Kinda woodworking - hey its made from wood!
A few years back we bought on of the prefab wooden swing sets for our SWMBO'ette (at the time there was only 1 - now there are 3 - all girls!) I never liked the way it was put together but never had the time to make it the way I wanted it. Always had the honey do list to knock out and the swing set kept going down further and further on the list. A few days ago the wife and I are out playing w/ the kids and they are on the swing set and all 3 are swinging - and the thing is just not looking that good - the cross beam ( a single 2x6) is just too bent and is flexing too much for my comfort. A trip to the old orange borg was in order!
3 2x6x16 4 4x4x12 2 2x4x12 some hardware and cement and we are good to go.Made 2 support posts by sanwitching some cut off 2x4s between the 4x4s Made a long swing beam by taking the 3 2x6s and secure them between the
4x4s. Dug a few 3' deep holes. Add cement and we are done.Like I said - I tend to overbuild things. Im sure I could have gotten away w/ using some smaller materials - but I like the security of knowing that there is no way this things is coming down unless I take it down. This thing is truly built like a tank. Myself and 3 of my buds had to test it out to be sure it was kid safe! There was barly any deflection at all. Also the old one was only 7' high - the new one is 9' so they get a much better swing arch. So far it got all thumbs up from the kids in the neighborhood.
Pics in A.B.P.W. You can see the remnets of what I took down. The "tower" is what is left of the old one. The SWMBO loves the new one and wants a new tower w/ a climbing wall on it. Gotta say - one of the more fun projects to do!
Kind of kewl thing is Ive had a few other parents see it and a few want one in there yard. Got 1 order for just a basic swing and one other w/ a tower!