How to make a swing with your own hands from different materials

Classic board swing

What do you need

Thick rope;
board 30–50 mm thick;
drill;
drill;
hacksaw;
dye;
brush.

How to do

1. Cut a piece of board about 50 cm long with a hacksaw or other saw that you have on hand.

YouTube channel Jeremy Rabe

2. To protect from precipitation and give a more aesthetic appearance, paint the resulting seat.

YouTube channel Jeremy Rabe

3. Using a drill a couple of millimeters larger than the thickness of the rope used, make two holes - at both ends of the board. Step back 2-3 cm from the edge so that the seat does not break, and drill exactly in the vertical center for an even suspension.

YouTube channel Jeremy Rabe

4. Divide the rope into two equal parts, make loops at the ends and secure to a suitable branch. Place the ropes at a distance approximately equal to the width of the seat.

YouTube channel Jeremy Rabe

5. Thread the ends of the ropes into the holes of the board and tie a couple of knots, choosing the desired height.

YouTube channel Jeremy Rabe

6. Try swinging.

YouTube channel Jeremy Rabe

What can be changed

If you don't have a board, a shovel handle, a log or a piece of plywood will work as a seat.

Children's swing for home.

There are no swings just for indoor use, since if desired, they can always be taken outside. The peculiarity of swings for home use is that they most often do not have a frame, but are suspended directly from the ceiling, from a door frame or from a metal crossbar.

Children's swing in the doorway.

Ordinary ropes are most often used as hangers for home swings.

As for the swing seat, it can be soft or hard, depending on your wishes and capabilities. The main thing is that this seat is durable. For this, you can use any materials; even part of the window sill from a plastic window is suitable for these purposes. But usually a piece of board or plywood is used for a hard seat, and strong strips of fabric or tarpaulin are suitable for a soft seat.

It is important to install the swing in the widest part of the apartment where possible. The greater the distance from the edge of the seat to the wall, the less chance the child will hit.

Swing made from a disc and one rope

What do you need

4–5 boards 30–50 mm thick and 400–500 mm long;
thick rope;
hammer;
nails;
brush;
paint or varnish;
clamps;
glue;
drill;
wood drill;
roulette;
thread;
pencil;
jigsaw;
sanding machine or sandpaper;
file.

How to do

1. Build a platform from boards. To do this, coat the side ends with glue, connect them together and tighten them with clamps. A simpler option: nail two bars across the boards, stepping back 10 cm from the edge.

YouTube channel Mitch Deitrich

2. Sand the top of the pad by hand with sandpaper or using a machine.

YouTube channel Mitch Deitrich

3. Using a tape measure, find and mark the center of the site with a pencil. Also put a line at a distance of 10 mm from the edge of one of the sides.

YouTube channel Mitch Deitrich

4. Drive a nail into the center, tie a pencil to it with a thread and draw a circle with a radius length along the mark at the edge of the area. Pull out the nail: you won't need it anymore.

YouTube channel Mitch Deitrich

5. Cut out a circle with a jigsaw and smooth out the sharp edges with a file or sandpaper.

YouTube channel Mitch Deitrich

6. Using a drill, make a hole in the center with a diameter 2–3 mm larger than the thickness of the rope of the future swing.

YouTube channel Mitch Deitrich

7. Using a file, grind off the resulting sharp edges in the center so that the rope does not fray when swinging.

YouTube channel Mitch Deitrich

8. Paint or varnish the resulting seat and wait until everything dries.

YouTube channel Mitch Deitrich

9. Thread the rope through the hole and tie a couple of knots so that it does not fall through.

YouTube channel Mitch Deitrich

10. Secure the free end of the rope to the tree.

YouTube channel Mitch Deitrich

What can be changed

The round seat can be easily replaced with a fairly strong rectangular board. This will not make your riding any worse.
In order not to bother with splicing boards, you can take a piece of plywood that is suitable in size.

Swing for little ones

The playground for children must have devices that are suitable for the different ages of children. Pendulum swings are in demand among children. It’s easy to make a spring swing for a playground yourself. You will need car springs.

The base can be a reinforcing cross, to which a metal anchor is attached by welding. First, a hole is also dug and the base is prepared for installing a metal structure. Then, just like in the previous versions, all this is filled with concrete.

A seat is attached to the spring, which can be made based on the imagination of the master. For a girl you can make a horse from boards, for a boy you can make a motorcycle or a car.

