Suspended swing on chains: with a back, double and for adults, design + photo

Street swings can be found in the yards of high-rise buildings, and on playgrounds and, of course, in the garden. Kids never get bored of fun, and adults sometimes don’t mind swinging, although they prefer models like a hanging chair or a hammock. Do-it-yourself swing on chains is one of the most popular and easy-to-install options.

Pros and cons of garden swings on chains

The fundamental difference between a swing on chains is the ability to adjust the height of the seat. There is nothing easier than shortening the chain by a few links to make the construction more convenient. Do-it-yourself swings on chains are shown in the photo.

The chain as a suspension has other advantages:

• the metal chain is durable;
• metal is not afraid of fire and moisture;
• the chain can withstand significant loads: with a link thickness of 15–20 mm, 5 adults can fit on the swing;
• such a suspension does not change with time: the links do not spread and do not deform;
• the only care a chain swing requires is lubrication for fastening.

This option also has disadvantages:

• when swinging on flexible suspensions, transverse vibrations are possible, because of this the swing can twist;
• the metal chain is cold to the touch, which is not always pleasant.

Types of street swings on chains

A swing on a chain suspension is a variant of a street design. At home, ropes or ropes are often used as a suspension. But the materials for the manufacture of the seat, do-it-yourself support racks use the same ones.

The following types of street swings are most often used:

A wooden swing with chains is the best choice. The material is easy to process, always remains warm to the touch, has the most attractive appearance. Its cost is quite affordable, and finding this material is not difficult. Subject to the rules of care – varnishing, staining, treatment with antiseptics, wood lasts a long time and retains its appearance unchanged. Models on chains made of wood are lightweight, which simplifies installation.

As a material for the seat, not only the usual wooden boards can be used, but also various products, for example, an old skateboard.

Metal is extremely durable and very strong. Needs the simplest maintenance and periodic painting to protect against corrosion. However, the manufacture and installation of a swing requires the ability to work with a welding machine, although sometimes you can get by with a bolted connection. With the ability to work with iron, you can turn an ordinary swing into a real masterpiece.

Metal is always cold to the touch. Often it is necessary to supplement the seat with pillows. In addition, iron supports are traumatic.

Plastic for garden swings is rarely used. The material is very light, so the seat is usually suspended not on chains, but on ropes. This version is for young children.

Sometimes the most unexpected materials are used for swings on chains with their own hands. So, a car tire, a pair of metal circles tied with a net, a ready-made wicker hanging chair can serve as the basis of a seat.

Chain swings for a playground are distinguished by design features:

• stationary – the support legs of the model are dug into the ground, and with a large weight of the structure they are even concreted, it is impossible to transfer the product;

  

• mobile – lighter, support legs form a fairly stable structure, model

According to the number of users, the swing on chains is divided into:

• single – have the form of a board on chains or a hanging chair, if intended for adults;

  

• double – differ in a wider seat, another option: 2 seats fixed at opposite ends of one board;
• triple – in the form of a wooden bench with a length of at least 1,3 m;

  

• multi-seat – essentially the same triple, but wider or folding, an example is a sofa swing.

  

Swings are classified by age.

1. Children’s – light, almost always single products, mostly plastic or wooden. Typically, children’s models are equipped with high backs, additional devices that prevent falls. However, in simple cases, the usual children’s version is a board suspended from a tree branch.

   

2. Teenagers are a subspecies of children’s, but with one feature: the largest swing amplitude. These are not always safe models, but they are always popular.

   

3. Adults – withstand much more weight, more often designed for several users. They try to make adult swings as comfortable as possible, since they are not intended for swinging as such, but for relaxation.

   

In most cases, swings on chains swing mechanically. Electronic modifications are usually designed for very young users and rather serve as a cradle or stroller.

What you need to make a flexible swing on chains

Do-it-yourself garden swings are often made of wood. It requires much less effort and time. The materials and tools you need are the simplest:

• circular saw, jigsaw, hammer, planer, drill with drills for 4, 5, 8, 10;
• to measure, you need a square and a tape measure;
• fasten the product with screws and bolts with an eye – always galvanized;
• wood – boards and lamellas for finishing swings, wooden beams for racks – 4 beams with a section of 90 * 45 and a length of 2 m, a beam for crossbars, a section of 140 * 45 m and a length of 2,1 m, as well as a beam for crossbars with a size of 140*45 mm and 96 and 23 m long;
• chrome steel chains.

Depending on the chosen model, additional materials may be required. In addition, finishing materials will be needed: varnish, primer, antiseptic for wood impregnation, possibly paint.

Drawings of a swing on chains

Fundamentally, swings on chains differ from each other in the way the chains are attached to the supports. Thus, there are 2 main types of products:

1. The option with an A-shaped support involves fastening the chains to 1 support beam – a beam. But since the transverse support is held by two A-pillars, this model is very stable. This is a safer option even for those who like to play the “sun” on the swing: the risk of tipping over is minimal.

