2021 ᐈ

Not everyone can afford landscaping a country house. By making a garden swing with your own hands from metal, using the drawings and required dimensions, your yard will immediately be transformed. In today's publication, the editors of HomeMyHome will help you understand in detail several options for swings that are easy to make with your own hands.

An excellent option for a personal plot with a beautiful and smooth lawn PHOTO: landshaftdizajn.ru

Varieties of wooden swings

You can install various structures on your site:

Children's mini swings that don't require much space. A chair or seat with a backrest is suspended on a horizontal beam, a powerful tree branch or any strong support. The main thing is to minimize the risk of injury to the child from slipping and falling.
Swing “Nest” , where metal rings braided with cord or covered with fabric are used as a seat. You can make such structures with your own hands from a gymnastics hoop or a profile bent pipe.
A swing-bench for several people to ride at the same time, reaching a length of 2-2.5 m. The materials are wood, metal, plastic or combinations thereof. To protect from rain and sun, install a canopy made of polycarbonate or waterproof awning fabric.
A hanging ball chair is an original design in the form of a sphere with seating inside. In the traditional design, it is woven from flexible rattan. At home, bent metal tubes and durable plastic cord are used.

Showing your imagination, you can make a wooden swing with your own hands from anything. Home craftsmen use various items that have served their time - car tires, wicker baskets, old chairs, armchairs and even sofas.

How to make it for the street?

If you are interested in how to make an outdoor swing for children, then first you should choose a location, material and design. After you have prepared the drawing, calculate the number of materials and tools needed. Below, for your consideration, several swing options will be offered for installation on the street, in the yard or in the country.

Tire swing

The simplest design is a car tire suspended on a rope. The frame is a tree. The suspension means can be a chain secured with a bolt and nut. The second variation of this swing is done as follows:

place the old tire horizontally;
cut 3-4 holes in the upper part, insert metal hooks into them and secure them with washers and nuts;
Thread chains or twine into the loops of the hooks and hang them on a thick branch.

Wooden swing

The classic and simplest option is a swing made from a board on ropes. Four holes along the edges and twine threaded into them are enough. You can also use a wooden lattice, a cut log, or an old chair without legs as a seat.

From scrap materials

Even an unnecessary hoop can serve as the basis for the seat. It is braided with rope so that you can sit quietly in the middle. The hoop is additionally wrapped in foam rubber, batting or other similar material for softness, then covered with fabric. At four or more points of the hoop, fasteners in the form of metal rings are fixed, ropes or chains are passed through them - all that remains is to choose the tree to hang the finished structure.

Canvas swing

Take two large metal triangles, rivets and a piece of tarpaulin. Fold the fabric several times and sew around the perimeter. Then insert the triangles and secure with rivets. Next, secure it to a tree branch using ropes.

Wooden swing on supports

The following materials should be prepared:

strong rope;
bars;
plywood and slats for the seat;
galvanized bolts for fastenings.

Dig two holes 1 m deep to secure the support beams. Treat the bottom of the supports with bitumen to protect against rotting. Install them vertically in the pits, cover them with a 30-centimeter layer of a mixture of crushed stone and sand, then fill them with concrete. Attach a cross beam to the upper ends of the posts. Make a seat out of plywood and a picket fence, or in the form of a bench. Secure to the support structure with strong ropes.

Metal swing on supports

You can also make a metal swing yourself. To do this you will need metal pipes and beams, hooks, a metal cutter, and a welding machine. The manufacturing process includes the following steps:

cut the pipes into pieces of the required length - make 7 pieces of 2 m each and another 2 of 1–1.5 m each, 4 of the 2-meter ones are for the supporting sidewalls, 1 for the crossbar, and the remaining ones for the base of the frame;
weld the rectangular base of the structure;
weld the support posts to the base, then weld the crossbar to the upper ends of the supports;
dig 4 holes to a depth of 80–100 cm;
install beams in the finished pits; they should look slightly above the surface of the ground along the edges of the pits;
fill the pits with beams with concrete;
weld the hooks to the cross pipe;
now weld the finished structure to the metal beams;
attach the seat to the hooks.

Pendulum swing

To make this simple swing you will need 1 wide long board 5–7 cm thick, a cut log up to 70–80 cm high, 4 U-shaped fasteners made of reinforcement, 2 seats. First of all, dig a hole about half a meter deep. Install a vertically cut log into it and fill it with concrete for reliability. Next, cut four (two on each edge) holes in the middle of the board, 1 cm wide and 2–3 cm long. They should be located from each other at a distance equal to the width of the fastener. Cut two more similar holes closer to the edges of the board, leaving space for seats.

Attach 2 seats to the edges of the board. In front of them, thread them through the prepared holes and secure one U-shaped fastener so that the child can hold onto them with his hands. Lay the board horizontally on the log. Place the bottom ends of the two fasteners into the cut holes. Drive the fasteners into the log so that a few centimeters remain above the surface of the board, and most of it is securely seated in the log. Rock the board. Each edge should be able to touch the ground. If you did everything correctly, the pendulum swing is ready.

