How To Frame A Swing Set

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Follow our uncomplicated footstep-by-footstep plans to build the perfect wooden swing set for your lawn!

A swing set is such a great way to go along kids entertained and busy outside, and tin exist used from spring right through until autumn. Not to mention, the swings are always a striking when we spend time at the park, so when I started drawing the plans for our backyard, I knew we had to incorporate a swing gear up for our girls.

Before I started whatever of the projects in our backyard, I gave Zoe a run-down of all the things we were going to complete. I told her nosotros were going to add together a fence, fix the deck, build new patio piece of furniture (check out our outdoor sofa, chair and coffee table) build a playhouse, and a swing set. She promptly replied, "Yous're going to build the swing set starting time, right?".

I can't say no to her, so the next day I started the swing set.

The swing fix was designed to use all woods elements and as well reduce information technology's footprint equally much every bit possible. Initially, I considered placing the sides at a slight angle, but that created a trip hazard, was non as visually highly-seasoned, and notwithstanding didn't make it equally solid as I wanted it to be. I could take bought a metal A-Frame Swing Swing Set Bracket and painted them, just we wanted a certain look, so all forest was the way to get.

We knew from the beginning that nosotros wanted a swing set that had a classic and timeless feel to information technology, yous know, the onetime-fashioned woods and rope swings? That was the expect we were going for. Information technology helps to keep our backyard feeling cohesive and we knew information technology would look great adjacent to the playhouse I planned to build.

The swing set was surprisingly inexpensive to build. It only cost about $200 full (not including the rope and seats) and I don't think you lot could purchase one that is this sturdy and pretty for that kind of investment.

Now, I congenital both the classic swing seat and the babe swing seat for our swing set, but at that place are also great options available to buy, like these inexpensive wooden swings!

become the look

Just if yous're planning on edifice your own swings I take a few tips to give.

I used a rope with a classic Manila look, but with the durability of polypropylene. Information technology is 3/8 " thick merely is available in a diverseness of thicknesses. Information technology gives an authentic look and maintains its strength. This is our second summertime with the swing set and I have noticed it has begun to suspension down slightly, but it is easy to supervene upon.

What kind of knot did I utilise? It's a version of a scaffold knot (you tin find tutorials online), I but added a few more loops to it to give it the expect we were going for. This would also work with concatenation rope.

Finally, to attach the swings, I found these inexpensive swing hangers. Each hanger is fastened to the beam twice for extra security and to assistance keep the swing from twisting while in utilize. I highly recommend them.

Needless to say, the kids dear the swing set and have been getting then much use out of it. It's a project you can tackle in one weekend and your kids will exist swinging in no time!

UPDATE: When the rope and seats that I built got worn out (and outgrown) afterwards a few years, I replaced them with these inexpensive wooden swings, and they are fantastic!

Materials

(four) 4x4x8' Pressure Treated Posts
(6) 2x6x10 Pressure Treated Boards
(ii Sets) Playstar Swing Hangers
(ii) 1/ii" Bolts
(2) 1/2" Washers
(ii) 1/2" Nuts
(150) two 1/2" Deck/Forest/Construction Screws
Polypropylene Rope
Swing Seats
Waterproof Woods Glueor Outdoor Structure Agglutinative

Cut List:

(2) 2x6x120" Beam
(4) 4x4x95" Legs
(4) 2x6x17-three/16" Top Outer & Inner Spans
(2) 2x6x70-one/two" Bottom Outer Spans
(2) 2x6x10" Diagonal Supports

Instructions

Cull LOCATION Cull a level location in your thousand where you accept a MINIMUM 10' wide x 16' deep of free, unobstructed space and center the set in this expanse. Notwithstanding, the length of your swing rope may as well bear on this, but ours seem to exist fine with these clearances. Please use your own judgement once the swing set is congenital and motion it if necessary.
CUT 4x4'southward

First Cutting: Prepare your mitre saw to a 30° bending. On one border, mark 95" from the bottom of the postal service. Put that side of the post against the fence on your mitre saw. Line upwards your bract with the mark you fabricated and cut through at the thirty° angle every bit shown.

Measure seven/8" beyond the angle and mark that location.

Second Cut: This is a catchy cut since you cannot merely set your miter saw to 60°. You will demand a helper to hold the posts while you cut.

Draw a xc° line from the seven/8" location you lot marked at the superlative. The line should measure 5 ane/2" (or very close to it, as shown).

Carefully align this line up with the blade on your miter saw (set the blade to the max angle that it will go when doing this) while someone helps you lot hold the mail in position while you make the cut.

Consummate this on I end of each of the 4x4 boards.
Assemble SIDES

Yous volition make two of these ends. Cut (2) 2x6's to 17 three/sixteen" on the long side, with mitred 30° cuts on each stop. Cutting (2) 2x6's to lxx-ane/ii" on the long side, with mitred 30° cuts on each end.

Utilize two bit pieces of 2x6 screwed together as a temporary spacer at the top while you adhere the boards on the sides. Make sure that the spacer is tight in the space. Use woods glue and 2-one/ii" deck or wood screws to secure (optional: use railroad vehicle bolts, basics and washers instead - not included in the supply listing in these instructions).
ATTACH Inside Height Bridge TO SIDES

These boards are identical to the top boards in the terminal step but volition be secured to the inside of the construction.
INSTALL Principal Axle

Using construction adhesive, laminate the two 2x6x10 boards together. Use 2-1/2" forest/structure screws across each side of the beam approximately every half-dozen inches on the beam. Cut each end to a 30° angle as shown (or you tin utilize your jigsaw to exercise a more ornate design!).

Yous'll need a friend to help yous with the next part.

Place one terminate of the beam into the top of one side. Secure temporarily at various contact points with 2-one/2" or 3" woods/structure screws. Then insert the other finish into the acme of the other side and secure temporarily also

Select a location where your wagon bolt will go through the post on each side and through the chief beam. Don't choose a location too close to the top of the post to reduce the possibility of splitting.

Utilise a 1" spade bit on the side that you lot will consider the front to drill a i/two" deep hole to recess the commodities. When drilling this hole make certain yous drill equally if information technology is parallel to the ground. Use the 1" spade flake once again where the drill bit came through the dorsum to practise a parallel one/ii" deep hole so that you lot'll exist able to recess the washer and nut.

And then use a one/two" long drill scrap to drill a hole completely through all of the pieces (again, parallel to the ground). Insert the bolt, secure with a washer and nut at the dorsum. Exercise non over-tighten.
INSTALL ADDITIONAL SUPPORTS

Cut (2) 2x6's to 30-three/8" on the long side, with mitred 30° cuts on each end. Attach with wood gum/structure agglutinative and ii-1/ii" woods/construction screws.
CUT AND INSTALL DIAGONAL SUPPORTS

Cut a piece that is twenty" with 30° cuts on each terminate both going in the same management. Then measure out 3-three/16" from one border and make a 90° cut as shown.
Secure past screwing from the exterior of the lower side support and into the lath. and centered in the bottom of the height beam with 3" wood/construction screws.
HANG SWINGS

We purchased these ="https://rstyle.me/+HWe9Y214hDqnUM7fY7RSSQ"> Playstar Swing HangersYou tin make your own swing seats or purchase ones online (like these ones). Your spacing will depend on your seat sizes. I have indicated the size of our swings and how far we put them from the diagonal supports for reference. You tin also apply rope or chain of your selection.

Notes

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