   

2. Swings with U-shaped racks are less stable. More often, such models are designed for small children who cannot swing much.

   

A separate category is swing sofas on chain suspensions. In most cases, chains are attached to 2 beams. As a result, the seat moves strictly in a horizontal plane and in a very small amplitude.

Which chain to choose for a garden swing

The chain can withstand a very high load, so for a do-it-yourself swing, a product with links with a diameter of 15–20 mm is required. For a massive seat – a sofa, chains with a thickness of 25 mm are needed.

Chains are made of chrome steel. Such material is not afraid of water and is not susceptible to corrosion, which saves the owner of the cottage from the need to paint suspensions.

How to make a chain swing

The design of a swing on chains is quite simple: a support post, a seat and suspensions. To build it with your own hands does not require much work. Some exception is a model made of metal, since here you will need a brewer to work.

From wood, using the drawing and instructions, even a beginner can easily assemble the structure.

Adult chain swing

Adult models differ from children’s only in size. Both the dimensions of the seat itself and the height of the location are designed for a larger person. In addition, adult swings on chains are very rarely single.

Construction begins with the assembly of racks. In most cases, wooden models are stationary, that is, the supports must be buried in the ground or concreted. The last operation takes time.

A beam with a section of 145 * 45 mm is cut in length – for a triple version, a crossbar of 210 cm is needed. 150 mm retreat from the edges of the beam and mark the line with a pencil – these are the outer edges of the crossbar.

For an A-shaped support, it is necessary to cut the timber at the right angle. It is most reliable to use a square with pins. The first is fixed 316 mm from the corner – on a longer leg, the second – 97 degrees on a small one. The square is transferred to the beam, the lower bevel is noted. Then, keeping the position of the pins, move the tool 6 times along the length of the support and mark the upper bevel, the one that is aligned with the beam. The cut will be made along the marked lines.

The finished leg is used as a template for other supports. They are applied end-to-end to the next beam and cuts are made in the same places.

Fitting is performed: they put the crossbar vertically, and put their legs on it. The distance between the lower edges of the supports should reach 120 cm.

Spacers are made from a bar with a cross section of 145 * 45 mm. The lower one is set at a height of 500 mm. The bar is applied to the legs, the cut points are marked on it, on the legs – the place of alignment with the bar. The upper spacer is fixed at a distance of 150 mm from the bottom. Its dimensions and mowing are determined in the same way. Finished parts are used as a template for the elements of the second rack.

The rack is assembled: the legs are fastened with screws, the spacers are fixed to the nails. For installation in transverse beams, through holes are made in the upper part of the legs and the beam is screwed with screws. If necessary, reinforce the fastening with metal corners.

If the swing is not mobile, and more often it is, the support frame is mounted on the foundation. To do this, dig holes 40–50 cm deep on a selected flat area, install a structure and fill the holes with earth and rubble. With a massive structure, the supports are concreted: in this case, the length of the supporting leg should be greater.

The frame of the bench on chains is assembled from a bar 70 * 35 mm. For the seat, slats 120 cm long are cut, for the rear rack and armrests – 90 cm, and support bars 95 cm long are cut off. Finishing strips are also made.

From the timber for the seat and the support bars, they assemble the frame with their own hands. In this case, the back board is fixed to the ends of the sidewalls, and the top board is laid flat on the bottom of the frame. Racks for the backrest are installed vertically inside the frame and fastened with bolts.

The bars under the armrests are installed at the front corners of the frame with their butt on the bottom board and are also fixed with bolts. If necessary, fasteners are duplicated with a metal corner.

A transverse beam is fixed on the supports for the back. The armrests are installed flat on the front supports and the armrests are fixed. The armrests are attached to the rear supports of the backrest.

A swing seat with a back on chains is assembled like this. Planks for the seat and backrest – with dimensions of 70 * 25 m, are fixed to the frame. Between them keep a distance of 5 mm. Reiki, with the exception of the very first one, protrude 17–20 mm beyond the edge of the frame. Before installing the plank, you should prepare: cut the corners along the length and grind to reduce the likelihood of injury.

The finished product is sanded, sanded, varnished or painted with their own hands. Now it remains only to hang it on the supports.

Swing on chains for children

Children’s models are smaller in size and sometimes are just a seat on suspensions. But homemade swings on chains can be made from the most unexpected items.

1. Wheels and fasteners are removed from the old skateboard, cleaned with an iron brush and sanded. Then paint the future seat in a suitable color.

   

2. 2 wooden blocks are cut to the width of the skateboard and fixed as close as possible to the edge of the product.

   

3. Holes are drilled through the seat and supports and eyebolts are installed. Chains are attached to them. Such a seat is suspended from a U-shaped or A-shaped rack, fixed to the ceiling or to any other hormonal crossbar.

