Building A Swing Set

So, you are feeling ambitious and want to build a swing set for your beloved children? Good for you. May I help you in my own little way by provide a to-do list for building a swing set?

Let me start with the materials that you would need to use for a simple A-frame swing set and the tools you will need to facilitate the work.

The following are the raw materials and hardware:

- Four (4) metal A-frame brackets of 4” x 4”

- Two (2) metal angle brackets of 2” x 4”

- Four (4) boards of 1” x 4” x8’ for holding the A-frames during assembly. Otherwise you will need a couple extra people to help you.

- One (1) pressure treated board of 2” x 4” x 12’ for A-frame cross member braces.

- One (1) pressure treated board of 2” x 4” x 8’.

- Four (4) pressure treated boards of 4” x 4” x 8’.

- One (1) pressure treated board of 4” x 4” x 16’.

- One (1) box of galvanized screws of 3”.

- One (1) box of galvanized screws of 4”.

- One (1) box of galvanized eye bolts, washers and nuts of 5”.

- One (1) gallon of redwood paint or varnish.

The following are the pre-fabricated items:

- Three (3) plastic swing seats with chains.
- Two (2) trapeze bars with chains.
- One (1) step ladder.

The following are the tools:

- Circular saw.

- Power drill and screwdriver attachment.

- Speed square.

- Framing square.

- Carpenter’s level.

- Line level.

- Tape measure.

- Pencil

- Safety glasses, dust mask, work gloves, protective clothing.

The following are instructions and tips:

- Since this swing set you are constructing will be erected in your backyard and will be exposed to weather changes, you will need to make sure that the lumber and hardware are pressure treated and galvanized to resist moisture, insect infestation and rotting.

- Pressure treating lumber uses harsh chemicals. You must shield yourself by wearing protective clothing.

- Follow up with paint or varnish.

- You must either find a level area in your backyard or create one with the use of fill dirt or pea gravel.

- Use the four 4” x 4” x 8’ boards, the one 2” x 4” x 12’ board and the one 2” x 4” x 8’ board to lay out the A-frame shape.

- Cut the 2” x 4” x 12’ board in half and use each half for the lower brace of the A-frame.

- Use the 8’ board for the top brace and angle braces from the A-frame to the cross beam.

- Cut the 8’ board in four pieces = two of 3’ cuts and two of 1’ cuts. The 3’ cuts will be the angle braces from the A-frame to the cross beam and the 1’ cuts will be the top A-frame braces.

- Position the 8’ 4” x 4” boards in an A shape using the other cut boards and fasten them with the lag bolts to secure.

- The top A-frame brace will go inside the A-frame and the lower brace will go on the outside of the frame.

- Fasten through the lower brace into the upright A-frame supports and fasten through the upright A-frame supports into the top brace. Do not use the angle braces yet.

- Stand the A-frame up. Let us assume that you do not have anyone’s held. So, when you stand the A-frame up you will need to attach one board to the frame with one screw and then go to the other side of the same A-frame and attach another board going in the opposite direction with one screw.

- Position the A-frame so that it is level and then place another screw in the braces so the A-frame stands on its own.

- Repeat the same process with the other A-frame.

- Stand the A-frames nine feet apart and your cross beam will extend out 2½’ on each side.

- Take your crossbeam, a pressure treated board of 4” x 4” x 16’ and raise it up so it rests on one of the frames. Go to the other side and carefully raise the crossbeam to rest on the other A-frame.

- Attach the crossbeam to the A-frames with the A-frame brackets.

- Position the remaining angle braces angled down on the opposite sides of the crossbeam and fasten to the top brace of the A-frame.

- Use the angle brackets to attach the braces and double check that everything is fastened securely.

- For the two trapeze bars, drill a hole two inches from the end and drill another hole eighteen inches from there. Repeat the same at the other end.

- For the three swings, drill a hole on the side of the angle brace, six inches from the brace and drill another hole eighteen inches from there. Repeat the same at the other end. Measure your distance and drill two more holes eighteen inches wide in the center of the other two holes.

- Put in the eye bolts and hand the swings and trapeze bars. Important note: the height will depend on the age of your children.

- Secure the entire swing set by using a couple anchor rods sunk into the ground.