Childrens Wooden Swings

[Chrisgr31]

I am contemplating a swing for my daughter, and rather like the wooden ones, but they seem remarkably expensive for a few bits of wood. Anyone triend to make their own?

[littlegreenfairy]

As a child I had one - plank of wood, holes, long piece of rope. Job done. (you do need a tree though)

[Simpo Two]

Chrisgr31 said:

I am contemplating a swing for my daughter

Seems like a fair swap.

[Stu R]

Nope. But my sister got a huge swingset/slide/house from a company called Rainbow for her sprogs about 10 years ago. After years of having her 4 jam eaters absuing it, as well as all their friends it still looks brand new.

I'm inclined to say whilst it was quite expensive it's proved well worth what they paid.

[Pothole]

and of course, the most important thing in today's society is that if you buy it from a manufacturer you have someone to sue when it breaks and one of your (or someone else's) little darlings falls off it and has trauma and sleepless nights leading to bedwetting and bullying at school...

[jjones]

would avoid wood for the seat, if they slip off the swing a clout around the back of the head could be very nasty from a 2-3lb piece of wood (speaking from experience!)

Edited by jjones on Thursday 29th April 23:36

[Chrisgr31]

So my first task is to plant a tree. Any quick growing varieties with suitable branches?

[Pickled Piper]

jjones said:

would avoid wood for the seat, if they slip off the swing a clout around the back of the head could be very nasty from a 2-3lb piece of wood (speaking from experience!)

Edited by jjones on Thursday 29th April 23:36

Don't want to come across as an overprotective namby pamby parent but the above is correct. I would have made mine myself (I made the rest of an elaborate climbing frame from scratch) but it has plastic swings for good reason. Children don't just sit and swing. There's a real chance of a clout on the back of the head or in the face from a nice piece of hardwood on a rope.

pp

[Liszt]

http://www.wickentoys.co.uk/

Fill yer boots

[davidjpowell]

feeling ambitious? Plans don't look too bad, but still not sure if I am brave enough!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&am...

[Pothole]

Pickled Piper said:

jjones said:

would avoid wood for the seat, if they slip off the swing a clout around the back of the head could be very nasty from a 2-3lb piece of wood (speaking from experience!)

Edited by jjones on Thursday 29th April 23:36

Don't want to come across as an overprotective namby pamby parent but the above is correct. I would have made mine myself (I made the rest of an elaborate climbing frame from scratch) but it has plastic swings for good reason. Children don't just sit and swing. There's a real chance of a clout on the back of the head or in the face from a nice piece of hardwood on a rope.

pp

I understand (I think) a parent's protective instincts, but when I was a kid that would have counted as a lesson learned. Extreme parental risk aversion is not necessarily a good thing.

[DavidY]

I built one (my design in conjunction with my children), quite large, bought all the swing climbing fixings from a company in Anglesey (cost about £200, but included swing, monkey bar, rope ladder, firemans pole, basketball hoop, climbing wall fixings and single rope swing (slide came from our old ELC frame)) added to that about £400 for treated wood and decking, £65 of concrete and cement and about £50 worth of bog bolts, screws etc. Two days labour and here we have it.

Its now in it's third year been abused by loads of children, and is still being abused on a daily basis, the best thing is nothing has broken. At a conservative guess I reckon I've saved around £2K

Edited by DavidY on Friday 30th April 10:56

[russ_a]

^^^ We need some pics

[Pickled Piper]

Pothole said:

Pickled Piper said:

jjones said:

would avoid wood for the seat, if they slip off the swing a clout around the back of the head could be very nasty from a 2-3lb piece of wood (speaking from experience!)

Edited by jjones on Thursday 29th April 23:36

Don't want to come across as an overprotective namby pamby parent but the above is correct. I would have made mine myself (I made the rest of an elaborate climbing frame from scratch) but it has plastic swings for good reason. Children don't just sit and swing. There's a real chance of a clout on the back of the head or in the face from a nice piece of hardwood on a rope.

pp

I understand (I think) a parent's protective instincts, but when I was a kid that would have counted as a lesson learned. Extreme parental risk aversion is not necessarily a good thing.

Yes, good point and entirely your choice. However, I feel my sprogs have learned sufficiently valuable lessons from being hit round the head with a plastic swing (It bloody hurts without danger of concussion and or skull fracture). I'm not advocating wrapping them in cotton wool.

Anyway that's not what this thread is about.

pp

[miniman]

I bought a few bits from here:

http://www.justoutdoortoys.co.uk/store/category/cl...

and then constructed a swing based on the massive posts already running down the garden.

[DavidY]

My bits came from http://www.macventureplay.co.uk/

[Pot Bellied Fool]

Fifteen quid should see the job right.

Alternatively, circular-ish bit of flat wood. Hole in middle & one thick sturdy rope with a knot to hold it in place, far more fun!

You do have a river to swing out over don't you? It's necessary so if you have to divert a canal, just do it!

(or plenty of ready made wood & plastic stuff here too)

[Shaolin]

A bit of a plank from the stuff I have kicking around and some rope tied to the willow tree at the bottom of the garden did my boys and many mates for many years (it was a bit long - but that added to the fun, the compost heap was a good shock absorber).

Alternatively you could make one out of cotton wool as along as it's not more than 6" off the ground and doesn't swing more than 3" in any direction.

[Bill]

If you're going to use an old lorry tyre, make sure the rope's strong enough...



Admittedly dragging it up a ladder to see how far I could go wasn't the smartest plan

[Hong Kong Phooey]

Just bought and assembled one of the TP wooden framed swings - went together very well, solid, and looks good too. Got ours from John Lewis - delivered to the door £100. This is just for the frame though - you can then add whatever seat you require (age dependent) by simply attaching the ropes.

My Girl (20 months) loves it cant get her off it in fact!

Highly recommended. Sure if you shop around you will get it cheaper though.