Steel or Wood Swing set?

[e-tek]

We gave our play center to the neighbours who have younger kids, but my boys still like to swing, so I said I'd build them a good-sized swing set - if they help.

But I'm debating the building materials. Trying to decide between metal 2x4 tubing, or, treated 4x4 posts. What say you - and why?

 

[where2]

The galvanized & threaded steel pipe my father used to build my swingset when I was 4 is still going strong 38 years later... Replaced the nylon ropes a few times, and the swing seats a few times (they're now made of King Starboard). My nieces and nephews still use it...

 

[truckman5000]

I bought a ceder wood one (play house), and it was cheaper than me buying the wood and hardware, ext.
In your fabrication quality, you maybee better with working with metal. But they rust, and with older boys they'll ride it hard. Metal underground will rust.
Id go with pt wood. Or galvy. threaded ends.

 

[sberry]

I got a fab shop,,,,,,, and bought one. Round steel tubing, seems like it was about 130$ or so with the wife power shopping. Normally I would put it together in the shop but this was family fun time and seems it took every bit of an hour and a half and I used the provided key. If I had to do it again might stop and get power drive, I also used a combo wrench.

Its light an can be moved. The cost of the materials was astronomical and or scrounge it all up and still do the work.

 

[zkling]

Lumber and keep it stained. My dad built mine when I was ~3 years old. 21 years later and I still "work out" on it today. Still holds just fine. He was dang proud of what he built, and he should be as it has stood the test of time.

Go for wood. IMHO.

Mine looks very similar to the one in your first picture. Except mine has 5 places to hang swings. Swing, swing, swing, bar, rings. I think the top is made out of 2 piece of 2x6 or 8" on edge. Don't remember off the top of my head.

 

[larry_g]

If you pull the blinders off you will see a hoist frame capable of holding a 1 ton winch. The swings are optional.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[ratdoggy]

If you pull the blinders off you will see a hoist frame capable of holding a 1 ton winch. The swings are optional.

lg
no neat sig line

I guess box tubing is the way to go then

 

[absolutelybillsmood]

I hung a swing from a tree in the backyard. Nothing fancy but it works fine.

 

[NWOhioChevyGuy]

Built a treated wood unit when m kids were little, both in college now. Other than one swing and one board still in great shape. I even moved it two times over the years.

Great investment. Some day my grand kids will enjoy it.

 

[jhelrey]

Just get them a go-cart...

 

[Old Steamer]

Treated lumber. I like the way a wood swingset looks.

 

[e-tek]

Just get them a go-cart...

Was going to buy him this one this year:

but he wanted pellet guns instead. Next year on the go-kart!

 

[ez-duzit]

If you pull the blinders off you will see a hoist frame capable of holding a 1 ton winch...

This would make building a metal one worthwhile. Secure it against tipping.

 

[Trucky]

Had a wooden one my grandfather built when I was younger, and we got rid of it ~5 years ago. Miss the thing.

Go wood unless you're using it for an overhead They just feel right.

 

[e-tek]

I went with wood. 10' treated 4x4 - it's TALL!

 

[shovel]

Anchor the legs e-tek, or the rowdy boys will tip it over. You reminded me of when I was a kid. A neighbor had a swing set he had built from oil field pipe. He used that frame to pull an engine out of his wife's Impala one time. Unless I had the steel and the time, I would have gone with wood too. Much more cost effective...

 

[RocketTR]

Are you planning on pinching those S-hooks? If not, looks like an accident waiting to happen. Personally, I would have went with shackles instead of S-hooks in the first place.

 

[ddawg16]

Good choice Ed....about the time the wood wears out....the only swinging the boys will be doing is with girls.....and you don't want to know the details.....

BTW....I have already had 'the talk' with my 11 year old.....the dude is a stud muffin....

 

[LXCam]

Was going to buy him this one this year:

but he wanted pellet guns instead. Next year on the go-kart!

Dang, will you be my daddy




My votes goes to wood. Just for the nostalgic value.

 

[e-tek]

Anchor the legs e-tek, or the rowdy boys will tip it over. You reminded me of when I was a kid. A neighbor had a swing set he had built from oil field pipe. He used that frame to pull an engine out of his wife's Impala one time. Unless I had the steel and the time, I would have gone with wood too. Much more cost effective...

