DIY Tree Swing
Here in Central Texas we have lots of beautiful old Live Oak trees. For an old man like my husband, they are good for one thing in Texas - shade! For my kids, they are also great for climbing, tree houses, and swings! We are lucky enough to have a big old beauty in our front yard with a perfect branch out across our front yard. When we bought our house nearly 4 years ago, I knew the first thing I wanted to do was get an old school swing hanging from that big old branch. My husband did a lot of research before putting it in and I want to pass along what we learned.
Choosing a rope: You need to choose a rope that will withstand the elements but be soft on those little hands while swinging. Climbing rope is super sturdy but pretty expensive and doesn't have that classic look. We went with a nice white 3/8" twisted "poly" rope which is easy to find at your local hardware store.
Attaching the rope to the tree branch: Pick a branch big enough and sturdy enough to support a normal size adult. You might want to have a turn and you know more than one kid is going to climb on that swing at one time. We wanted to avoid putting screws and bolts into trees, so I went with the rope looped around the branch. Use which ever method with which you are most comfortable. We did run the rope through some lightweight plumbing tubing (an old garden hose will work too) to protect the tree and the rope from wear. We ran a bowline knot on both lengths of rope after much research and practice. Pro-tip: if your tree branch is really high up like ours, take advantage of your next tree trimming and have the pros up there in the trees run the ropes for you!
We ran the ropes through a single small piece of wood about 10 feet above the swing bench with a single simple knot in each rope below the wood to keep it in place. This gives extra stability to the swing and keeps the kids from spinning it around a zillion times. Then about 6 feet above the bench, we made a simple knot around a small metal ring in each rope. This works great as an anchor spot for adding in different swings, if needed. We placed locking carabiners at the end of each rope, which is also great for swapping out swings and for locking onto those metal rings, creating makeshift gymnastic style rope rings. The kids love swinging on these both with and without the swing bench in place.
Now, I could go into great detail on how we made a great rustic style wooden swing bench. But, my kids don't use it. They much prefer this circular rope style swing that attaches easily to those little metal rings: http://www.amazon.com/Round-Round-Outdoor-Swing-Nylon/dp/B008AYLS4K
It seems like they can get 2 or 3 kids on that thing and spin around like crazy. But, if you are like me and prefer the old school wooden bench, here is a great website with detailed instructions on building the bench seat and other steps in the swing set up: http://www.motherearthnews.com/diy/how-to-make-a-tree-swing-zmaz92aszshe.aspx?PageId=2
Now, pull up a chair on the front porch and enjoy a beer while watching your kids swing the afternoon away!
