It is no secret that children love different entertainment and games; by building a swing with your own hands, you can greatly surprise and delight the child. Rocking will train the vestibular apparatus of the young dreamer and have a beneficial effect on the nervous system. The large size of the product can accommodate the whole family and will contribute to a cozy atmosphere and fruitful communication to maintain team spirit.
Brief overview of the article
- Components of the structure
- Types of frames
- Materials for production
- Selection of components
- Seat place
- Rack locations
- Reliability of the finished frame
- Work on the cross member
- Seat attachment
- Metal frames
- Contact with soil
- For children
- DIY swing photo
Components of the structure
Beautiful do-it-yourself garden swings are often assembled from wooden parts; the frame in the form of posts and crossbars is built from strong timber or logs. A comfortable seating area can be made from treated boards or pieces of durable plywood.
People with a creative mindset use improvised means and incorporate parts of old furniture and unnecessary upholstery into the design.
Useful tips
A few tips will help you quickly make a swing and a beautiful design:
- An excellent bench will turn out if you use two pallets. They are connected at an angle and reinforced with armrests. One pallet can be used. It consists of two shields. They are similarly fastened at an angle, but first the pallet is disassembled into parts.
- Aesthetic design of a swing is necessary not only for beauty, but also for ease of riding. Decorative pillows and a mattress laid on the bench will provide comfort.
- It is optimal to install the swing on a flat area. There should be no obstacles nearby, otherwise they will not allow you to swing with full force.
- If a swing is installed for children, then choose a clearly visible place. This will make it easier to monitor ongoing events.
You need to try hard with the design of the swing. An entertainment facility will decorate the site and become a favorite attraction for children and a favorite vacation spot for adults.
Types of frames
There are several options for implementing the design; do-it-yourself hanging swing drawings are called:
- With a boat.
- The sofa.
- A bench.
These specimens differ from each other in the type of supporting structures; they can be with racks or in the form of various geometric shapes, such as a triangle or a U-shaped arrangement. Some options are similar to a pergola with a bench or soft seats suspended from fasteners.
Accessories
Fans of relaxing in the fresh air will definitely appreciate the cover for the garden swing. It protects from atmospheric phenomena (wind, precipitation) and insects, creates shading, and decorates the structure. The canopy is easy to clean from dirt and transport when folded.
Covers are available for sale that cover the top and sides of the swing. When purchasing, pay attention to the size of the product - a full-fledged tent cover should fit well to the structure. Otherwise, dirt and leaves will clog into the gaps and rain will penetrate inside. Recommended material: water-repellent polyester, polyester, PVC.
- Furniture made to measure
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Materials for production
Depending on the expected load, appropriate sections of lumber are selected to ensure high-quality operation.
Reliable do-it-yourself swings made of metal are not in great demand among owners of country houses due to the complexity of the work, but wooden structures are quite simple and even a beginner can do it.
Each person decides for himself what material to choose and how much money to invest in the implementation of his plan. Without a welding machine and other tools for metal processing, you can turn to specialists in this matter and hire them for a fee.
Selection of components
One adult or child needs a little space, so for the do-it-yourself wooden swing stands, use a section of 50 by 70.
For several people, the load on the seat will be greater, so the crossbar must be suitable; the ideal beam would be 100 by 100 mm. But some masters play it safe and add elements of a larger cross-section.
The proposed option for a large number of people can withstand up to 200 kilograms in total. If the family has fairly large people, then you can resort to using logs for supports, this will significantly increase the strength and load.
Seat place
To decorate a bench or sofa, you can be guided by a photo of a swing made by yourself; all kinds of images show excellent options for finished products that are easy to repeat with your own hands. The frame is usually assembled from bars; it is worth paying attention that the backrest should not be lower than 600 mm, otherwise it will not be very comfortable to sit on such a bench.
The recommended depth starts from 480 mm, but it can be edited according to the wishes and preferences of the owner. Most often they experiment with backrest tilt; by choosing the ideal position, you can achieve the most comfortable resting position.
Folding swing
This design option will allow you to use the swing not only for a seat, but also as a comfortable wide bed. The bench is made of 2 independent parts, which are connected to each other via hinges.
To unfold the swing, remove the chain from the side eyes and fix it in the new position. A spacious and comfortable relaxation device is ready.
Rack locations
There are ready-made diagrams for working with swing supports for a dacha with your own hands; they can be easily found on the Internet in a video version or as illustrative examples. All sorts of materials are offered for constructing a frame, but most people trust massive logs or high-quality timber in this matter.
Among the varieties, one can distinguish both designs with a lower frame and without it, but both versions are quite famous among carpentry connoisseurs. For a tight fit to the ground, auxiliary supports are added, nailed with pins; if the base is quite strong and stable, then you can do without them.
Log swing
Exercises on a log swing are very useful for the physical development of children. The simplest design, similar to a swing scale, consists of a support and a log swinging on it.
- You can use a section of the same log as a support post. The rotation unit is made of a metal rod and washers. To help children hold on, small wooden handrails are attached to the swing.
- The prepared parts are assembled very quickly. It takes very little effort, but the end result is laughter and joy for children.
Reliability of the finished frame
In order to be on the safe side before installing it on soft ground, you can look at the instructions on how to make a swing with your own hands for possible options for this.
Such documents usually suggest using the available space and placing the racks at an angle. The structure will require a little more space, but stability and reliability will be many times higher.