Instead of a skateboard, you can use a wide board, assemble a seat from planks, or hang a fragment of a car tire on chains.

Children’s swing on chains with a back

The difference between children’s models is a large swing amplitude. Most of them are single, as children swing with different intensity. Despite the low weight of the user, models for children are made of metal, since they take into account the high intensity of use.

The material for the swing on the chains are steel pipes with a section of 40 * 40 mm and 20 * 20 mm. It is easier to use profile ones, as they are easier to mount:

1. For a rack, two pipes 2 m long with a large cross section are cut at an angle of 45 degrees.

   

2. For transverse fragments of a pipe with a cross section of 20 * 20 mm, they are applied to the future rack at a distance of 7000 mm from the bottom edge, the bevels are marked and the excess is cut off with a grinder. In the same way, parts for the second rack are made.

   

3. All elements are welded and get 2 do-it-yourself A-shaped swing racks. There should be a distance of 1600 mm between the legs of the support.

   

4. Install supports, lay a transverse beam 2 m long, check the verticality, weld the beam to the supports. 2 ears are attached to the horizontal bar for hanging the chain. With a long crossbar, you can install a second swing. Assemble the seat frame with the backrest. 2 pipes 20 * 40 mm lines of 1 m are grabbed together so that they temporarily represent a single structure. Recede from the edge of 100 mm and make a mark. Then repeat them every 120 mm. Cuts are made along these lines. The extreme ones are performed on the reverse side. The structure is then bent to form the desired shape.

   

5. Separate the frame pipes, boil and clean the seams. They are painted to prevent corrosion. Ears are attached to the top of the pipes for attaching the chain. The bottom ones are drilled to install the eye bolts. A wooden swing seat on chains is assembled from boards. For fasteners, holes are first made in the boards.

   

Metal swings with chains are more massive than wooden ones and are not prone to tipping over. However, it is recommended that the supports be concreted to minimize the chance of injury.

Double chain swing with back

The construction technology of this option is no different from the assembly scheme of a conventional swing. The difference is only the length of the crossbar and the thickness of the timber for the support posts and the beam. As the load increases, it is worth choosing a thicker beam.

Double swing is performed in 2 versions:

• simple double – 2 single seats with backs are attached to the beam, this model is designed for children;

  

• combined – in this case, they fix a bench seat for adults and a single swing for a child, in order to make such a complex more stable, they install not 2, but 3 support posts.

  

The material for the construction is both wood and metal.

How to hang a swing on chains

Fastening for a swing on a chain is performed in several ways:

1. For swings on metal chains, it is best to use special cast iron brackets. They wrap around the iron pipe, securely fixing the swing. When hanging, the chains are passed through a carabiner. A big plus of this option is the possibility of dismantling. The product can be disassembled and reassembled in the courtyard of the house, for example, instead of a summer cottage.

   

2. The most reliable model for do-it-yourself wooden products is a solid metal knot. At its base there is a mounting plate with holes for screws. The nodes are fixed to the beam using dimensions or screws. The chain is suspended from a brass bushing with a ring, in order for the product to serve for several decades, it must be periodically lubricated.

   

3. Facilitated fastening – has the same design, but is equipped with a plastic sleeve. It reduces friction and makes the movement of the swing silent. However, such fasteners can withstand light weight and are used only for children’s light swings.

   

4. Swing assembly – the movement of the chains is provided by plain bearings. Not the best option, despite the ease of use, because the parts wear out pretty quickly. The bearing assembly should be lubricated once a month to prolong its life and prevent corrosion.

   

To attach the swing on chains to the ceiling, use the same devices.

Useful Tips

In order for the hanging outdoor swing for giving on chains to last for a long time, you should choose the right model and follow the recommendations for care:

1. For garden swings, it is preferable to choose an option that can withstand a load of 150 kg. In this case, both children and adults can use the swing.
2. Garden swings are placed on a flat area in the shade. Otherwise, to protect from the sun, you will have to build an awning.
3. Also, do not install a swing in a low area. If the site is constantly damp, both the wooden and metal structures will quickly become unusable.
4. There must be 2 m of free space in front and behind the seat.
5. If the swing is installed on a soft surface – a lawn, special pads are used to stabilize the model.
6. 2-3 times a year, the swing is inspected, hinges and working units are lubricated. The mechanical parts of the product should be disassembled and lubricated.
7. Covers and awnings, if any, are washed at least once a season.
8. The wooden parts of the swing are treated with antiseptics. It is desirable to open the tree with an antifungal varnish. Metal parts are primed and painted once a year.
9. For the winter, it is advisable to disassemble the swing and store it in a dry place.

Conclusion

Making a swing on chains with your own hands is easy. Practically according to the same drawing, children’s models, multi-seat adults, and even a swing sofa are made. Even a beginner can make wooden ones. For the construction of metal requires the skill of working with a welding machine.