Fixation items – vices, clamps;
- Impact devices – hammer, mallet;
- Items for cutting – jigsaw, hand saw for wood;
- Smoothing accessories – electric planer, grinder, emery machine;
- Devices for drilling and fastening – drill, screwdriver;
- Painting accessories – brushes, roller, containers.
Additionally, you will need a workbench and consumables - sandpaper, screws, choppers, wood glue.
How to choose?
A growing chair for a child implies use in different cases. This furniture is considered a good addition to the dining table. Children often use these chairs to do homework or do creative work.
In order for a high chair to be truly useful for a child, you need to choose the right model
It is important to start from several significant criteria, starting with the choice of material
photos
The raw materials for the production of this furniture are varied.
In addition to wood, which is recognized as the best choice, plastic products are also relevant. However, if brands consider such structures to be strong enough, practice shows the opposite.
Plastic is a modern material, it looks beautiful in the interior, but the maximum where it can be used is in additional elements of the high chair. More often this is support for the design, which is found in models for the smallest (from 6 months).
In addition to the material, it is important to take into account the age of the child and the features of the device. Manufacturers offer customers models designed for children of all ages, including school age
The stores offer a wide range of growing chairs for first graders.
Compared to varieties for small children, these options have more extensive functional features.
Designs based on two seats are in demand. One of these elements can be used instead of a footrest. The main advantage of these wooden models is their high functionality, since the seats can easily be adjusted to the child’s height.
There are different elements used to secure the seat. Most often, sawn grooves or bolts are used for these purposes.
It is important to make your choice in a trusted store with a good reputation from real customers. This will allow you to purchase a quality product that will last for many years.
An important factor is convenience: if the child is uncomfortable, the product will cause negative emotions
It is important to choose a model in such a way that this chair is the favorite piece of furniture in the nursery.
Relevance of painting
Many people are in a hurry to paint a wooden chair, but this is not necessary. The fact is that the chemical composition only spoils the naturalness of the forest. The latter ceases to emit a pleasant aroma.
Another thing is a worn-out model. It can definitely be painted with quick-drying and hygienic water-based silicone paint marked “For wood”.
