Rocking bench fix
This outdoor rocking bench was a mother’s day gift for mare about five or six years ago. It had a canopy on it and some nice soft cushioned seats. For about the first three years it held up fairly well. Our normal fall and spring windstorms made the canopy behave more like a para-sail, and sent the whole thing flying off of the deck a few times. On its final flight, the canopy framework bent and broke to pieces. This kept it earthbound, but now the sun and elements could really work over the fabric on the cushions. Within three years only the cats felt safe sleeping on it, or in its torn stuffing. Sorry, no pictures of it in all of it’s foam-upholstery-lining-spewing glory. It was pretty sad.
The boys made quick work out of getting all of the old fabric and stuffing off of it. The frame was still in great shape.
Using a few of the rougher pieces of walnut we have been kicking around in the barn I was able to give it a whole new look. It’s also about 70 pounds heavier. It will have to get pretty windy to knock this off of the deck now, and it takes more than one person to move it around.
July 27th, 2010 at 7:08 pm
Made of walnut and 70 pounds heavier? It should just be called The Rock!
July 31st, 2010 at 11:52 am
Thanks for this! I’m looking at our old swing in a new light today. How did you attach the seat slats to the tubular steel underneath? Flat head screws, maybe?
August 8th, 2010 at 10:52 pm
One and a half inch treated deck screws with washers are what I used to attach the cross braces to the seat slats. Only about four screws keep the seat attached to the frame work, and they are just screwed between two of the parallel metal tubes. Pieces of metal plumbers tape, would also work well for this, and no one would even see it.
August 9th, 2010 at 6:15 am
Thanks John! A project just got added to the “honey-do” list…lol Actually this sounds like I could even do it myself.