Swing made from an old tire

What do you need

Tire;
bicycle camera;
rope;
insulating tape;
steel washers according to the diameter of the rope;
staples;
drill;
drill;
knife;
thin cord or fishing line.

How to do

1. Estimate the approximate length of the rope so that it is enough from the branch to the ground, and add 1 m as a reserve.

Wrap the tape in the right place so that the edges do not fray, and separate the piece with a sharp knife.

YouTube channel Chris Notap

2. Cut the bike tube and put it on one end of the rope.

YouTube channel Chris Notap

3. Tie this part so that you get a loop wrapped around the camera. This will protect the rope from chafing and prevent it from cutting into a branch.

YouTube channel Chris Notap

4. Throw the rope over the branch and tighten the loop. For convenience, you can use a thin cord with a weight attached to it.

YouTube channel Chris Notap

5. Form a knot at a height of approximately 1.5–1.7 m from the ground.

YouTube channel Chris Notap

6. Cut two more pieces of rope, each about 2 m long. Thread them into a knot on the hanger, and then tie one knot at each end to secure it.

YouTube channel Chris Notap

7. Tighten a knot on the main rope from the branch. You should now have three ends that will hold the tire.

YouTube channel Chris Notap

8. Divide the tire into three approximately equal parts and drill holes with a diameter equal to the thickness of the rope, moving away from the edge of the tire. On the back side, make a few more holes to drain rainwater.

YouTube channel Chris Notap

9. Insert the ropes into the holes, put on the washers, and secure the ends with clamps.

YouTube channel Chris Notap

10. Release the tire and try to swing.

YouTube channel Chris Notap

What can be changed

Instead of clamps, you can simply tie knots that will prevent the rope from falling into the washers and will securely hold the entire structure.
If desired, the tire can be easily painted so that it looks more aesthetically pleasing and does not stain clothes.

Outdoor wooden swing - children's joy in flight

Making swings from wood is the most common practice. This is not surprising, because they have the following advantages:

environmental friendliness;
availability of lumber;
relatively low cost;
ease of working with wood;
safety. Wood is a soft material, which reduces the risk of serious injury from a fall.

Thanks to the properties of wood, children's wooden swings can be found in almost any private yard or country house. In terms of mobility, they are divided into stationary and portable. Swings made of wood, unlike metal ones, are often made stationary, because the tree does not have sufficient weight for stable standing (the frame of a wooden swing requires reliable fastening).

Based on this feature, it is necessary to consider the installation location of the swing.

Where to put the swing?

When choosing a place you need to consider:

viewability. The child should be visible whenever possible;

remoteness. The economic zone and the nearby pond are not a place for games. If there are no other options for installation, you need to fence off the areas. Also make sure that the swing is placed at a safe distance from fences, walls with windows, trees, etc. flight obstacles. It is also not worth installing a swing near communications;

illumination and shading. The installation location should be light, but create a shadow, especially in the summer at midday;

humidity. Outdoor swings made of wood will become unusable from excessive moisture, not to mention its harm to the child;

absence of drafts;

absence of poisonous plants, allergens, honey plants, thorny bushes;

surface topography at the installation site. The installation location of the swing needs to be leveled. Then there will be no need to vary the length of the support pillars, and nothing will interfere with the child’s enjoyment of his favorite pastime;

quality of fastening of each swing unit.

How to make a wooden swing with your own hands - step-by-step instructions

To be sure of reliability, you need to build the swing yourself. A step-by-step guide for beginners will help indicate the right direction and construction plan.

Plank swing

What do you need

A piece of furniture board;
square;
pencil;
rope;
drill;
drill;
file;
sanding paper or plane;
hacksaw;
matches or lighter.

How to do

1. Step back 250–300 mm from the edge of the furniture board, attach a square and draw a line with a pencil.

YouTube channel “Mikhail Le-Dantu”

2. Use a hacksaw to saw off the future swing seat along the line.

YouTube channel “Mikhail Le-Dantu”

3. Mark with a pencil the places for attaching the rope in each corner, departing 20 mm from the edges.

YouTube channel “Mikhail Le-Dantu”

4. Drill holes. Select a diameter such that the rope passes with difficulty and does not dangle.

YouTube channel “Mikhail Le-Dantu”

5. Saw off the sharp corners of the board with a hacksaw and then file it down. If you want it to be neat, first mark the shape with a template, coin or other round object.

