The process of rocking is inextricably linked with relaxation, it is familiar to every person from the first days of life and gives a wide range of sensations from a pleasant lulling to a breathtaking flight. The swing source is a well-known source of such sensations: they help to spend time with pleasure, relax, and calm down. Now not a single playground or leisure park is complete without this attraction. There was a wide variety of swings for personal plots and terraces, each summer resident would prefer to get them. To do this, you can buy a finished design, but you can do it yourself to your taste.
From several pipes of different sizes, you can build a children's swing in your own yard
Swing Simulation
The most common option is a metal swing from pipes, the design of which can be varied. Choosing the type of structure, they are repelled from the installation site, if it is permanent, then the swings are mounted thoroughly, support pipes are dug and concrete, such as for example children’s or large swings. If the site is small and it is difficult to determine the place, then the model can be portable, mainly garden or terrace swings that do not carry special dynamic loads. Such a design should be lightweight, at the same time stable, durable, as well as practical and durable. This can be achieved thanks to metal profile products, which are designed for the manufacture of reliable and lightweight frames of any complexity.
Having decided on the purpose and place of installation, you must choose the type of assembly: it can be collapsible or welding. Often there is a need to hide the swing, so the ability to disassemble them will facilitate this process. This type of assembly has features: the use of a threaded connection is easy to perform independently, however, under the influence of loads, a play may appear, then the connections will have to be pushed periodically. The welding method, on the contrary, provides for a solid, rigid structure that can withstand load for many years, but for it you need welding equipment and the ability to use it.
The drawing is the beginning of the swing simulation, it will help to think over the shape, its dimensions, calculate the number of parts, material consumption. Schematically, a garden swing from a profile pipe consists of support racks, a crossbeam, suspensions and a seat. When using round pipes, the parts are taken the same.
Swing can be portable and collapsible or stationary
Support racks can have a diverse design, their main purpose is the stability of the swing under load. Most often, these forms are used:
- the most reliable triangular, Λ or A-shaped form with an inter-angle of 30-40 degrees. Here the stability of the frame can be increased by giving it a trapezoidal shape;
- the frame of the form P is necessarily supplemented by spacers attached to the side racks and the lower crossbar lying on the ground;
- G-shaped, convenient for the construction of a roof over a swing.
It is also important to pay attention to the seat, the comfort and safety of the swing depends on its shape. Any seat drawing can be found on the Internet, however there are important points regarding the design:
- the presence of a back and side armrests will add convenience;
- the seat should not have rounded transitions to avoid slipping;
- a slight slope (the seat is tilted slightly back) will relieve muscle tension during swinging;
- stiffeners reinforce the seat structure.
Various adjustments can be made to the drawing, for example, to add a canopy to a garden swing, which will protect from rain and sun. Its shape should be wide, sloping, located at a sufficient height so as not to injure the head during rising.
Most often, an A-shaped frame is used for swings
Dimensions begin to count on the width of the seat, on average 500 mm per adult, which is mounted at a height of 400-500 mm from the ground, or at your own discretion, so that you can comfortably sit down, stand up and push off with your legs while swinging. Further, lateral distances from the seat to the supports are provided, since the option of chain suspensions makes it possible to swing in all directions. An indentation of 350 mm on the sides of the seat will help to avoid touching the racks. Based on this, the length of the upper beam will be the width of the seat plus side gaps. In any case, the height of the frame (racks + crossbeam) should be greater than the height of a person from 1.7 m (hanging bench option), or from 2.5 m (a swing for entertainment, where the height of a person who has put his feet on the seat and the gap to the ground is taken )
You can make a separate drawing for the seat, where to develop the shape, indicate the dimensions, the angle between the seat and the back. Garden swings mainly involve a bench with a length of 1.5 m or more, where you can lie down.
Important! The drawing should be as clear as possible, detailed, since it will have to be accessed during the assembly process constantly, especially if it will be handed over to a specialist. It will depend on how much the finished swing will match your plan.
