DIY pallet swing: photo + simple step-by-step instructions

Advantages and disadvantages of pallet swings

Many summer residents use pallets for garden furniture for good reason. After all, for their manufacture we use high-quality boards designed for heavy loads.

Therefore, the advantages of swings made from pallets include:

• speed and ease of assembly;
• minimum costs;
• pallets are an environmentally friendly material;
• the ability to assemble different designs, from a simple bench to an ottoman.

Such furniture has only one drawback - the wood is susceptible to rotting, but this problem can be easily solved by treating the pallets with special protective compounds.

Place for a swing

The choice of location for the swing largely depends on the design. So you can make a stationary or portable rocking chair from pallets with your own hands.

Portable swings can be removed at any time and are best suited for small areas or for a summer house where the owners prefer to relax only in the summer season.

The main condition for installing any structure is that there should be no trees or bushes with a dense crown, or walls near the swing. The distance from the swing to the nearest object is the maximum length from the bottom of the seat to the top bar plus one meter.

Important! The swing cannot be placed in the sun, it is better in the shade of trees or, as an option, equip the structure with an awning.

Features of the base

The design of wooden pallets was specially designed to simplify the loading of large quantities of goods packaged in blocks. Builders made shields from boards, and two boards were attached to them from below on the sides. They helped form a convenient stop that made the small loader easier to operate.

Pallets simplify loading cargo Source art-pallet.ru

The shape of the pallets has been improved. In 1925, American workers nailed another shield to the bottom. The result was a rigid platform suitable for forming a large cargo unit. At its base there are special recesses for which slings can be attached. There are large gaps between the boards at the base. They help secure cargo during transportation.

Improved pallet model Source pallete.firs.org.ua

Sometimes pallets are used once and are disposed of at the place of delivery. When they simply fall into an ownerless heap, there are people who want to take them home and use them to make some decorative items or even furniture. Pallets look very brutal in the interior. And they are well suited for the intended purposes.

Furniture from waste pallets Source yandex.net

For international transportation, standard packaging is used. Its dimensions are 800x1200 mm. The width of the upper wide dies is 145 mm, narrow 100 mm. To make one element, eight slats of the same length are used. The height of one pallet is 144 m.

Euro pallet sizes Source i-dealog.com

Types of pallet swings

In addition to the fact that pallet swings can be portable or stationary, they can differ in their design features.

1. A bench is the simplest option when pallets are hung on ropes or chains. This swing can be made a little more complicated by adding a back or armrest. Also, the bench can be designed for one place or as a sofa assembled from two or more pallets.
2. Bed - the design of such a swing can be presented in the form of an ottoman or trestle bed, if you install sides.
3. Suspended playground - children especially like this swing.

In fact, the pallet serves as the basis, everything else is auxiliary materials, thanks to which the design can be made more convenient and original.

What to pay attention to

Before installing a swing in your dacha made from a pallet, you need to pay attention to some points:

• if the boards and beams from which the pallet is made have many defects: cracks, chips, rot, knots, etc., you should not use this container for a swing;
• the same applies if the pallet elements have high humidity and are infected with fungi and mold;
• the tray used must be treated with antiseptic compounds;
• if the swing is assembled from two or more pallets, then under them it is necessary to lay a solid base of boards at least 5 cm thick, please note that suspensions in the form of chains and ropes are attached specifically to them;
• the entire structure of the swing must be sanded, coated with oil or varnish, this especially applies to the planes to which the human body or parts thereof will be applied during operation;
• It’s good if the seat and back are upholstered in fabric with foam rubber or covered with mattresses.

Pallet swing materials

Depending on the chosen design, the choice of materials will depend. If you plan to make a swing from pallets with your own hands, you will need a strong rope or chains. For a structure on an L-shaped support - racks made of logs, timber or pipes.

For swings on stands you need to prepare the following materials:

1. Pallets - the number depends on the type of seat. If it is a bench with a back, then two pallets are enough, and if the seat is in the form of a bed, then four.
2. Support - racks made of timber or logs are suitable here, but the best option is a profile pipe, it is more reliable and durable.
3. Primer, antiseptic, impregnation are necessary materials to protect metal or wooden elements from the harmful effects of sun, rain, snow, and frost.
4. Paint will give the swing an attractive appearance and also serve as an additional protective agent.
5. The movable fastener is the main unit of the swing; hinges on bearings are most often used here, but there are other devices, it all depends on the load for which the swing is designed.
6. There is no way to assemble a swing without tools, so you need to prepare a saw, drill, grinder, hammer, tape measure, screwdriver and paint brushes.
7. A welding machine and a grinder - such tools will be needed if the supporting frame consists of metal profiles.

If the side supports are in the shape of “L” or “A”, then the frame is simply installed on the ground. But if the support is in the shape of a “U”, that is, there will be only one rack on the sides, then for stability and reliability the racks will have to be concreted. This means you will need sand, crushed stone and cement.

To attach the swing itself, you can use a rope or chain. If the swing is light, then the rope will easily support it. But if the structure is assembled from several pallets, then it is safer to use a chain, so the rope will stretch under the weight.

Nuances

The number of pallets, their type and size are selected individually, depending on the desired height of the bed and the required depth of the internal compartment. The length and width are also selected independently.

Please note that for convenience, it is necessary to line the inner compartment with some material so that the bedding is not laid out on bare boards.