YouTube channel “Mikhail Le-Dantu”

6. Round the top edge of the board with sandpaper or a plane so that the child does not get hurt.

YouTube channel “Mikhail Le-Dantu”

7. Cut two identical pieces of rope and burn their ends.

YouTube channel “Mikhail Le-Dantu”

8. Thread the ropes through the holes in the board on each side so that the free ends are on top.

YouTube channel “Mikhail Le-Dantu”

9. Secure the ends of the ropes to any strong support, such as a wall bars.

YouTube channel “Mikhail Le-Dantu”

What can be changed

If the furniture board is replaced with a cutting board, then all that remains is to drill holes and secure the ropes.
The swing can be hung in a doorway, on a tree, on the beam of a terrace or gazebo.

Swing made of polypropylene pipes and plywood

What do you need

Polypropylene pipe;
rope;
plywood;
carbines;
hacksaw;
pipe cutter;
drill;
drill;
dye;
brush.

How to do

1. Cut a seat measuring 30 × 30 cm or 30 × 40 cm from plywood. Drill holes in the corners for attaching the rope. If desired, coat the plywood with paint.

Cut the polypropylene pipe into pieces: 15 cm - four pieces, 25 cm - two pieces, 35 cm - two pieces. Drill through holes in each section along both edges.

Divide the rope into two equal pieces. Then fold each one in half, thread it through and secure it in the carabiners. These will be the left and right hangers.

YouTube channel “Marcel Yarmakov”

2. Take the longest piece of pipe and thread one rope from the right and left hangers into the holes on each side.

YouTube channel “Marcel Yarmakov”

3. Next, string one middle section of pipe, also inserting a rope through the holes at the ends of the parts.

YouTube channel “Marcel Yarmakov”

4. Next - one short piece at a time. Here the rope is inserted into the pipe itself along its entire length.

YouTube channel “Marcel Yarmakov”

5. Now thread the free ends of the left and right hangers through the holes of the second long piece.

YouTube channel “Marcel Yarmakov”

6. Thread the rope into the remaining open holes in the mid-length tubes. And then add one short piece at a time, again passing the rope through the pipe along its entire length.

Pass the free ends of the hangers into the holes in the seat and tie a knot in each of them.

YouTube channel “Marcel Yarmakov”

7. Attach the carabiners to any strong support. The swing is ready!

YouTube channel “Marcel Yarmakov”

What can be changed

The seat can also be easily made from a cutting board or piece of wood of a suitable size.
Instead of pipes, wooden blocks or cuttings from garden tools will do. True, you will have to tinker with drilling holes for the rope.

Selecting material for seating

What can you make a balance swing seat from?

from solid materials - plywood, boards, timber, logs, plastic;

from soft materials - foam rubber, felt placed in a case;

leave it without a seat at all, because you can sit quite comfortably on the wooden balancer itself (rocker arm).

What to make a seat for an outdoor hanging swing from?

Made of plastic

The plastic swing seat is the most affordable. The plastic seat is purchased ready-made and installed on the swing. The disadvantage is fragility and low strength. If several children sit on the seat (and they manage to fit two, three or four of them), then the plastic will not hold up and will break. In addition, any plastic deteriorates when exposed to ultraviolet radiation and low temperatures. They rarely buy it for the street, because... under these conditions, its lifespan is very short;

Made of metal

The metal seat is suitable for metal swings that are installed in public playgrounds. However, swings with a metal seat are not at all attractive to children when it is hot (the seat is very hot) or cold (in winter). Therefore, this option is not acceptable for home swings;

Made of rubber

The rubber seat is suitable for intensive use. Sitting on it is not entirely comfortable, and riding while standing is simply dangerous, so only a few parents give it preference;

From fabric

A cover with filling (pillow, mattress) cannot act as a seat on its own, but they are placed on top of the main structure so that the child, especially the toddler, is comfortable. The soft seat ensures that the baby will not harm himself while on the swing. However, the fabric is afraid of water, therefore, you must remember to bring it into the house;

Made from hoop, rope and elastic band

You can make a swing-nest (web) from a hoop. For production, a hoop 120 cm in diameter is used and intertwined with rope using macrame technology. The round web seat looks very stylish. Typically this material is used to make hanging garden swings;

From a car tire

Old tires can be tied up as a ready-made element or formed into different shapes. It should be noted that the strength of a figured seat made from a tire is much lower than a whole one;

Made of wood

The simplest and most convenient material for arranging a seat, since on the one hand it is accessible and easy to process. On the other hand, it provides unlimited scope for imagination. After all, a carved wooden seat for a children's swing can become a work of art;

From plywood, OBS, chipboard

A more budget-friendly option for wood materials for seating. Their common disadvantage is that they are multi-layered. Formaldehyde is used as a binder, which is a dangerous carcinogen, and they swell from moisture, so they are not suitable for outdoor swings.

