How to Build a Wooden Swing
A wooden swing is a simple but fun addition to any home with kids. Adults love it too for the lulling motion a swing provides. If you have the perfect place in your garden for a wooden swing, why not make one for yourself? Here’s how.
Materials
Scrap lumber
Drill ladder
Heavy duty rope
Measuring tape
Saw
Varnish (optional)
Pebble gravel (optional)
Procedure
Find an appropriate place to situate your wooden swing. Make sure that you choose a sturdy, horizontal tree branch. Trees are the ideal place to have wooden swings because of the shade trees provide. You may want to find a higher branch if your children are a little older, or if adults will be using it.
wooden swing
Cut a 12×14 inch seat for the wooden swing from the lumber. It can be smaller or bigger, depending on the users’ sizes and your own personal preferences.
Measure how long you want the rope to be. Make the rope longer if you’re going to have children use it, but if you have older children or teens, you can make it shorter. It all depends on your preference. The ideal height for a swing is to be just high enough to tuck the primary user’s feet underneath him or by bending his or her knees. Add 12 more inches for tying and attaching the seat. Heavy duty rope is your best option as it ensures the safety of people sitting on the swing. It will last longer, too.
Find the center of each side, and measure two or three inches from the edges. Mark the spot and rill holes into it. Make sure that you use a drill bit that is only slightly bigger than the thickness of the rope you’re going to use. Thread the rope through the hole, and make a secure knot to keep it in place.
Tie the two loose ends of the rope up on the tree branch, in the same distance as the width of the seat. Adjust the height if necessary. Put pebble gravel underneath to help the primary user to slow down more easily if necessary.