You bet - getting that done today - cementing them in a foot.

DONE! Didn't really want to....still not feeling 100%.....but when your son wants something and is willing to help....you step up.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Use treated 4x6 instead of 4x4 it will be a lot stronger and last a lot longer. Anchor them for sure. Either anchor with post set in concrete or use the screw auger type anchors on every leg. Built one for my grand kids and its working great. Their other grandparents bought one ($400)for their own house , some assembly required, and its already blown down and been thrown away.

 

[hippie2cams]

About 40 yrs ago I bought my two daughters a swing set that was a commercial playground unit. I don't remember the exact cost because it has been 40 yrs and it was for my daughters enough said. That swing set is still being used by my oldest daughters , daughters and is in good enough shape to be used by their daughters or sons if they have'em

 

[Lkdelta]

I wanted to do this, but can't figure out how to connect the cross to the legs?
Or is just burying the legs .... enough support to keep it from tipping sideways?

 

[Jack Olsen]

e-tek's is done, and it looks great. But for future thread searchers, here's s simple way to go, if you weld. Just like where2's father, I got some galvanized pipe and fitted it together in an afternoon. The feet are sunk into concrete below ground. When it's time to get rid of the thing, I figure I'll cut the pipe down below ground level and leave the anchors.

It's not all that elegant, but it's plenty strong.

One nice thing about this kind of project is that your fishmouth cuts can be done without a whole lot of precision. In other words, the legs can be uneven lengths and you're still fine. You just get the thing level and correct before you pour the concrete.

 

[mike_81]

don't fall off the back when swinging, you'll get stuck on the fence, in a bad way!

 

[e-tek]

I wanted to do this, but can't figure out how to connect the cross to the legs?
Or is just burying the legs .... enough support to keep it from tipping sideways?

You need to secure the top to the legs in a strong enough fashion to stop most side to side motion - then the cement does the rest. I used 3.5" deck screws to get it started, then whipped up some brackets out of 1" aluminum that goes over the top beam and is bolted to the legs with 4" lags. Welding metal should confer the same - or better - strength.

 

[e-tek]

don't fall off the back when swinging, you'll get stuck on the fence, in a bad way!

Looks like a memory maker - hopefully they're all positive!

Ours was definitely a memory and experience-maker: my youngest, Colton, didn't really want to give up his old play center, but knew the younger kids next door would use it more, so he learned about giving something up. He did want a bigger swing though, so he also learned about trade-offs and negotiating. Then he promised he would help if I made him a taller swing, which he did, so he learned how to build something, do some cement work and follow it though. He came up with the idea to make the swing seats out of tires as I was looking online for proper seats. It's something we will always remember doing together and time I'll cherish.

 

[Clik]

Hey Olson! I think it needs a name. How about Vlad The Impaler?

 

[Jack Olsen]

didn't really want to give up his old play center, but knew the younger kids next door would use it more, so he learned about giving something up. He did want a bigger swing though, so he also learned about trade-offs and negotiating. Then he promised he would help if I made him a taller swing, which he did, so he learned how to build something, do some cement work and follow it though. He came up with the idea to make the swing seats out of tires as I was looking online for proper seats. It's something we will always remember doing together and time I'll cherish.

That's great. It's a big step when a kid can show that kind of generosity.

don't fall off the back when swinging, you'll get stuck on the fence, in a bad way!

I know. I know. The one thing I would change if I did it again would be to move the thing about a foot farther away from that fence. But now it's set in concrete.

I based the distance on measurements from the local playground, but I've had to shorten the chains as my kids have gotten bigger (although, when I swing on it my feet don't touch). Still, I've thought about altering that section of fence to make it safer (that fence around the front yard was my first-ever welding project). It's a pretty small front yard.

 

[Lkdelta]

You need to secure the top to the legs in a strong enough fashion to stop most side to side motion

.... then whipped up some brackets out of 1" aluminum that goes over the top beam and is bolted to the legs with 4" lags.

any chance I can get a pic of this?

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I would make something you could install on the fence for protection. Possibly a 10 ft section of PVC pipe something like 4 inches or so in diameter. Mark and bore holes for each spike on the fence, then it just drops over. If you wanted you could glue some dense foam on it too, but at least the spikes would be covered with the pipe.

Charles