Plans for a pimped out wodden swingset for the kids?

[StageLeft]

I can't find online plans for a simple swing set with some pics. I want a 7.5' or so high swingset to replace the metal ones they're close to outgrowing. The forts/stairs and all that are a waste of time. I figure about $100 in wood and I can have a pimped out three-swing swingset. Have you seen any good plans or built one along these lines? I want it strong enough to hold a 300 lb adult. Everything store-bought is exhorbitantly expensive and generally come with the chronically-underutilized "forts" and slides (kids never really use these).

 

[StageLeft]

Oops forgot to subscribe.

 

[RKS]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I can't find online plans for a simple swing set with some pics. I want a 7.5' or so high swingset to replace the metal ones they're close to outgrowing. The forts/stairs and all that are a waste of time. I figure about $100 in wood and I can have a pimped out three-swing swingset. Have you seen any good plans or built one along these lines? I want it strong enough to hold a 300 lb adult. Everything store-bought is exhorbitantly expensive and generally come with the chronically-underutilized "forts" and slides (kids never really use these).

Elephants don't like swings.

 

[vi edit]

I'll take a picture of mine when I get home. It's a basic swing set. It's got a 4x6 across the top, two 4x6's each side to form the legs, and then a 2x6 across the legs for bracing. It stands about 7' tall and can easily hold both my wife and I and our daughter at the same time with no drama. That's a little over 300 pounds in weight. It's got three swings on it too.

Then there's some special metal brackets that are used at the top corners where everything comes together.

Looks like it would be simple enough to reverse engineer assuming you could find or devise a way to recreate the hardware that holds everything together.

 

[NuclearNed]

You might want to consider using that plastic composite wood substitute that people are using nowadays to build decks. Save yourself some time removing splinters from little hands.

 

[CoinOperatedBoy]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
You might want to consider using that plastic composite wood substitute that people are using nowadays to build decks. Save yourself some time removing splinters from little hands.

See, I was thinking the opposite: if you're not going to build a fort, at least add metal spikes to the swingset to ward off attackers.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
You might want to consider using that plastic composite wood substitute that people are using nowadays to build decks. Save yourself some time removing splinters from little hands.

You wouldn't find it in any size big enought to build a swing with it...let alone at a price that was reasonable. As for splinters, just run a sander over things before staining and you should be fine.

 

[geno]

I'm keeping an eye on this thread. I'd love to build (not buy!) a swingset / fort / slide dealie for my daughter.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: vi edit
I'll take a picture of mine when I get home. It's a basic swing set. It's got a 4x6 across the top, two 4x6's each side to form the legs, and then a 2x6 across the legs for bracing. It stands about 7' tall and can easily hold both my wife and I and our daughter at the same time with no drama. That's a little over 300 pounds in weight. It's got three swings on it too.

Then there's some special metal brackets that are used at the top corners where everything comes together.

Looks like it would be simple enough to reverse engineer assuming you could find or devise a way to recreate the hardware that holds everything together.

Thanks, that sounds like what I want.

Problem with the plastic wood is it's weaker and it's also expensive, so I don't think it's ideal for a swingset. I know with decks they have to shrink the gaps between planks due to the stuff's tendency to sag.

vi_edit did you concrete yours in or is the weight enough to keep it in place?

 

[Red Squirrel]

At our camp we had one made with 3 big logs from trees we had cut. Two logs for the main posts and a cross one on top held in place with that metal plumbing "tape" (the stuff to tighten a dryer hose to a vent). Was very solid. Also use ropes instead of chains for the swings, those make it more fun. We use to twirl around like 100 times then let go and spin super fast. For a home environment where trees that size arn't really accessible to cut, 4x4 wood posts may work and drive them into the ground and add cement. The top could probably just be screwed in and maybe add bracing for extra hold.

 

[vi edit]

I don't have our set concreted in. You really have to try to be crazy to get it to move. If my wife and I both swing in the same direction we can bring the opposite side off the ground just a wee bit. But we really have to be getting high in the air for that to happen.

Unless you are routinely planning on having 100+ pound kids on there all day and being reckless I wouldn't say concreting in the legs is necessary.

 

[geno]

Originally posted by: RedSquirrel
Two logs for the main posts and a cross one on top held in place with that metal plumbing "tape" (the stuff to tighten a dryer hose to a vent).

