A finished garden swing in dark brown stain, suspended from chains in a garden setting

DIY Projects

A computer scientist as a carpenter: garden swing

A wooden garden swing for adults and children, built in 5 days instead of buying a ready-made one for £1000. The frame, seat with backrest and armrests, and finally stain treatment.

18/08/2021

I'll start with an appeal: don't be afraid to take action. Even an amateur like me can put together something solid.

Idea of a garden swing for both us adults and the kids has been on my mind for a while now. A nice spot to relax with a book or chat with the children.

A finished garden swing in dark brown stain, suspended from chains in a garden setting
Finished garden swing in the backyard

Buy or Build

I walked around supermarkets looking at swings, convinced I couldn't make one myself. The prices are way too high and the designs look cheap.

Many might say: „What's the big deal, just a few planks and it stands up”. I decided to make it myself. I searched the internet for inspiration and found the original design at a nearby timber yard.

A red garden swing displayed in a wood pile
Original from a timber yard, for those interested: 1000 PLN

I bought the wood and I have some tools, so I gave it a try. Below is a photo report from the construction process.

Frame

Two A-shaped support frames connected by a beam with the seat hanging from it.

A-frame swing stands set up in a garden, with a ladder nearby
A swing frame made of two posts connected by a beam, next to a hedge

Seat

I cut the seat and backrest boards on the circular saw and rounded their edges.

Wooden bench seats and backs arranged on paving stones
Adjacent wooden bench seats laid out side by side
Bench seats arranged on crossbeams
Cropped planks and crossbeams on a driveway
A workshop table saw parked on a driveway with wooden bench seats lying on the ground nearby
The seat and backrest planks are arranged parallel to each other
Close-up of rounded edges of wooden planks
Connection of the seat board with the crossbar
A circular saw under a shelter and sawdust from cutting
Finished seat and backrest boards

Backrest and armrests

I screwed the seat, backrest and armrests together using screws, while clamps held everything in place during drilling.

A side seat frame with armrest, assembled on a ramp
A seat with a backrest being clamped together while assembling
A bench with a backrest in clamps, side view
The armrest and seat back are clamped together
A complex seating arrangement with a backrest and armrests
The backrest and armrest are screwed together with bolts and washers
Close-up of the armrest connection to the backrest

First Attempt

The swing hung on the frame from raw wood. It passed the test.

A raw wooden swing hanging from a frame in a garden
A raw swing on a frame by a hedge
First attempt: legs stretched out on a swing seat
View from a swing onto the lawn
A close-up of a screw eye with a chain hanging from it

Stain and effect

Finally, the stain that protects the wood and gives it a warm, dark color.

Close-up of brown-stained wooden planks
A completed swing in brown stain, mounted on a frame in the garden
A brown-stained seat suspended on chains
Stained seat and armrest, side view

How long did it take

The entire construction took 5 days.

As an amateur, it's good enough? I'm proud of myself. I gained experience and confidence that I can actually do something. I'm already planning the next project.