If, for greater stability, the racks will be immersed in the ground, they must be treated with available protective equipment. It is possible to use metal staples or strips for greater effect.
Finishing features
A beautiful wooden swing cannot be imagined without finishing and decoration. At the same time, even a non-professional can try himself as a carver - for this you need to have a jigsaw and a little imagination. Remember that hardwoods are somewhat easier to work with - although they are more reluctant to finish, the end result will look much better.
You can paint the swing with the following materials:
- wood/metal paint;
- stain;
- varnish;
- antiseptic.
Painting
It is best to paint a garden swing immediately after installation. The paint should be chosen specifically for wood - it will not only adhere better, but will also protect the material from pests.
At the same time, the paint, unfortunately, is not so durable - the swing will have to be repainted every few years.
Paint is considered good protection against pests and insects, and the appearance of a painted swing is aesthetically pleasing.
Work on the cross member
If a DIY children's swing involves the use of such components, then you need to pay attention to the fastenings, the reliability of which should be at a high level. Some elements may not look very aesthetically pleasing and beautiful, but the strength of the connection will be as good as possible.
If you fasten the racks in the upper part with a cross, then the crossbar will easily fit into the resulting groove and such a connection will be reliable and without additional devices. It will be enough to minimize its movement to the left or right with nails or screws.
Swing with bench for several people
This type of family rocking chair will fit originally into the layout of a summer cottage. They are mass-produced in a large assortment. Portable or stationary are equipped with a canopy (awning) or with a hard shelter (wood, polycarbonate). A swing with a roof is more profitable, the metal elements do not get hot in the sun, and there is protection from rain. Additionally, mosquito curtains are installed.
Frame
- 2 racks (legs connected at an angle);
- 2 spacers (lower, upper);
- crossbar (crossbar).
Bench, seat
- 4 main seat support bars (longitudinal, transverse);
- additional seat reinforcement;
- 2 backrest stands;
- 2 armrests and their supports;
- wooden slats for seating, bench backs.
- Dimensions are calculated taking into account the model.
There are 2 types of connecting parts. Welded is preferable, since the screw fastener unwinds under the influence of vibration when rocking. It is necessary to periodically tighten the bolts and nuts.
Seat attachment
It is quite common to use chains to suspend a structure, but for smooth and even movement, rigid supports are best. In both cases, special clamps are needed for fastening, including various bolts and eye nuts.
All contacts with wood and metal need to be thought through to the smallest detail; with constant friction against each other, small wear may occur; in order to extend the service life of such parts, all possible methods are used.
Combined swing
Very often, swings on personal plots have a combined design - the supports are made of profile steel pipe, and the comfortable seat is made of wood. This option has certain advantages: the metal is less susceptible to moisture and, with proper care, lasts a very long time.
Steel profiles do not rot or crack. Assembly is possible both with bolts and welding. The strength of the steel frame allows it to withstand high loads. A swing with a wooden seat and metal elements decorated with openwork forging looks very impressive.
Metal frames
Before you start making such structures, you should make sure that you have the necessary tools and equipment. Having welding equipment and the skills to work with it, you can build a rather beautiful and elegant frame.
Thanks to the strength of the material, all parts are small and compact, and they will take up minimal space in the yard. The design, in general, does not differ from the wooden versions, but there are still some differences.
Decoration and arrangement
A wooden swing for relaxation can be decorated in various ways. These can be either decorative pillows thrown on the seats or intricate carvings along the edges of the beams. Lamps next to swings, including floor ones, look especially impressive.
There are options to experiment with the rope - perhaps it can be braided with something bright.
Contact with soil
The frame can be either portable or stationary, but usually the owners try to secure the frame to the plane as securely as possible.
The work may require certain drawings and precise measurements of all workpieces. Due to the light weight of the finished structure, it is not particularly stable, so the main supports are tightly attached to the asphalt or the pillars are concreted into the ground.
Such manipulations give the structure reliability and stronger fixation at the moment of swinging. They also think about safety locks on the crossbar to prevent the seat from unplanned overturning over it at intense speeds.
How to choose the right option
Unfinished construction
The main selection criterion is the personal taste of the master, the availability of a particular material and the possibility of processing it. Sometimes they use ready-made structures or supports - they leave old dried trees, attach horizontal beams to other structures or walls. An important factor is the cost of a particular option - assembly costs may be prohibitive.
Sometimes after construction there are surplus materials left that can be put to use. In addition, the age of the users must be taken into account. The best option is to make swings suitable for all age categories.
When choosing a suitable model, you must immediately take into account the possibility of storage, repair, complexity of installation and maintenance. No one needs unnecessary worries, so it is recommended to exclude complex and heavy work in advance.
For children
The design for a child can be quite simple and unique, since the age and size of a person will change over the years, there is no need to concrete such products.
Some parents decorate the yard with swings and balance beams made from scrap materials, such as car tires. Thanks to such solutions, your beloved child will practice coordination and have fun with friends.
Swing gazebo with table
The holiday option for a large group is quite difficult to manufacture. The swing consists of a durable frame with a canopy, 2 benches, a table and a movable platform. Thanks to the hinged mounts, even a child can swing the structure.
To make the frame, planed smooth logs or strong beams with a section of 100x100 mm, 150x150 mm are used. The tabletop and seats with backrest are made of 25 mm thick boards. Hinges are located in places where furniture is attached to the platform, as well as at the points of intersection of horizontal planes with vertical structures.
This method ensures the stability of all objects on the table - water in glasses does not spill even with strong rocking.
