Sometimes it’s good to spend some time away from the computer and do some real hands-on work. Last weekend I planned and built a swing set for my 3 kids to use and enjoy, and to encourage them to spend more time outdoors. It turned out pretty big – I used 10-foot long supports and a 16-foot long top beam this time around instead of 8-foot supports and a 12-foot beam like last time.

Future plans include a fort attached to the right side as well – perhaps in the spring :).

Materials List:

• Wood:
  • 1 – 4x6x16 – Treated top beam (I wanted a 14-foot, but all they had were 12 or 16, and 12-foot was too small)
  • 4 – 4x4x10 – Treated supports (rated for ground contact)
  • 2 – 2x4x8 – Treated studs for supporting the A-frame
• Swings:
  • 3 – Jungle Gym Kingdom Swings with 66″ heavy duty chains
  • 1 – Jungle Gym Kingdom 18″ Trapeze bar with 48″ heavy duty chains
  • 4 – Jungle Gym Kingdom Heavy duty 2400lbs capacity swing hangers (set of 2 each) (yes, I know. I like it overkill!)
• Hardware and Fasteners:
  • 2 – Eastern Jungle Gym Easy 1-2-3 90-degree brackets (came with lag bolts and washers)
  • 1 – Box of 3″ Tan-color deck screws with T-25 head (doesn’t slip like Phillips when the drilling gets hard)
  • 16 – 8″ long 3/8″ galvanized bolts (to hang the swings – holes drilled all the way through the 6″ top beam)
  • 32 – 3/8″ washers
  • 16 – 3/8″ lock nuts

Total cost was about $400. And while I realize that is a bit expensive for a swing set alone, this thing is going to last. The quality and durability of this one was worth the cost. Even my wife and I can swing without worry. It will also have a fort attached to it eventually, so custom built with wood was the way to go.