Three Steps to Building a Backyard Swing
Spring and summer are the best times of year to be enjoying the great outdoors, and the time is almost upon us. What better way to ring in the new season than with a fun project that will get you outside to start, and then keep you there as you enjoy the fruits of your labor! This project is simple, but may take a little bit of adult supervision if you are not of teen age quite yet. Follow this guide for a great addition to your backyard recreation activities!
1. Find a tree. A couple factors here are important. First, the tree must be strong, so find a tree in your yard with a thick trunk. To give you some sense of scale, it should be large enough such that a grown man cannot hug his arms completely around it.
Next, identify the branch that you want to hang the swing from. It should be thick, at least 2-4 feet around, so that it could support a couple hundred pounds of weight. Once you identify a suitable tree, you are ready for the next step.
2. Get a big rope. You can pick one of these up at a good price at an army surplus store, or spend a little more money at an outdoor adventure outfitter. Make sure that you ask for a climbing rope, since these are designed to support people, and you can never be too safe!
3. Pick a type of seat for your swing. This can be a simple disk of wood that you sit on, or a large tire that you can stand on or just put your legs through. If you choose a wood seat, make sure that it is at least 4 inches thick so that it will not crack. All you need to do then is get a hole drilled through the middle. You can usually get this done at a local hardware or lumber store for little or no fee. Thread the rope through the hole, tie a few knots on the other side to keep it from slipping through, and your seat is done.
If you prefer a tire swing, head to a local dump and pick out your choice of old tires. Once you have your tire, cut a hole in the middle of the tread on one side, thread the rope through, and tie it off to secure it. Your tire swing is now ready!
Before you start swinging in earnest, make sure to test the safety of your creation. Tie the free end of the rope to the strong branch that you selected, and then give it a few good tugs to make sure it is secured. Before you start swinging back and forth, jump up and down on the swing a few times to make sure it can support much more force than just your weight. Once you are confidently secure, swing away!
1. Find a tree. A couple factors here are important. First, the tree must be strong, so find a tree in your yard with a thick trunk. To give you some sense of scale, it should be large enough such that a grown man cannot hug his arms completely around it.
Next, identify the branch that you want to hang the swing from. It should be thick, at least 2-4 feet around, so that it could support a couple hundred pounds of weight. Once you identify a suitable tree, you are ready for the next step.
2. Get a big rope. You can pick one of these up at a good price at an army surplus store, or spend a little more money at an outdoor adventure outfitter. Make sure that you ask for a climbing rope, since these are designed to support people, and you can never be too safe!
3. Pick a type of seat for your swing. This can be a simple disk of wood that you sit on, or a large tire that you can stand on or just put your legs through. If you choose a wood seat, make sure that it is at least 4 inches thick so that it will not crack. All you need to do then is get a hole drilled through the middle. You can usually get this done at a local hardware or lumber store for little or no fee. Thread the rope through the hole, tie a few knots on the other side to keep it from slipping through, and your seat is done.
If you prefer a tire swing, head to a local dump and pick out your choice of old tires. Once you have your tire, cut a hole in the middle of the tread on one side, thread the rope through, and tie it off to secure it. Your tire swing is now ready!
Before you start swinging in earnest, make sure to test the safety of your creation. Tie the free end of the rope to the strong branch that you selected, and then give it a few good tugs to make sure it is secured. Before you start swinging back and forth, jump up and down on the swing a few times to make sure it can support much more force than just your weight. Once you are confidently secure, swing away!
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