Swing Into Fall with a Tree Swing

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Wood: Measure six feet of nominal 4/5" thick, 6' wide (actual measure: 1 1/16" thick and 5½" wide) #2-grade Eastern white, Western red cedar, or California redwood decking, preferably with "eased" or rounded edges. If these naturally rot-resistant, non-splintering woods are not available, buy white oak or an other hardwood if you can. Common two-inch-thick construction softwood lumber is okay. It's thick and splintery but definitely better than thin, easy splitting, 1" pine shelving. Don't think of using deck boards of that colored, pressure-treated wood — you don't want a splinter containing arsenic or copper preservative in your child's tender bottom.
Rope: You'll need twice the swing's height plus four yards of 3/8"-diameter twisted "poly" rope ($.15/ft.). Poly-twist comes in white, yellow, and a woodsy-looking brown. Though it gives the best grip of any, avoid natural-fiber manila rope, which will rot in time and break when least expected. Braided nylon rope is seductively soft and pliant, but is too slippery to afford a good hand-hold, and at a half-dollar and up, very expensive. Don't ever use a common clothes line.
Screws: For an electric power-driver, you'll need 26 #6, 1 7/8"-long galvanized deck screws ($.10 apiece); for hand-driving, use 26, #6, 1 7/8" brass screws ($.25 each).
Glue: Use a small amount of waterproof wood glue.
Twine: You'll need several feet of 1/16" thick 20 to 30 lb nylon twine.
Washers: Use four 3/8" brass or stainless steel washers ($.20 a piece).
Staples: You'll need four galvanized 1/2" fence staples.
Finish: Use a small amount of nontoxic, colorless deck preservative.
Eyescrews: You'll need two closed-ring-end galvanized giant wood screws, three or four inches long with a 1/4" shank ($.50).
"S" Hooks: Use two 1/4" galvanized steel rod joiners ($.50).  

Build The Seat

The seat is made from a pair of narrow boards (a single, wide board might split). It is ten inches deep and 16 inches wide to offer young children an ample seat, a good leg hold, and a snug, safe fit. If your kids are broad in the beam, or the swing is going to be used by older teens and adults, cut the seat boards 18 inches long.

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