Skateboard swing

What do you need

Old skateboard;
rope;
shovel handle;
roulette;
pencil;
drill;
drill;
dye;
screwdriver.

How to do

1. Remove the wheels and everything unnecessary from the board.

YouTube channel DIY Network

2. Step back 5 cm from the edges and place marks for four holes for the ropes: two on each side.

YouTube channel DIY Network

3. Drill through these places. Select the diameter so that the rope holds as tightly as possible.

YouTube channel DIY Network

4. Cut two pieces of 30–40 cm long from the cutting and drill one hole in them on each side. Step back 3-5 cm from the edge to prevent the wood from cracking. These will be the hand rests.

YouTube channel DIY Network

5. Paint the bars the same color as the skateboard.

YouTube channel DIY Network

6. Divide the rope into two equal pieces and fold in half. Tie a knot at each end, but don't pull it too tight yet.

YouTube channel DIY Network

7. Thread the rope through the bars, make another knot, and then pass the rope through the holes in the skateboard. Tie knots at the free ends at the bottom of the board.

YouTube channel DIY Network

8. Hang the structure on a suitable tree branch and use the knots to adjust the handles to a comfortable position.

YouTube channel DIY Network

What can be changed

If you make thicker single hangers with a split on the skateboard, you can easily do without handles.

How to make a children's swing from a profile pipe

The profile pipe allows the swing structure to be made especially durable and reliable. This homemade product will serve children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for a long time. The entire structure can be assembled from a metal profile. But most often it is used exclusively as a basis. And the seats are made of wood. You can make a base for the visor and cover it with polycarbonate. Then you can relax on it both in the heat and in the rain (if you really want to).

Source

Swing made of profile pipe 2 m.

Profile 40 by 40
Corners
Short link chain 5 mm. diameter
Ring nuts
Carbines

Pay attention to the spacers at the top, which will prevent the structure from distorting over time. Below, the soil will be leveled, profiles will be dug in and the foundation will be secured to them.

We put spacers a little lower.

The seat is made of a 40 by 40 profile. Eye nuts and carabiners for fastening - 4 pcs. The seat itself is made of larch and covered with 3 layers of tinted antiseptic. It is advisable to put caps on the profile. The profiles are painted with 3 in 1 primer in two layers.

Swing with supports and a purchased seat

What do you need

Board 50 × 200 mm;
board 25 × 100 mm;
2 anchor bolts with rings;
2 carbines;
timber 50 × 100 mm;
nails;
swing seat;
hammer;
roulette;
drill;
drill;
hacksaw or jigsaw.

How to do

1. Cut the parts needed to assemble two supports: four 2.5 m pieces from a 50 × 200 mm board, four 1.35 m pieces from a 25 × 100 mm board and four 35 cm pieces from 50 × 100 mm timber .

Assemble the structure in the shape of the letter “A”. Fold the long boards at an angle and nail the lintels from the middle sections to them. Reinforce the top of the support with short pieces of timber.

Build the second swing support in the same way.

YouTube channel “Dacha TV”

2. Trim any exposed edges with a hacksaw or jigsaw to avoid injury.

YouTube channel “Dacha TV”

3. On the crossbars at the top of the letter “A”, place a piece of 50 × 200 board 2 m long and nail it. Raise the entire structure.

YouTube channel “Dacha TV”

4. In the middle of the beam, drill holes for fasteners at a distance of 50–70 cm from each other. Wrap the anchor bolts with rings into them.

YouTube channel “Dacha TV”

5. Hang the seat on ropes and secure it with carabiners on the rings.

YouTube channel “Dacha TV”

6. Check the strength of the structure.

YouTube channel “Dacha TV”

What can be changed

Instead of boards for supports, you can use round beams or logs.
A purchased seat can be easily replaced with a homemade one.

DIY wooden swing for children

Since it is not always possible to find a durable tree on your own site, and it is a shame to spoil it, it is better to immediately take care of a durable structure for placing the swing. If you do not have the skills to work with metal, the best option would be to build from wood. In this case, you can use both prepared lumber (timber, round logs, boards) and improvised material - trunks and branches of cut trees cleared of bark (or even not debarked). In the second case, you should definitely check the prepared parts for rot, mold, cracks and other defects.