How to care for a wooden swing

The tree is subject to the destructive effects of many unfavorable factors. Fluctuations in temperature and humidity cause wood to crack. Sun rays provoke photoaging.

Woodworms gnaw through numerous passages, and mold and fungi quickly render wooden structures unusable.

Regular care will help protect against all this:

impregnation with antiseptic solutions;
treatment with waterproof paints;
varnishing with compositions for external use.

Events should be carried out at least once every 1.5-2 years.

Important. If possible, it is advisable to place the structure in a dry room for the winter, for example, a garage or shed. This will greatly extend the life of the garden swing.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Useful tips

To create a durable and maximally safe product, you need to follow the right steps:

Use metal chains for hanging. They are more aesthetically pleasing and much stronger than rope.
The dimensions of the support are no less than 250 x 150 cm.
The most stable supports are made in the form of the letter A.
If you weld crossbars at the bottom of such racks, they are not concreted and can be moved to another place.
A swing with one seat is made for children. Chains should have fine grain for the safety of the child.
It is necessary to treat such a structure before painting.
The best option for painting is auto enamel; it reliably protects against rust.
Plugs are placed on the holes to protect them from water.
Concreting is best done with M400 cement.

After complete readiness, the swing is covered with protective agents: paint or varnish Source novinkimebeli.ru

How to make a cocoon swing

The cocoon swing is a unique shape and the fact that it evokes a feeling, an association with secluded relaxation.

A cocoon is made from different materials:

welded, prefabricated metal structures;
bent plastic, polypropylene pipes;
rattan, wicker;
natural synthetic twine.

This is not the entire list of materials from which the cocoon is made. The main thing is to make a strong frame. Metal hoops and arcs are decorated with different means. The metal is treated with coloring compounds and wrapped with twine or woven material. The main thing is to approach your work creatively.

Wood as a material: characteristics and properties

To build a good swing, you first need to take care of selecting quality materials. The most popular is wood - a cheap and practical raw material that will not cause difficulties in use even for beginners, not to mention experienced builders. Outdoor swings for a summer cottage made of wood are popular in all types of areas - they fit organically into the landscape design and are easy to use.

Let's try to figure out what are the pros and cons of using such material.

Advantages and disadvantages of wood

You don't need to have any serious carpentry skills to work with wood - all you need is a few supplies (we'll talk about them a little later). Among the advantages of wood it should be noted:

environmental friendliness - such material looks more organic on the site, the more flowers, bushes and trees you place on it;
aesthetics of wooden buildings - with a competent approach to decoration, the result can exceed all expectations;
low price .

However, when listing the advantages, one cannot help but pay attention to some disadvantages. The most significant of these is the relative fragility of wood. Unlike a metal swing, a wooden swing will require much more careful care.

Wood with difficulty endures such natural factors as:

rain;
snow;
direct sunlight;
fungus and mold;
insects;
sudden temperature changes;
decay processes.

That is why it is important to cover the wood with special antiseptics or simply varnish or stain.

Which breed is better to choose for a swing?

Builders recommend paying attention to coniferous species (larch, pine) - they are strong and not susceptible to cracks, in addition, they suffer less from insect attacks.
Consider the fact that some species of coniferous trees can be subject to rot, which can be combated locally by covering the fungus-affected areas with a special antiseptic (pinotex has proven itself well).
Oak is considered an excellent raw material for buildings of any type, but it has a significant drawback - the high price of raw materials. However, it is very durable, massive and quite easy to work with when decorating.

Another option would also be to build a swing from linden - it is rarely used for large buildings, because it does not have a sufficient degree of protection from the cold, however, for a swing this factor does not play a significant role.

The material itself looks attractive, while possessing the necessary level of strength.

Unusual swing options

If you want to make something special for your children, we recommend that you pay attention to the unusual designs of homemade garden swings for the dacha. Their main difference is in the material, which is used either for the seat or for attaching the seat to the frame/wood.

You can create your own swing in the garden from tires, for example.

An excellent option for a wicker round swing is a tire suspended from several fastenings using a rope or chain. In order to make such a structure, you will need to punch the tire right through and thread a rope or chain through the resulting holes, securing it.
Another unusual swing option is floating benches . These are the most ordinary benches, suspended from a tree on ropes or chains. We recommend making such a garden swing from rattan or wicker and then hanging it by carabiners from the ceiling of your veranda or from a tree.

Another option is to make a swing in the shape of an object, such as a car or an airplane.

This design will take more time, but in the end your children will constantly play on them. To do this, you will need to spend a lot of time making individual parts, as well as connecting them together. However, the result will justify all your efforts.

