Plans | Monkey Rocker
Finding the right monkey rocker plans is the first step toward building a piece of functional art. Whether you opt for a free scanned plan from the 1950s or a modern CAD-drawn PDF, the result is the same: a magical, moving toy that encourages balance, coordination, and imaginative play.
Remember to prioritize safety over speed. Sand twice, glue generously, and seal properly. In the end, you won’t just have a rocker—you will have a story to tell. And when a small child squeals with delight and climbs aboard your wooden monkey for the first time, you will understand why woodworkers have been building these for over 70 years.
Ready to start? Download a set of monkey rocker plans today, head to the lumber yard, and bring that vintage monkey to life. monkey rocker plans
Some plans convert the rocker base to a glider mechanism. This removes the floor marks but sacrifices the "monkey" dynamic rock.
This is the most critical measurement. Most monkey rocker plans use a radius between 36” and 48”. The plan must specify the "angle of tilt" (usually 15 to 20 degrees from horizontal). If you are making a two-person "love seat" monkey rocker, the rocker must be significantly thicker or laminated. Finding the right monkey rocker plans is the
Drill pilot holes and attach the monkey body to the center of the curved runners. Use wood glue and countersunk screws from underneath the rocker so no hardware is exposed on the top.
Let’s assume you have purchased a set of monkey rocker plans. Here is the generalized workflow. Some plans convert the rocker base to a glider mechanism
Popularized by makers like Shawn Boyd (Boyd Design), these plans use clever joinery so the entire chair assembles with 6 bolts. This is ideal for apartment dwellers or craft fair sellers.
Searching for "monkey rocker plans" on Google returns a mess of Pinterest links and low-resolution scanned images. Here is the definitive list of where to look:
This is a generalized overview of the mechanism found in mechanical rocker plans. You will need specific CAD drawings or cut lists for exact dimensions.