Simple Kids' Swing From Scrap Lumber
Novel Use Case #13 - Swing from 2x6, rope, and (2) Eye Bolts
Sometime in the last year or two I put up a “baby” swing for my younger daughter. While she’s only three as of this writing, she’s also (beyond) the 99th percentile in height, and somewhere in that range for weight as well.1 Lifting her into this rubber diaper-like contraption had become cumbersome.
Therefore, it was time to upgrade to a regular-kid swing, yet I was too lazy/cheap to shop around for one. I did, however, have a number of spare 2x6s lying around, and a trip to Lowe’s netted a pair of eyebolts that seemed a bit expensive at ~$2.50 each. They did come in a nice black color though.
I cut the corners to 45º for looks and possibly safety, drilled holes for the eye bolts, and installed them using lock nuts and washers on the bottom. With the removal of the other swing, plus a pair of figure-eight knots, I was in business.
Could It Be Simpler? [Yes]
As I consider my simple design, I now realize that with a properly-sized hole, the rope could have simply been feed through to the other end and tied. This could mean a simple knot to keep it from pulling out, or perhaps a loop of some kind. On the other hand, would you trust a knot in a “stopper” arrangement? (maybe) And is there a good way to make a loop without making the swing tip to one side or the other? (probably)
Of course, there’s also the classic single-axis rope swing, requiring half the rope per pendulum length. I have some fond memories of playing on those, though as an adult I now question their safety.
Could it be safer? Also yes
While I wouldn’t rank this as extremely dangerous, I could see this bumping into someone’s head if they’re not careful. I assume that’s why swings at parks are typically made out of rubber. Also, it could potentially unscrew from the bottom. Maybe a rope-only design would be better, though I’m not sure the rope I had on there already is long enough.
What’s the Engineering Lesson?
On the positive side, I was able to make a very nice swing for what amounted to $5, plus the parts I already have at home. Not everything is worth a DIY job, but in this case I’d give it a 👍
On the negative side, if I’d considered my options and written this very article beforehand, the cost could have been $0 with the proper knots.2 It’s always good to think outside of the box!
Thanks for reading! I hope you will follow along as I post weekly about engineering, technology, making, and projects. Fair warning: I am a native Florida man, and may get a little off-topic in the footnotes.
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Addendum/Footnotes:
As for why my daughter is quite tall, see below (not the out-of-shape part) 👇
Getting in Shape Took Me 10+ Years: Maybe You Can Do it in Less
My weight loss journey didn’t involve anything revolutionary, and it didn’t take much more effort than my previous workout routine, primarily involving weight lifting. A shift in priorities, simple diet changes, and sticking with it for about a decade
As it turns out, I had barely enough rope to secure the swing with a climber’s figure-eight knot (for which I would normally add another “safety knot” to ensure enough length on the tail. Weirdly, the linked video doesn’t include it).
This rope is decades-old, but was (at least at one time) suitable for belay use. I bought it in college, with the idea that I’d rappel down the side of a certain building on campus, but wisely did not do this. Given its age, I threw most of it out to avoid any temptation to use it in more height-critical situations. Still, I kind of regret doing so, as it’s arguably still good rope as long as you’re not dangling 50 feet in the air.