Varieties of metal garden swings that you can make with your own hands

A truly durable structure can only be made from a metal profile. In this case, any cross-section of the material is used. The main thing is to know how to make a swing for children with your own hands. Such designs are usually divided into two options:

stationary (which are securely installed in the ground using welding or concrete);
portable (models that are convenient to transport from one site to another depending on the seasons or weather conditions).

A suitable mobile model of a swing with a small mass PHOTO: krepezhinfo.ru
They try to make mobile copies stable and practical. To prevent them from tipping over during operation, special holding structures are provided. It is advisable to make a swing from metal on bearings with your own hands; they are much more reliable.

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.

Mounting the fastening mechanism

Varies depending on the type of structure.

Hanging swing

They can be attached in two ways:

on the eye - nuts;
to nodes.

In the first option, through holes are made in a horizontal beam up to 5 mm.

Bolts with washers are used, and the eye-nuts are screwed on top.

Attach carabiners and ropes to the rack.

The second option is done:

The rope is thrown over the crossbar.
A sea knot is tied.
Attach the lower ends of the rope to the seat.

Chains can be used for hanging swings Source crocus-opt74.ru

Stationary

For this swing we use:

Mounted on a spring, it acts as a shock absorber. For a strong structure, the spring must be well secured. To do this, the eye is welded to the cross beam.

Install an anchor with a ring. The fastening is carried out in the central bank, the bolts are tightened.

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.

Selection of covers, mattresses and pillows

Covers for swings are most often chosen in bright colors - there is no mistake in this, but it is worth considering that the material may fade in air. It is best to select fabric for a garden swing from those that are considered waterproof (like tarpaulin or raincoat fabric).

There is no chance that you will always carry the pillows into the house on time, and with tarpaulins the rain will not be so bad, and it will be much easier to dry them later.

Pay attention to the fact that people will come into contact with the fabric, and not just natural factors - in order to make sitting on a swing not only comfortable, but also pleasant, you need to make sure that the fabric contains natural raw materials - for example , cotton or viscose.

The dimensions of the cover should be 3-4 mm larger than the dimensions of the seat so that you can adjust the cover. To attach the cover to the bottom of the wooden seat, we recommend using a construction stapler.

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.

Creative ideas

Most people prefer to make a classic garden swing with their own hands from metal or wooden beams. If the design is created for children, it is worth considering the design taking into account their hobbies.

For boys, the theme of airplanes, cars and other vehicles is relevant; girls will like decorations in the form of ribbons and flowers.

Thanks to a wide variety of ideas, you can make a beautiful swing with an original appearance. To produce a simple seat, you can use a regular car tire. Using hangers, the tire is attached to a tree branch or a ready-made support. The result is a stylish garden decoration.

Unusual swings made from pallets are extremely popular. There are single-seat models and large sun loungers, which are full-fledged places to relax. Comfortable seats are made from wooden circles, punching bags, and fitness balls.

It is important to remember that the amplitude of movement in this case will be quite high.

A convenient children's model is made from a hoop suspended on chains. The seat is wrapped with foam rubber or other soft filler and tied with ropes. Large seats are comfortable for sleeping, relaxing, lying down. The designs are distinguished by their spectacular appearance and have no age restrictions.

The swing bed performs a decorative function and has a wide range of functionality. The model is used for relaxation, sleep, various activities, and outdoor games. Suspended structures are fixed between posts or trees; products with a frame move freely around the garden or summer cottage.

Forged swings have an attractive appearance. Original patterns, smooth lines, metal elements are in harmony with almost any design of the site.

Swings for children in landscape design

When choosing a swing for your children, of course, first of all you need to take care of safety. And the younger your children are, the more careful you should be.

They need to be located away from extraneous obstacles.
Since children often fall or jump from swings on purpose, you need to make the soil under them as suitable as possible for this. The best solution would be a special flooring for children's playgrounds, or a carefully cleaned lawn, a mound of gravel, and sand. Good cushioning is needed here. So that it doesn’t hurt to “land.”
The playground itself should not be too small. So that the child has less risk of accidentally getting under the swing while simply walking on it.
The swing doesn't have to be heavy. For obvious reasons. The lighter the better. You can even take a model where, instead of chains and stick holders, there are ordinary ropes.
The material from which the swing is made. A forged metal swing is, of course, great from an aesthetic point of view, but safety during active children's games in this case clearly suffers. But plastic is another matter. They are much more difficult to injure. It is better if the structure is plastic, the seats are wooden, and the tubular structures are made of metal only for connecting the component parts.

By following these tips, you will create a fun and safe place for children to play with swings in the garden. It's just a matter of design. Here you can consult with the child himself in terms of color and design, and also look on the Internet at a photo of a kindergarten swing in a landscaped yard. And there you can choose the most suitable option for your garden.

Whatever swing is ultimately chosen (regular, children's, swing-bed, etc.), in any case, it will become one of the main highlights in the garden design and will invariably attract the attention of guests, and will give the owner hours of wonderful relaxation in in your garden