The King of Backyard Swings

(Page 3 of 3)

May/June 1988
By the Mother Earth News editors 
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The slide's 16' sideboards should each be cut to 15', rounded at one end and double-beveled at the other. That done, glue and nail the 12' slide section to the boards so it's flush with the rounded ends and 1¾” below the upper edges, taking care not to let the nail points poke through the sides. A 23" 2 X 6 can be added to the frame's bottom bevel to serve as a supporting foot.

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To fasten the slide to the deck frame, first nail the 12" X 17" plywood section beneath the slide's upper end, then attach the 6" hinges to that board and to the front joist. Both the nails and the hinge screws should be no more than 1¼” long; feel free to use ¼" bolts at the joist for extra strength.

The run-off sideboards are each cut to 30" in length, then rounded at one end and beveled to a 20° angle at the other. Fasten the 31" slide section to its boards so it will butt against the main slide, then nail the run-off sides and the ledgers to the main frame. Supports cut from the 2 X 6 scrap can be nailed to join the run-off and main side frames.

At this point, you're ready to wrap things up. Add the remaining balusters to the front of the deck, then thread the ½" rope through your swing-seat material and clamp it to itself. The tail should be wire-tied to the main rope, then both taped together. Seats, by the way, can be purchased as replacement kits or simply cut from old tires or industrial conveyor belts. Rings or a trapeze bar might also be used, especially at the outer-most position.

Determine the length of rope needed for each swing or bar, then bind the upper loops in the same manner as the lower ones. Use a metal cable eye at any place where the rope contacts a steel fastener; then you can connect the eyes to eyebolts with sturdy chain repair links.

The last step, of course, is to shovel about two cubic yards of clean, washed sand-known to brick masons as Columbian sand—into the box. It's a dismal prospect, but if you have the sand delivered, it can probably be dumped into place. Don't worry about what to do afterward. Your kids— and most of the neighbors'—will take care of that part all by themselves.

Editor's Note: Those who might want a bit more guidance in building a back-yard recreation set of their own should turn to 129 of this issue.

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