How to Make a Big Swing Set - How to Make the Longer Beam Needed

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Күн бұрын

Пікірлер: 23

@visualyeti Жыл бұрын

I built a big swing set with your amazing brackets. It is rock solid forward and backward. However, I do get some side to side motion when the kids go really high and twist. Any suggestions for stabilizing this direction?

@room2zoom236 Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Some side to side sway is typical of all brackets, and in fact, even of swing sets not made with brackets. I have made A-frame structures with monstrous diagonal bracing which seemed to be the most solid union ever, but there was still some side to side sway. As you say, when the kids are swinging normal, as high as they want but in a front to back direction, it is rock solid and there is no side to side sway. But when they swing in any lateral direction there can be side to side sway. Another issue is that lumber is a very imperfect material, coming in varying widths, and that continues to vary as it dries and shrinks significantly. So the fit of your particular lumber into the bracket can be a factor. If your lumber is on the narrower side, fitting a bit too loose inside the bracket, this can give rise to some side to side sway. One thing you can do that usually helps significantly, especially if you assembled the A-frame with the strong Headlok fasteners that I suggest in my videos, is you get on a ladder and you remove the four fasteners holding one leg to the bracket. You then reinsert just the two screws of one side to pull the leg all the way tight and flush against one side of the bracket's leg holder part, and then insert the other two screws on the other side which will not be able to pull the leg lumber from still being tight and flush to the first side. If you like you can even insert some sort of shim between the leg and bracket opening before inserting these last two screws--for instance the plastic of a gallon milk container, folded up. You then repeat this for each of the other legs. But be really careful working at this height! Hope this helps you!

@G4Disco Жыл бұрын

I just built mine with a four 4x6x16' and 12' legs. I'm getting a fair bit of sway side to side.

@room2zoom236 Жыл бұрын

The bigger, longer, and heavier the beam you use the more you can get some lateral sway.

@joebravo4097 Жыл бұрын

I have the option of a 6x6x12 beam but I’m considering building the beam out of 2x6x16 like this. The idea is to add a third bracket to the end of the remaining 6’ and maybe putting a climbing wall or something like what u got there(great idea btw). Could you think of any issue with this idea ? Also was the process still the same for bolting the swing hanger/ brackets with this built beam? Im afraid the gap between the 2x6s will line up with where the hole is drilled. Thank you for the videos!

@room2zoom236 Жыл бұрын

That is a nice idea that others have told me they were going to do as well. No, there are no issues. In fact, as a plus this kind of structure adds even more rigidity to the whole set. I prefer to drill the hole right in the crack of that gap, the larger washers contain the bolts just fine. But you can drill slightly off center of the beam if you prefer to avoid the crack. Thank you!

@radian2323 3 ай бұрын

Any thoughts on this holding up over time? I would think water from rain would work it's way through the boards and potentially cause it to rot out over time. Any downside to laminating it with wood glue?

@room2zoom236 3 ай бұрын

It should hold up just fine over time. You could laminate it with glue if you desired, but I don't believe it is necessary.

@logdon17 2 ай бұрын

What is the stain and color you used for this project? I built something similar but still need to sand and stain it.

@room2zoom236 2 ай бұрын

It is Behr Premium Exterior Stain, in Chestnut color.

@thecraftycarnivore 3 ай бұрын

Ok, I got my brackets. I would like to have 4 swings. What size beam would you recommend?

@room2zoom236 3 ай бұрын

I would go with a 13 foot beam that is either a 6x6 (5 1/2 by 5 1/2), or that you make from three 2x6's. You can follow the TALL SWING instructions and video, which uses a 10 foot beam for three swings, and just add one more swing with the extra 3 feet.

@thecraftycarnivore 3 ай бұрын

@@room2zoom236 awesome!! Thank you!

@KyleCooper-qk1tr 5 ай бұрын

Hi! I don't think you mentioned in the video, but what size bolts did you use for a beam made from (4) 2x6 boards? I am making a 16ft composite beam just like this and placing the brackets 10ft apart, and I plan to hang three swings in the middle section, with a baby bucket swing on either side (3ft overhangs). Would you use 8" bolts to get through the beam in this video? Thanks!

@room2zoom236 5 ай бұрын

Yes, I would use an 8" carriage bolt for the brackets thru the beam.

@catherineallen3983 6 ай бұрын

So if I am making a big beam out of 3 2x6s, what hardware will I need? Specifically what size carriage bolts and hex bolts?

@room2zoom236 6 ай бұрын

Three 2x6's gives you a beam that is 4 1/2" wide, so you need a 6 inch carriage bolt. The hex bolts are what hold the swing hangers. You can use 7" bolts for them.

@thecraftycarnivore 4 ай бұрын

I want to make this. How the heck do you stand it up?

@room2zoom236 4 ай бұрын

You need some able bodies and have to be very careful.