All parents make sure that their children have an interesting and fun time. And there is no such child who would not like to ride on a swing. This is not only great fun, the swing also trains the vestibular apparatus and improves coordination of movements. To date, a huge variety of swing options have been invented using various mechanisms, materials and designs, so that each parent can choose an option that meets all his requirements (appearance, dimensions, price). However, there is no need to rush to the store to buy, because the swing is quite simple in design, and you can easily and inexpensively make it yourself.
Varieties
The design of the swing for children and adults is slightly different. Swings for the little ones can be made of plastic that can withstand a small weight, and they are usually equipped with a back and a crossbar so that the child does not fall while riding. In the swing for older children, plastic elements are not present, and the structure becomes more open. In any case, the main requirement for a children's swing is its reliability and safety.
According to the method of attachment, the swing can be suspended or floor. The latter, in turn, are divided into spring swing and balance swing. The spring mounts various animal or vehicle-shaped seats. Due to the fact that the spring does not compress, but only sways, this type of swing reduces the likelihood of injury to the child.
Balance swing can be single or double, simple shape or with unusual design
Hanging swings can be of various configurations:
The simplest swing design, familiar to everyone from childhood, is the bungee. Consists of a rope fixed at the top on a sturdy crossbar and a seating board. The most primitive option - instead of a plank at the bottom, the rope is simply tied with a strong volumetric knot
The simplest swing also includes a tire swing. They can be hung vertically or horizontally, cut out unusual shapes, which allows you to create a lot of different options.
The construction is more complicated - the board is suspended by two ropes, fixed symmetrically along its edges. A piece of thick cloth (such as tarpaulin) can be used instead of a plank, and the rope can be replaced with chains
The wider seats are attached with four ropes or chains. Here you can give free rein to imagination and use old chairs (by sawing off their legs), wooden pallets, and even a bench with a back as a seat
An unusual version of a suspended swing is a soft swing. They can be made like a hammock or assembled from fabric and wooden sticks (for babies), or woven from twine on a hoop
9 pictures
A swing, made on the principle of a rocking chair, can be distinguished as a separate type. They are the safest for babies. But there are options for older children
What to make
The swing can be wood, metal, plastic, or a combination of these materials. If you decide to make a swing with your own hands, you first need to understand what skills you need to have and what tool you need to work with.
If you have never worked with a welding machine, grinder, hacksaw, then a metal swing is not your option. Although they are considered the most durable and reliable, a good wooden swing has a number of advantages. The tree is easier to handle, even beginners can handle it. For the best strength of your building, choose oak, cedar, birch, spruce, while making sure that there are no knots, holes or other defects on the logs - this is a guarantee of the safety of your child.
The only advantage of plastic as a material for a swing is its low price. It does not withstand heavy loads like wood and metal. Although very often a swing is built from scrap materials, remnants from repairs, etc. The main thing is to show a little imagination and spend a little time.
How to do it yourself
Everyone can build a swing with their own hands. Regardless of the model you choose, remember that all elements of the swing must fit snugly together and be positioned so that when rolling, the child's arms and legs cannot get stuck between them. The main requirement for a children's swing is their safety and reliability, so think over the design and carefully fasten and check all the attachment points for the swing elements. Stock up on good mood and materials necessary for construction and get started.
On a spring
A swing on a spring can be installed in the country or on the site near the house - the main thing is that it is possible to dig a hole of the required size. The spring is the spring of a truck, which can be purchased at the car market or scrap metal collection point. The size of the spring for such a swing must be at least 35 cm in height. From below, an anchor is attached to the spring using a boss. It is a pipe 50-60 cm long, to which a crosspiece made of reinforcement with a diameter of 20 mm is welded from below. The anchor with a reinforcing crosspiece is lowered into the pit, leveled and poured with concrete.
A boss is welded to the top of the spring, to which the swing body is attached. The body is attached to the boss with 30x4 mm metal strips (clamps) and fixed with bolts. The shape of the case can be any, first we draw its outlines on a Whatman paper, then transfer it to plywood and cut it out. It is also necessary to provide handles for the child to hold on to, and footrests. Their configuration depends on your imagination and available materials. The final touch is to paint the swing with bright colors.
On bearings
For older children, spring swing is no longer suitable. Now we need a more solid structure, which is not complicated in itself, but requires more resources. For a bearing swing, you must first build a support frame. It consists of two parallel posts connected by a crossbar.
The frame must be stable to keep your child safe. This can be achieved in different ways, depending on your capabilities and the location of the swing. The first option - the racks are buried deep in the ground and concreted. The second option - each support leg is a triangle, one side of which lies on the ground. Such racks must be connected to each other at all three vertices of the triangle to ensure the rigidity of the structure. We weld anchor pins to the lower pipes to anchor the structure in the ground.