Wait, you're holding a log on top of two other logs with aluminum tape!?!? NOT SAFE, find a better way to fasten that, please!

 

[StageLeft]

Good, because concreteting sounded like a real pain. I think I want to get started on this bad boy asap, maybe tomorrow!

 

[vi edit]

Concreting wouldn't be that big of a deal. Just make your legs another 18" longer than planned, layout your swing, mark the holes, dig, add gravel base, put the set in place, fill 1/3 of the way with water, dump in quick-crete, tamp, add more quick-crete, add water, tamp, repeat until the hole is filled.

Let sit for 30 minutes. Done.

 

[StageLeft]

I suppose I could pull that off. When the swing set gets taken down in a decade or so it would have to be done with a saw, but that would be ok If I wait until after the fact, I'd have to rest the set on a concrete pad (so as not to lose height) and drill stakes into it. I only said 300lb man so that it would be strong, really this is for my kids and I want it to be bad-ass tough.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'd use wood. Wodd is horribly expensive and hard to find.

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I'd use wood. Wodd is horribly expensive and hard to find.

I thought that, too, but Home Depot is having a promotion on it and it's actually a bit cheaper than wood right now.

 

[Fritzo]

You're looking at 600-800 for a basic kit. Wood is $$$$$$$

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Fritzo
You're looking at 600-800 for a basic kit. Wood is $$$$$$$

No, wood isn't expensive. An 8' 4x6 plank is like $12. A 2x6 is like $8 for a 12' length.

 

[MotF Bane]

Originally posted by: vi edit
I'll take a picture of mine when I get home. It's a basic swing set. It's got a 4x6 across the top, two 4x6's each side to form the legs, and then a 2x6 across the legs for bracing. It stands about 7' tall and can easily hold both my wife and I and our daughter at the same time with no drama. That's a little over 300 pounds in weight. It's got three swings on it too.

Then there's some special metal brackets that are used at the top corners where everything comes together.

Looks like it would be simple enough to reverse engineer assuming you could find or devise a way to recreate the hardware that holds everything together.

This. That's pretty much exactly what my father had built when my sister and I were growing up.

Make sure the wood is pressure-treated so it will handle the weather fine.

Agreed also that concrete is unnecessary. Just bury the feet into the ground and you should be fine.

 

[vi edit]

Most of those kits are probably inflated 300% or more in actual material costs. They just make it so that you don't need any real power tools or carpentry skills to put them together.

You can craft them yourself using better quality lumber if not even larger sized lumber for a fraction of the cost.

 

[StageLeft]

I just priced it out at home depot. a 4X4X12 plank is just under $12. I need four of those. I then need a couple for the top and a couple to complete the a frame, but those are cheaper, so I think I'm looking at less than $100 for the wood. The metal fittings and screws and all that are going to run quite a bit, relatively speaking.

Most of those kits are probably inflated 300% or more in actual material costs. They just make it so that you don't need any real power tools or carpentry skills to put them together.

You can craft them yourself using better quality lumber if not even larger sized lumber for a fraction of the cost.

They are mind-blowingly expensive, like even a rinky entry level one is $400 at walmart.

 

[vi edit]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
I just priced it out at home depot. a 4X4X12 plank is just under $12. I need four of those. I then need a couple for the top and a couple to complete the a frame, but those are cheaper, so I think I'm looking at less than $100 for the wood. The metal fittings and screws and all that are going to run quite a bit, relatively speaking.

Most of those kits are probably inflated 300% or more in actual material costs. They just make it so that you don't need any real power tools or carpentry skills to put them together.

You can craft them yourself using better quality lumber if not even larger sized lumber for a fraction of the cost.

They are mind-blowingly expensive, like even a rinky entry level one is $400 at walmart.

Heh. That $400 one at Walmart is a freaking joke. It's held together by a couple 2x4 twigs and some duct tape. That thing would last one summer's worth of abuse and then be trashed.

 

[Homerboy]

Go to Home Depot. They have simple sets and plans for a HUGE range of sing sets.
Just buy the brackets that you need and scoop up the lumber there.

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I'd use wood. Wodd is horribly expensive and hard to find.

I thought that, too, but Home Depot is having a promotion on it and it's actually a bit cheaper than wood right now.

lol