Installation of the support structure

From the construction of a private house, there is always a beam with a cross section of 100 by 100 cm; it can be used as a support for the entire structure. Here you will need two posts for racks 3-3.5 m long and one beam for a horizontal crossbar 2 m long.

If the place for the swing has already been chosen, then you can proceed with installation:

1. Using a garden drill, we dig holes 0.5-1 m deep and 20 cm in diameter from the supports at a distance of 2 m.
2. The lower part of the supports is treated with bitumen mastic and wrapped with roofing felt.
3. We install the pillars in the holes, align them exactly vertically and fill them with concrete mortar.

We leave the supports for a day so that the concrete sets well. Then we attach a horizontal crossbar to them. This can be done using steel angles with self-tapping screws or bolted connections with pre-drilled holes.

Briefly about the main thing

Recycled pallets are an excellent building material. It can be used to create garden paths, light buildings, and play complexes.

Freight pallets are suitable for constructing furniture. They make comfortable sofas and beds, cabinets and even kitchen units. It is enough to show a little imagination in order to create beautiful accessories to decorate different rooms.

Usually decommissioned cargo containers are used for work. It costs almost nothing, so both garden decorations and interior items are very cheap.

Assembling a swing

If the swing is in the form of a bench, then there is no special assembly. The pallet needs to be sanded, treated with protective agents, painted if desired, and then simply hung. Here the question is different - how to securely and safely secure it.

You can hang the pallet on a nylon rope with a thickness of at least 12 mm. We simply tie the pallet, bring out the ends, which we attach to the supporting structure. But a more reliable option is to wind and bring the ends to one point, followed by fixing two ropes, as in the step-by-step photos.

Another method with ropes, here you will need two pieces for each side. We wrap the pallet with one rope, the crossbar with the other, and then we connect the two sections with a carabiner. This method is convenient because the tray can be removed at any time.

The most reliable option is to hang the pallet on steel chains, which will last for decades. It is important to choose the size of the chain links here, but even the smallest parameters are designed for heavy loads. To attach the chains to the pallet itself and to the crossbar, you will need a special fastening in the form of a bolt and nut. You can recognize such a bolt by its hook- or ring-shaped head.

To attach the chain, you need to drill holes in the support and in the pallet, insert the fasteners and secure with a nut on the back side.

Coffee table

A widespread option for furniture made from pallets is the coffee table. It will be a great addition to a minimalist living room.

To make it you will need the following elements:

• electric drill;
• two pallets;
• hammer;
• screws, nail puller, screwdriver;
• wood adhesive;
• wheels for the table;
• varnish and primer, brushes;
• regular pencil.

Using a hammer and a nail puller, the pallet is disassembled. Then, the boards are stacked tightly next to each other to form a table top. The boards are glued together and for high-quality fastening, they are nailed from the inside with two sticks.

You should wait until the glue has completely dried, after which the tabletop is strengthened from the inside with the help of two more boards. This creates a place where the logs can be stored.

The tabletop is coated with a primer and, after drying, with varnish. Now you can start attaching the wheels. They are applied to the bottom of the tabletop and, using a pencil, the places for screwing in the screws are marked. Using a drill, holes are drilled in the marked places. The wheels are being secured.

Swing with backrest

For greater convenience, you can make a swing with a backrest. To do this, you will additionally need three boards 20-30 mm wide, but their length depends on the position of the back, that is, how comfortable it will be on such a swing. The back can be made vertical, but it is better to set it at an angle of 30-45°.

1. First of all, we dismantle the top board of the pallet, that is, the one located at the very edge of the structure.
2. We insert three boards into the opening at an angle and fasten them with bolts. This will be the base of the back.
3. Now we nail 20 mm thick boards across the base at a distance of 5-10 cm, but the back can be made without gaps, that is, solid.

For the back, you can use a smaller pallet; taking into account the height, we cut it across and attach it directly or at an angle to the base.

Useful tips

Making a swing from pallets is not that difficult, but it is still worth listening to some tips.

1. Old pallets must be sanded, as after use, sharp areas, chips and cracks form on them. All this can be traumatic. After sanding, the pallets need to be treated with protective agents and painted.
2. For a comfortable rest, you can sew pillows, a mattress, but the back can be upholstered with thick foam rubber and then covered with a tarpaulin.
3. If there is only one pallet, then you can make a swing in the form of a bench. To do this, we cut the pallet in half, connect it at an angle, and use the remaining jumpers as a support for the armrests.
4. If the swing is in the form of a bed, then it is better to make it not flat, but with sides.
5. For children, such a swing can be hung directly on a tree, the main thing is to find a strong branch.

It is better to make the swings collapsible so that you can store them in the shed in winter and thereby extend their service life. As an option, the seat will be removable, and the supports will winter outside.

Making a swing with your own hands from pallets is not so difficult, a little time, effort and a comfortable place for adults to relax and children to have fun is ready.

Post Views: View statistics 509

Recommendations

Swings are more in demand by children than by adults. The design should not only be beautiful, but also safe. A few recommendations will help make this an attraction:

1. Pallets are designed for transportation of goods. They are subjected to heavy loads, which causes defects to form. Before use, check the integrity of the boards and the strength of fixation to the internal jumpers.
2. Shields impregnated with chemicals and other substances that emit unpleasant odors should not be used. You won't be able to get rid of them even after painting.
3. Pallets are heavy. Reliable support is required for hanging.
4. For ease of riding, a canopy is being built. The roof will protect from the scorching sun and light rain.

The base of the roof will be the pallet as a whole or one layer of it