How to Build an Easy Porch Swing

Making the Pieces

• 1

  Cut pieces from ¾-inch plywood: one back 40 by 20 inches, one seat 40 by 17 inches, one seat edge 3 by 40 inches, and two armrests 4 by 17 inches.

• 2

  Cut a rectangle 35 by 10 inches. Mark a spot 17 inches from one 10-inch end along the 35-inch edge. Mark a corresponding spot 17 inches from the opposite end along the opposite edge. Draw a line between them. Cut along the line to create the arms.

• 3

  Drill a 5/16-inch hole in each of the four corners of the seat. Make each hole 1½ inch from the two edges that form the corner.

• 4

  Drill a 1¼-inch hole 2 inches in from either end of each arm, centered on the armrest.

• 5

  Mark a line across one face of the seat 3 inches parallel to each 17-inch end and across one face of the back 3 inches in, parallel to each 20-inch edge, for nail placement.

• 6

  Mark two lines across the other face of the seat 2 5/8 inches from the 17-inch end at either end. Mark a second line ¾ inch from the first, at 3 3/8 parallel to the 17-inch edge. Mark the remaining face of the back in the same way. These are the arm positions.

Assembling the Swing

• 7

  Glue along the 17-inch bottom edge of one arm. Stand the arm on its 18-inch edge. Position the seat on its front edge. Line the seat up so one pair of positioning lines is centered on the arm. Nail through the seat along the nail placement line. Repeat with the second arm.

• 8

  Glue along the angled edge of each arm. Position the back on top of them. Set the bottom edge of the back along the top edge of the seat. Center the positioning lines on the arms. Nail through the back along the nail placement lines. Use four nails evenly spaced. Reinforce the nailed joints with three 1 5/8-inch drywall screws evenly spaced.

• 9

  Glue and nail the seat edge underneath the front edge of the seat. Flush the face of the seat edge with the front edge of seat.

• 10

  Nail the armrests to tops of arms. Flush one edge with the inside of the arm to extend the armrest over the seat edge, with armrest holes above the seat holes. Add three screws in each armrest.

• 11

  Attach one eyebolt through each corner hole in the seat with the eye above the seat. Fasten underneath with a 5 1/16-inch nut and lock washer. Attach a 60-inch chain with threaded link, to the front eyebolt on one side. Pass the chain up through the front armrest hole, down through the back hole and attach to the back eyebolt. Repeat for the remaining side.