We install bearings on the upper crossbar of the swing frame. We weld small pieces of metal on both sides of each bearing to secure them against horizontal displacement. We attach cables (chains) to the bearings, on which the seat hangs. The seat can be completely wooden or on a metal frame, with or without a backrest, single or in the form of a bench, even the option of two seats opposite each other is possible. The main thing is that the support and attachment points withstand.
The bearings can be fastened not to the uppermost tube, but by welding a small structure to it for fastening the bearings.
Metal swings can be made without the use of bearings. Half-rings are welded to the upper crossbar, on which the swing can be hung using a hook or U-shaped mount.
Suspended
The basis for the outdoor hanging swing is the support leg. You can hang the swing from a sturdy tree branch or veranda ceiling beam.
However, if this is not possible, you can make the support stand yourself by choosing the option that is most suitable for you:
We put two beams at an angle to each other in the form of the letter X. In the place of their intersection, we drive in fasteners. From above, in the V-shaped part, we horizontally put another bar and fix it on the supports.
We put two beams at an angle to each other and connect at the top point. We attach the upper crossbar on which the swing will be suspended to the posts using additional short boards or a metal pipe. At the bottom we make a horizontal crossbar for fixing (if you plan to move the swing from place to place and will not particularly strengthen them in the ground). If this is a stationary swing and support posts you have reliably deepened into the ground and cemented, then the lower crossbar can be omitted.
In an apartment, swings are usually suspended on a horizontal bar in a children's sports corner or on a metal pipe fixed in a doorway. If this is not possible, hooks can be used. They are installed on both sides of the door or hammered into the ceiling. Do not forget to take into account that there should be a lot of free space around the swing so that the child does not bump into anything and does not get injured while rolling.
The design of the suspended swing itself can be absolutely any. You can make a soft seat out of fabric and pillows (it is short-lived, afraid of bad weather, but cozy and comfortable), find a use for an abandoned old skateboard (its board is very durable), or brightly paint and hang old tires.
Bright and mobile option - swing hammock.
7 pictures
Option for needlewomen - pull the fabric over the hoop or weave the twine swing on the hoop. Such a swing can be easily hung indoors, if there is enough free space.
Rocking horse for the little ones
The design of such a swing is primitive. All you need to do is draw on whatman paper yourself or print ready-made patterns of the necessary parts, then transfer them to plywood or wooden boards and cut them out. Usually such a swing is made in the shape of a horse, but you can draw any other animal or vehicle.
Since these swings are designed for babies, only hypoallergenic materials can be used. It must be taken into account that the arc of the sidewalls should not go in a circle, because then the child will swing strongly, can turn over and be injured. It is necessary to take into account the size of the swing so that it is comfortable for the baby to climb onto the rocking chair and sit on it. Average dimensions are 110 cm long and 25-30 cm wide, height from floor to saddle 60 cm.
Building a swing - a creative business that allows you to give free rein to imagination and make the child's leisure more joyful and fun. However, for a person who first decided to build a swing, it is difficult to estimate the amount of materials needed and to determine the proportions of the product. At what height should the support bar be made, at what distance from the ground should the seat be positioned, or how deep in the ground should the swing be fixed? To answer these questions, you can study the already existing drawings of various swings, and then, already having a general idea of what structures are and what they consist of, make your own drawing or diagram. Having thought everything over on paper first, you will take into account all the details and structural elements, which will allow you not to spoil the building material with unsuccessful attempts and ultimately save your time.
Ideas for beautiful and original designs
If you decide to build a swing for your child yourself, try to take into account his interests and hobbies and reflect them in the design of the swing. If the son always plays with cars or launches airplanes, let these motives be traced in the form of a swing. Does the girl watch cartoons about princesses and adore beautiful dresses? Decorate the swing with flowers and ribbons to make it feel like a fairy tale, or make a swing in the shape of a carriage. Turn on your imagination and get creative.
A great opportunity to spend more time with your child - double swing, on which you can ride together at the same time, sitting face to face, and share the joy and fun.
And if the swing alone seemed to you a little, then you can retrofit the support posts with ladders or slides (you can buy a slide for a slide).
Today in the world there are a huge number of different models of unusual and interesting swings. For example, a swing from an old car with a soft seat and a canopy from the sun or rain. I am very pleased with the fact that they are building a swing of an unusual configuration, which allows children with disabilities to ride. The glowing swing looks beautiful and a little fabulous at night, and the waterfall swing is a double portion of joy. Every year the variety of swing types is only growing, professional designers or master dads come up with more and more interesting details and designs.
