Table of Contents
Step 1. Cutting the pieces
The top bars
Cut the top bars out of 1-1/2″ x 1-1/2″ (38mm x 38mm) woodTimber, lumber. The hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees. If you cannot source that size, then near enough will do.
In all you will need about 4.4m (14 1/2ft) allowing for a bit of waste.
Cut 7 pieces [b] to the lengths as given in the drawing below. Also angle each end as shown in the drawing below.
Note: You will need to round the corners of the bars with sandpaper, planer, or other, in order to make them easier on the hands of kids that grip and swing from them.
The legs and beams
Cut the legs and beams out of 2×3 (75mm x 50mm) wood. You can upgrade to 2×4 (100mm x 50mm) if you cant obtain the former, or you want to make the structure
more substantial.
In all you will need 6 pieces [a] & [c] @ 8ft (2.4m) long.
The end rails
Cut the end rails out of 1×6 (150mm x 25mm) wood.
In all you will need about 16ft (4.8m) allowing for a bit of waste.
Cut two top end rails [d] 26″ (650mm) long, angled back 15 degrees off squareA line across the face of a piece of wood (at right angles to the length) is a square line. A line deviating from the square line is off square. Off-square refers to how many degrees the off square line is in relation to the square line. For example, a line at a 5 degrees angle to the square line, is 5 degrees off square. at each end.
Cut two bottom end rails [e] 60″ (1500mm) long, angled back 15 degrees off square at each end.
Refer to the plan drawing below.
The plywoodA piece of wood made of three or more layers of wood veneer laminated together with glue. braces
Half a standard size sheetAny broad, thin surface. of 5/8″ (15mm) thick plywood will do the trick to cut all the pieces.
A standard size sheet is 4ft x 8ft (1200mm x 2400mm). So half of that is a square
2ft x 2ft (1200mm x 1200mm).
Cut four pieces [f] to the dimensionsAny of the three linear measurements, length, breadth and depth. given in the plan drawing below.
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