Tall garden swing

Yorky · Rowan Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 148

Does anyone know where to get a tall wooden garden swing, say 8 -10 ft tall?

verge · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 12:48 am Post subject:

A rough idea of region?

Yorky · Rowan Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 148

North East

inishindie · Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 9:52 am Post subject: telegraph poles

Hi Yorky

Are you handy with wood?

You could make your own out of three telegraph poles, or similar large poles without creosote...... Dig them into the ground in a wigwam shape and secure them together with bolts at the top.

You could use a tyre on a rope for the swing.

I saw an interesting climbing frame this week made from recycled peices of conveyor belt

Cheers

Ian

Lisa-Adam · Hazel Tree Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 26

Yorky · Rowan Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 148

Thanks for the replies but I'm looking for an extra tall swing suitable for adults and children alike. I like the idea of the 'pole' type but would not undertake it myself without a plan to follow.

Yorky · Rowan Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 148

I'm getting one of these made up for children and adults and just want to check the proportions etc. The proposed dimensions are:

Two parallel poles or square timber 10ft (3m) above ground level set 5ft (1.5m) apart
Swing seat height 26" (66cm)
Swing seat 20" (51cm) x 8" (20cm)

Any comments / advice on the proportions would be appreciated and an approximate cost of materials and labour.

Yorky · Rowan Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 148

This is the end result but I can't help thinking 'is it safe?'

http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/Kilnadrain/P1060337.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/Kilnadrain/P1060336.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/Kilnadrain/P1060335.jpg
http://i238.photobucket.com/albums/ff250/Kilnadrain/P1060334.jpg

The posts have metal reinforcement rods stapled to them and are submerged in concrete.

The tops of the vertical poles are dished and the horizontal top pole is attached via three screws each: two 240mm long and one 270mm long.

There is visible movement in the poles when the swings are in use and you can really feel the movement when on them. The poles are securely concreted in and the movement is above-ground only.

My concerns are:

1) Could the momentum of swinging cause the top pole to detach despite the screw fixings.

2) Will the poles eventually work themselves loose in the concrete?

Thanks for any advice in advance.

Foxylock · Ash Tree Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 237 Location: cork

Hi Yorky.

Have you any idea as to what depth the poles are submerged and also I would personally like to see some sort of angular brace coming from near the top of the vertical poles and buried in the ground. Look at the swing in the background the design is much safer, basic structural strength is gained by creating triangles.

kindredspirit · Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 6:13 am Post subject:

I agree with Foxy Lock.

In my opinion, the design is flawed and would have been safer using two uprights either side in a triangular shape instead of single uprights.

You can still put two bracing uprights in either side and it wouldn't spoil the design. AND it would be a lot safer.

Yorky · Rowan Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 148

Thanks for the replies. The poles are submerged approximately, I've been told, 18 inches approx but they do have concrete reinforcement bars attached to them which are 18-24" longer again.

I was thinking of putting two struts at 45 degree angles on each pole - any suggestions as to the length of these?

Foxylock · Ash Tree Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 237 Location: cork

If it were mine I would go to the top of the uprights with the bracing and then bolt a horizontal pole across catching all three poles and bobs your uncle, half the work in twice the time Laughing

Yorky · Rowan Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 148

Thanks for the reply but don't quite understand-could you explain?

Foxylock · Ash Tree Joined: 08 Aug 2009 Posts: 237 Location: cork

Well Yorky I've been trying to post a diagram of my ideas but it's coming up saying bmp extension not allowed, anyway I'll try to elaborate.

What you have at the moment is two vertical poles with a horizontal pole sitting on top with your swings attached to the horizontal. It's not a wrong idea but I think it could do with a little support ( couldn't we all !! ) So starting at the joint where the horizontal and vertical meet I suggest bolting two more poles at approximately 45 degrees to the vertical pole and sinking the bottom ends into the lawn. Now you should end up with something resembling an upside down V with a line in the middle of it. ( This is starting to come apart at the seams Laughing

) But we wont stop now, You should do this at both sides. Now we have three poles bolted together to form a triangle at either end and the horizontal with the swings attached holds the two large triangles together. ( I hope you're still with me Wink

) Now for some extra security I suggest bolting a cross beam onto the outsides of the structure, this would be parallel to the ground and about halfway between the ground and the apex of the triangle. The strength in this lies in the forming of the triangles and not the sinking in the ground although it certainly helps to bury some portion of it. Hope this helps as they say a picture is worth a thousand words, if only I could...........

Yorky · Rowan Tree Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Posts: 148

The struts are being fitted as we speak. Going off an older A frame swing which has equal leg width as frame height, my swing leg length is 2.7m high so I'm putting the struts in at the same width - 1.35m out each side of the vertical pole.

The struts are going to be bedded in concrete.