How to Make a Homemade Wood Swing Set
Making a homemade wood swing set is a fun weekend project that makes a great addition to your outdoor playground equipment. An easy-to-build A-frame swing set frame can be customized to meet or exceed your family's needs. You can choose to have three swings, two swings and a trapeze bar or one swing and a two- or four-person glider. A homemade swing set can also be of extremely high quality, which helps ensure that the swing set will last long enough for your grandchildren to use and enjoy. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 2-inch by 4-inch by 12-foot pressure treated board
- 2-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot pressure treated board
- Hand saw
- 4 pressure treated boards, 4-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot
- Drill
- 3/4-inch drill bit
- 4-inch by 4-inch by 16-foot pressure treated board
- 8 lag bolts with washers and nuts, 6-inch
- 4 lag bolts with washers and nuts, 8-inch
- 6 eye bolts with washers and nuts, 5-inch
Instructions
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1
Use a hand saw to cut two 36-inch-long side braces and four 12-inch-long top support braces from the 2-inch by 4-inch boards.
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2
Lay two of the 8-foot-long 4-inch by 4-inch boards next to each other on a level surface and separate the bottom of the boards until the two top boards are only touching at the inside tips (forming a V-shape) and the bottoms are approximately 4 feet, 6 inches apart. Repeat this with the other two 4-inch by 4-inch by 8-foot boards.
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3
Set one of the 36-inch-long side braces halfway up the A-shaped legs and drill two 3/4-inch holes through each end of the brace into and through the legs with a 3/4-inch drill bit in a drill. Repeat this with the other 36-inch-long side brace on the other two legs.
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4
Thread a 6-inch-long galvanized steel lag bolt through each of the four holes on each A-frame assembly, and secure them on the inside of the frames with a washer and nut.
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5
Position the two A-frame sides 9 feet apart with a saw horse next to each of them.
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6
Pull one of the legs on each of the frames up so that they rest against the saw horses with one leg flat on the ground and one leg against the saw horse.
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7
Position the 16-foot-long 4-inch by 4-inch top beam within the V-shape on the top of the two leg frames. Center the beam so that there is an equal overhang (approximately 30-inches) on each side.
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8
Drill two 3/4-inch holes through the two A-frame leg boards and the crossbeam. The holes should be centered and evenly spaced 1 1/2-inches from the leg apex on each side of the swing set frame.
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9
Thread an 8-inch-long lag bolt through each of the four holes, and secure each one in place with a washer and bolt.
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10
Drill six evenly spaced 3/4-inch holes, 1 1/2 feet apart, starting 6-inches in from the legs, through the crossbeam. These holes will hold the swings, trapeze bars or glider.
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11
Thread a 3/4-inch-wide, 5-inch-long eye bolt through each of the holes, through the bottom of the beam, and secure them on the beam with a washer and bolt at the top of the beam. Enlist the help of a friend and stand the swing set up.
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12
Build swings or a glider from 2-inch by 4-inch boards or a trapeze bar from a wooden dowel. Alternatively, purchase ready-made playground equipment and hang the pieces from your swing set with galvanized chain or vinyl coated chain.
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Tips & Warnings
The swing set can be painted if desired.
Always wear safety glasses when sawing wood.
References
- Photo Credit Wooden swing overlooking rural lake and mountains image by nextrecord from Fotolia.com
