Swing Into Fall with a Tree Swing

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Cut Wood (See Cutting Guide)

From the 1' x 6' decking lumber, saw off a scant 1/2" to square one edge and to give it a clean end. Then, cutting around knots, saw:

1. Two 16" long seat boards. Rip-saw 1/2" off the roughest long edge of each board.
2. One 9" long center cleat.
3. Two 9" long, 2½" wide end-cleats. Rip off the eased edges for a more finished look.

Fasten Cleats To Seat (See Layout and Fastening Diagram)

Place the seat boards on a flat scrap lumber surface with the cut edges facing one another. To provide a drainage slot, place the spacers of cardboard (from the back of a writing tablet) between them at the ends and the middle.

1. Spread glue on one side and then place the cleats. The center cleat should be in the middle and the end cleats should be inset a half-inch from the edges of the seat. Clamp or weight in place.
2. Pilot-drill 1/8" holes 1¾" deep through the cleats and the seat boards where screws will be located.
3. Turn screws into pilot holes so screwheads are just below the wood surface.

Drill Rope Holes

1. To locate the rope-attachment holes, draw a faint pencil line 1½" in from (and parallel to) the ends of the seat top. Make a pencil mark 1½" from the end of the lines. Make a dent at the pencil mark with a nail or punch to center the drill.
2. With a 5/8" wood-bit, drill four holes straight down and all the way through the seat board and end cleats from top-to-bottom.
3. Use a wood rasp to round sharp edges, and sandpaper to smooth rough surfaces — especially the front of the swing seat and the forward edges of the cleats. Sand-finish cleats, sides, and bottom as smooth as your craftsmanship dictates, but rough the top of the seat and/or cut shallow diagonal cross-hatches an inch apart in the seat with a handsaw or the edge of a file so a kid's rump can get a good purchase.
4. Coat the wood with several coats of wood preservative. Soak well if using any lumber except naturally self-preserving cedar or redwood.

Attach Ropes

The swing-ropes are attached to looped rope slings at each side of the seat. The slings give a snug hip-hold, and offer the swing greater stability; it can't tip forward or backward and dump a child who might be swinging too enthusiastically. And a small child can pull against the forward rope for better leverage.

The Rope Slings

Cut two 5-foot lengths of rope. Tape cut the ends or sear with a match until the ends melt so that the rope won't unravel (be careful not to breathe the smoke or let the hot, melted poly burn you).

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