Depending on the chosen design (A-shaped or U-shaped), the base of the structure is prepared:

racks - one (for U-shaped) or two (for A-shaped) parts;
a crossbar that will serve as a place for hanging the swing;
additional tie bars (optional);
the swing itself with hanging elements (rope or chains).

One of the simplest and most stable do-it-yourself wooden swings for children is shown in the diagram below.

Here, the A-shaped side elements have two additional connections - at the very top (a gusset made of metal or wood, secured to the wood with self-tapping screws) and a bar approximately in the middle of the height. To strengthen the structure, braces are also used to connect the gusset and cross member. The legs of the supports are buried in the ground to a depth of 30...50 cm, and it is advisable to concrete them. Thus, to the height of the swing indicated in the sketch, it is worth adding 30...50 cm for depth.

If there are two or more children in the family, you can choose the option of a children's swing with your own hands for two places.

In this diagram, the height is also shown without taking into account the penetration of the supports into the ground.

The seat is suspended using ropes on protective loops or chains. For fastening to the crossbar, hooks are screwed in from below or through holes are drilled for threading the rope.

Another option for mounting the seat on the crossbar.

If you want to make not just a do-it-yourself wooden swing for children, but a full-fledged place for relaxation, you should work a little and build a structure under a canopy with a neat sofa instead of a simple board.

Chair swing

What do you need

Chair;
rope;
dye;
brush;
hacksaw;
drill;
drill;
sanding paper.

How to do

1. Saw off the chair legs with a hacksaw near the seat.

YouTube channel deco dino

2. Using a drill, make one hole in each corner of the seat.

YouTube channel deco dino

3. Sand the surface of the chair with sandpaper.

YouTube channel deco dino

4. Coat the resulting swing seat with fresh paint and let it dry.

YouTube channel deco dino

5. Divide the rope into four equal parts. Thread each piece through the hole and tie a couple of knots.

YouTube channel deco dino

6. Using the free ends, hang the structure from a thick tree branch.

YouTube channel deco dino

What can be changed

The swing can be hung on the terrace or in the gazebo. It will be especially cool to build several of these structures and relax with friends.

Preparatory stage: dimensions, drawings, calculations

If the issue with choosing a swing model has been resolved, it’s time to start drawing, selecting tools and materials from which you plan to build a miracle of landscape design for your child that will be the envy of your neighbors. Each owner suggests what material would be best to make a swing from. Profile metal pipes or wooden beams (even trimmings of thick trunks of old trees) can be used as a basis.

If the pendulum of your doubts has swung in favor of a wooden building, then you need to have on your farm wooden blanks for a base made of timber or a trunk, as well as woodworking tools:

circular saw, drill and jigsaw;
wood screws, a screwdriver, bolts with nuts and washers of the required size;
hammers, pliers, tape measure;
chains, cable or strong rope to secure the seat;
special means to protect wood from moisture and multi-colored paints to delight the baby;
shovel, sand and cement, if there is a need for concreting pits for supports.

And if you are the happy owner of a welding machine, and electric welding is commonplace for you, then if you have iron material, it is quite possible to weld the structure yourself. Such swings are the strongest, most durable and reliable. Both children and adults can swing on them.

Balance swing and the simplest hanging swing

Both types of swings can be easily built by even a novice carpenter. Every man who understands full responsibility for the well-being and mood of his baby will be able to master the drawings and step-by-step instructions.

The balancer is more suitable for older children. Playing in pairs adapts the child to society, instills sociability and cooperation skills. The irresponsible actions of one child can result in injury to another.

Of all types of swings, the balancer is the least expensive in terms of materials, time and labor invested. When building a swing, it is necessary to take into account the age of the children and their weight.

Correct calculations will help you avoid mistakes when making swings

In a hanging swing, the main load is carried by the racks, and the seat can vary depending on your imagination, skills and additional finishing materials.

When making a swing, adhere to the recommended sizes

Calculation of the necessary materials for the production of hanging swings and balance beams

The swing-balancer is constructed with both a wooden base and an iron one. Moreover, the seats themselves can even be made of plastic. Their types and shapes can vary from mice to horses. It would be original to make seats for the animal in whose year the baby was born: a tiger cub, a kitten, a monkey, a dog.

Since working with iron and a welding machine requires certain skills, it is easier to make a swing out of wood. The most suitable wood is oak, birch or pine. Wooden structures do not require concreting and are relatively stable.

The same materials are used in the construction of hanging swings. The wood is cut based on the dimensions in the drawings using tools for woodworking (or metalworking, if you decide to work with iron).

Garden swing with supports