How to Build a Garden Swing Bench

Cutting

• 1

  Lay the lumber on a flat, clean workspace. Cut two 72-inch lengths of 2-by-4-inch lumber, using a circular saw. These are the front and back of the seat frame. Cut five 21-inch lengths of 2-by-4-inch lumber to act as the supports for the seat frame.

• 2

  Cut five 18 1/4-inch lengths of 2-by-4-inch lumber for the back supports. Cut two 11 1/4-inch lengths of 2-by-4 for the arm rest supports. Cut two 25 1/2-inch armrests from 2-by-4-inch lumber.

• 3

  Cut six 72-inch seat slats from 1-by-6-inch lumber. Two of the slats will act as the back support and four will form the seat.

Assembly

• 4

  Arrange the front, back, and two of the support boards to form a rectangle with the front and back pieces over the ends of the supports. Screw the rectangle together with 2 1/2-inch wood screws. Place the remaining three supports inside the rectangle across the front and back, spaced about 18 inches apart. Screw each board in place.

• 5

  Place the back supports upright against the back of the seat rectangle. Align each one with one of the seat supports. Screw the back supports to the back piece of the seat.

• 6

  Place one of the armrest supports upright on the front left side of the rectangle and screw it in place. Repeat on the right side. Place the armrest boards across the tops of the armrest supports to the side of the end back supports. Screw the arm rests in place.

• 7

  Place one of the back slats across the back supports above the armrest. Nail it to each of the back supports. Install the second back support below the armrests. Space the remaining slats evenly across the seat of the swing. Nail them in place. Sand the swing and apply wood paint or stain.

Installation

• 8

  Select a sturdy tree branch, about 8 inches in diameter and at least 6 feet off the ground, from which to hang the swing. Make sure it's sturdy enough to support its weight and that of its users. Drill two holes vertically through the branch, spacing them 72 inches apart. Put a 10-inch eye bolt through each of the holes so the eye is facing down. Secure the bolts with washers and nuts.

• 9

  Drill a 4-inch-deep hole in each corner of the swing's base rectangle. Screw a 4-inch eye bolt into each hole.

• 10

  Tie one end of a long, heavy-duty nylon rope to one of the eye bolts in the tree branch using a bowline knot. Tie another piece of rope to the other eye bolt. Pull the ropes down and thread the left rope through the front eye bolt on the left of the swing, then through the back eye bolt on the left, then back to the branch bolt. Repeat on the other side. Pull the ropes until the swing bench is as high as you desire, then tie the ropes with another bowline knot. Cut off any extra rope.