We all know those kid swings from ugly lumber with a nylon colourful rope. If you spend the extra bucks you even get a uglier plastic slide next to it. It just hurts my eyes to see that in someone’s garden. So let's make a pretty swing!
What you need.
Making a swing is not rocket science you only need quality wood that is very rot resistant and some very basic tools. The wood I choice is Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacacia
) it's extremely rot resistant and can stand easily for 40+ years in wet ground without a problem. The only downside to this wood is that it's really really hard! I burned a drillbit on it and had to sharpen my second bit. The best is to first drill a small hole and than a bigger one just like you do in metal.
Requirements for the swing:
I won't be writing a how-to because I didn't make detail pictures and making a swing is very straight forward. The harder part is the chair but that's still very doable for a beginner.
- 4 times a log of 2.5 meters with a diameter of 15cm
- 1 time a log of 3 meters with a diameter of 10cm
- 2 branches of 1.5 meter to make the A-frame.
- 4 half branches of 1 meter to make the diagonal braces.
- A good drill
- 8 M13 long bolts of 30cm.
- Draw knife or axe
- Saw
Requirements for chair:
- 4 half round logs that are planed flat.
- 4 half round branches
- 4 strong L-shaped metal plates.
- 8 bolts smooth head bolts 20 cm
- a chain of 6 meters.