Material selection
In order for the garden swing (in particular, the frame) to withstand the load, be solid, and not look bulky, you should stop choosing a profile pipe with a section of 40-70 mm with a wall thickness of 1-2 mm (depending on the weight of the skaters). Its main advantages: resistance to fracture, wear, resistance to any weather conditions, easy installation (the ability to bend and weld the most intricate designs), low weight, high strength, optimal cost.
For the manufacture of swings, you can take both round and profile pipes
Partitions, as well as the seat frame, can be made from a profile pipe of a smaller cross section of 15–25 mm, as well as suspensions that will be rigid, with smooth swaying without wobbling. Suspensions can still be made of chains, it is convenient to adjust them in length, there will be no braking with small swaying, and strong swaying will be extinguished by the friction of the links, however, the bench will move in all directions.
The bench itself is best made from wooden boards or bars; soft metal mats or pillows are required for a metal seat, which must be brought into the room in bad weather. The material for the visor will be tent fabric, PVC, tarpaulin, polycarbonate, a combination of wooden flooring with soft tiles.
Assembly and installation
After the drawing of the swing from the profile pipe is ready and all the materials are available, you can proceed to the assembly of the structure.
The first stage will be preparatory work:
- marking and cutting pipes of the desired length according to the dimensions in the drawing;
- trimming pipe sections, chamfering sections before welding;
- the place of installation of the swing is leveled, covered with sand, small gravel to eliminate the viscosity of the soil when wet. If concreting is expected, prepare recesses at the points of installation of the supports.
Advice! Pipes can be cut immediately upon purchase, so it will be convenient to transport them, many sellers provide this service on site.
The second stage is the manufacture of side supports:
- arrange two profile pipes of a larger cross section to each other according to the selected shape, weld them;
- weld the jumpers of a smaller cross section between the support pipes in the middle and bottom, if it is form A or Δ. If the support is from one pipe, weld spacers to it;
- the top is sawn off at the apex of the pipe connection angle, it will be a support for the cross beam of the frame, the corner joint can be fixed by welding a metal plate;
- weld the second support so that they are the same.
The first step in the assembly of the swing is to prepare the necessary pipe sections for the frame
The third stage is the assembly of the swing frame:
- prepare the crossbar by making on it two equally spaced attachment points along the width of the seat, it can be welded rings from a thick rod, a bolt with a loop threaded through the through hole of the crossbar or a bolt with an eye-nut, a bearing hinge;
- weld the crossbar to the tops of the side racks, strictly observing the right angles. Corners can be strengthened by welding metal plates. If the racks are concreted, then it is necessary to install the racks, strictly according to the level, wait for the concrete to solidify and weld the supporting crossbar. If the posts are not concreted, then at the ground level, a rectangular base of profile pipes should be welded to them, which is then attached to the ground with long metal brackets.
Important! Prevent water from entering metal pipes by plugging all openings.
The fourth stage is the assembly and fastening of the seat:
- weld from the pipes the frame of the bench (seat with back), it can be straight or with bends. Armrests are welded on the sides;
- make holes in the frame to fasten wooden boards;
- Pipe hangers are welded to the seat frame. Chain suspensions are attached to the ears welded at the corners or with bolts with an eye-nut;
- prepare wooden boards (grinding, applying the base, painting);
- primer and paint the metal frame of the swing and seat;
- attach the wooden flooring to the bench frame using bolts, the caps of which should be drowned in the board;
- suspend the finished seat to the swing frame. Rigging elements can be used if necessary.
To protect the swing from the sun, you can build an awning for which any material is suitable
The construction of the canopy would be preferable if the swing is installed in an open area. Its design can be varied: straight and sloping, round, "house". The conceived frame is welded from a thin profile pipe and attached to the top of the swing, then covered with plastic or fabric material. You can make it removable. The decoration of the building will be forged products welded to the frame, decorative lighting elements, climbing plants, etc. After the work is completed, the swing is tested for stability, reliability of fastening.
You can do the original garden swing from a profile or round pipe with your own hands. It will take a little time and effort, budget savings are palpable. Sketching a drawing, you can build on the schemes available on the network, the main thing is that the swing is stable and comfortable for relaxation. Throughout the manufacturing process, you should remember about safety measures when using a power tool and a welding machine, use protective equipment, protect your eyes from electrophthophthalmia with a welding shield.
