How to Build a Garden Chair Swing

Building the Swing

• 1

  Set five 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-48 inch treated wood boards parallel to each other on the working surface with their largest sides facing down. Position four 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-18 inch treated boards on top of them, large sides down, perpendicular with one at each end and two evenly spaced in the middle. Adjust the spacing of the long boards, which are the seat boards, so that they are even with the ends of the shorter boards.

• 2

  Drill two holes through each shorter board and into each of the longer boards. Put 2 1/2-inch wood screws in each hole and fasten them securely to create the seat of the swing.

• 3

  Follow the previous procedure to build the backrest using five additional 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-48 inch treated boards and four 1 1/2-by-3 1/2-by-20 1/2 inch boards, leaving a 3-inch space at one end of the shorter boards.

• 4

  Set the backrest and the seat against each other in an L position, with the rear end of the seat against the 3-inch space left on the backrest short boards. Adjust the two sections with the help of an assistant so they form a bench shape with their long sides together. Drill 12 evenly-spaced holes through the rear of the backrest board and into the rear of the seat board, and drill 2 1/2-inch galvanized screws in place in the holes.

• 5

  Set four 6-inch galvanized metal L brackets evenly spaced along the joint of the backrest and the seat, where the short boards are attached to the long boards. Mark the location of each screw hole, then drill a hole at each marking for the screws. Attach the brackets through the screw holes with 2 1/2-inch galvanized screws.

• 6

  Screw 1-inch eyehooks into the top surface of the backrest, placing one on each corner, 2 inches from the actual corner and centered on the long board. Screw in another 1-inch eyehook on each front corner of the seat, spacing the eyehook about 2 inches in from the end and centered on the long board.

Hanging the Swing

• 7

  Dig out two 20-inch deep holes with 8-inch diameters, spaced apart so that they are 5 1/2 feet from the center of one hole to the center of the other. Line the bottom 4 inches with gravel. Set a 6-by-6-by-72-inch treated post in the hole and have an assistant help fill the remainder of the hole with concrete. Brace the post and allow it to set overnight. Repeat with the other post.

• 8

  Set a third 6-by-6-by-72-inch treated post atop the other two and center it. Drill five evenly spaced holes down through the top post and into the end of each vertical post. Set 8-inch galvanized screws in these holes and tighten them securely to affix the top post in place permanently.

• 9

  Screw two 1-inch eyehooks into the bottom surface of the top post, spacing them exactly 48 inches apart and centered on the post. Run a 7-foot length of 250-lb. test load chain through each eyehook.

• 10

  Attach open 1-inch carabiners to each eyehook in the bench. Hold the bench at the desired location and attach the carabiners in each eyehook to the chain link which it matches up to. Adjust the height of the bench by moving the carabiner up or down one chain link at a time until the bench is at the right height and leveled.