If you want your children to play more outdoors, then you need to make your garden a little more fun. Hanging a swing made from a tire is a great way to recycle an unwanted old tire, and at the same time build something your children will love for many years. All you need are a few materials and some knowledge. The thing that you must always take into consideration, when building the swing with the tire, is the safety of the children.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Making a Simple Swing
Step 1. Get a suitable, old and no longer needed tire
Make sure it's relatively clean and in fairly good condition so it doesn't crack under people's weight.
The bigger the gum, the better, but only up to a point. You need to have a lot of space to allow children to sit in the wheel, but a huge tire may be too heavy for a normal tree limb to hold. Use common sense to find the right balance of size and weight in relation to your tree
Step 2. Clean the tire
Wash it well with an industrial detergent, scrubbing the entire external surface and rinsing it on the internal walls. If it cleans well, then you can use it.
To remove stubborn grease stains, use WD40 or a tire cleaner. Remember that people will sit on the tire, so the more dirt you remove the better. Remember to remove any detergent residue as well
Step 3. Choose a suitable tree branch where to hang the swing
It should be sturdy and thick, with a minimum diameter of 25 cm. Check that it is a large, healthy tree with no signs of weakness to indicate instability. Usually isolated oaks or maples are perfect.
- The branch you choose affects the length of the rope you need. The seat of the swing is usually located about 3 m from the tree branch.
- In addition, the branch must protrude from the tree just enough to prevent the swing, when it swings, from immediately hitting the trunk. While the swing doesn't have to be hooked to the very tip of the branch, at the same time you can't tie it within inches of the trunk.
- The higher the branch, the higher the swing will swing. For this reason, if you are building it for a small child, it is best to consider a low branch.
Step 4. Purchase the rope
Buy one about 15m long. It should be of good quality, so it doesn't crack or fray under people's weight.
- There are several varieties of ropes that you can use for the swing, such as very resistant ones for mountaineering or those for work, but you can also rely on chains if you wish. A simple tire hung with a galvanized chain lasts longer than one hung with a rope, but for the latter, maintenance is easier, it damages the branch less and children cling to it more easily.
- To prevent the rope from fraying, as well as buying a high-quality one, you can insert rubber tubes in the points where the wear is greatest (for example where it comes into contact with the tree, the tire and children's hands).
Step 5. Drill drainage holes in the tire
Since the swing will remain exposed to rain, water could accumulate inside the tire if you leave it whole. To prevent this from happening, make holes in the semicircle that will remain at the bottom.
Be very cautious when doing this. You may be able to hit metal beams that make up the frame of the tire with the tip of the drill, if they are present. Be aware that you may hit different layers of material when drilling
Step 6. Use a ladder to reach the branch
Make sure you lay it down so it doesn't fall off. It would be wise and opportune for a friend to help you by holding her steady as you climb.
If you don't have a ladder, you'll need to find another method of running the rope around the branch. Get a roll of sturdy adhesive tape or something of similar weight and tie it to one end of the rope. Then throw the scroll over the branch, so that the rope rests on it. At this point all you have to do is peel off the roll of tape - or whatever other object you used to weight the rope
Step 7. Arrange the rope around the branch
Make sure it doesn't rub against knots or other imperfections in the branch. You will need to wrap it around the branch several times to make sure it doesn't move.
If you bought plastic tubing, the part of the rope that comes into contact with the branch should be lined with it to prevent it from fraying
Step 8. Secure the end of the rope to the tree with a square knot
Check that it is tight and secure. If you don't know how to make this type of knot, find someone who can.
If you wrapped the rope around the branch while remaining on the ground, then you will need to tie a slip knot and then slide it to tighten it to the branch
Step 9. Tie the other end of the rope to the top of the tire
Also in this case you have to use a square knot to fix the two elements.
- Before tying the knot, consider how far the tire should be off the ground. There should be no obstacles preventing it from swinging and it should be high enough so that the legs of the children are not dragged on the ground; then calculate to hang the tire at least 30 cm from the ground. On the other hand, the swing must not even be so high as to prevent children from climbing it alone. Check these parameters before tying the knot around the tire.
- Remember that the part with the drainage holes must face downwards and the whole one upwards.
Step 10. Cut off the excess segment of the rope
Eliminate any "tail" that protrudes from the knot, to prevent it from getting in the way or coming loose.
Step 11. Arrange the ground under the swing if you wish
Add mulch or loosen the soil with a shovel to make the surface soft, so that the children do not get hurt if they jump (or fall) from the swing.
Step 12. Try the swing
Make sure it is securely attached to swing. Before allowing other people to use it, test it yourself under the supervision of a friend, in case there are any problems. If everything goes as planned, then you and your children are ready to play with it.
Method 2 of 2: Making a Horizontal Swing
Step 1. Find a good eraser to use
You need a relatively clean and well-maintained tire whose side shoulders don't break under people's weight.
You can choose any size tire, but remember that very large tires are also very heavy. There must be enough space to accommodate several children sitting inside, but a tire that is too thick may be too heavy for a normal tree branch
Step 2. Clean all the rubber
Wash it with industrial cleaner and scrub both the inside and outside walls.
You can also use a specific tire product if you wish
Step 3. Choose a good branch to hang the swing from
It should be sturdy, at least 25cm thick and 3m above the ground.
- Check that the tree is large and healthy, with no signs that may indicate instability or that it has died inside.
- Check that the point where you will fix the swing is far enough from the trunk, so the children will not hit it while swinging. This means you need to tie the tire at least a couple of meters from the trunk.
- The distance that separates the tire from the branch also determines how high the swing can swing. The longer the rope, the higher the rubber will go, so choose a low branch if you are building the toy for a small child.
Step 4. Purchase the material
You need three "U-bolts" with two washers and matching nuts for each end of the U. In other words, you need four washers and four nuts for each U-bolt. Also you need to get a 3m long rope, chain good quality galvanized (6 m) and an “S” hook large enough to accommodate three pieces of the chain at one end.
- The rope must be of excellent quality, so that it does not fray under the weight of people. There are many types of ropes on the market that you can buy, from super-resistant ones for mountaineering to those for general use.
- You can replace the “S” hook with a carabiner, a metal link or a swivel hook. These are all alternatives that allow you to easily detach the swing from the tree, but they are a little more expensive.
- The chain doesn't have to have a huge gauge. When you buy it, check the load it can withstand. Make sure it is enough to support about a third of the weight of a few children. One third of the weight is enough, because you will use three chains to distribute it evenly.
- You can prevent the rope from fraying by inserting it into plastic tubes that protect the areas of friction with the shaft.
Step 5. Drill drainage holes in one of the shoulders of the tire
This part must face downwards, so you are sure that rainwater does not accumulate inside the tire.
Be very cautious at this stage. There may be metal bands within the thickness that you will need to drill
Step 6. Place the ladder under the branch
Make sure it is open and stable, resting firmly on the ground.
It would be good for a friend to help you by holding her down
Step 7. Wrap the string around the branch and tie the ends together
Tie the branch several times before tying the rope with a square knot.
- You will need to attach one end of the "S" hook to the rope, right under the branch. Close the hook securely to prevent the rope from slipping out.
- Make sure the knot is tight. If you don't know how to tie it, find someone who is capable.
Step 8. Cut the chain into 3 identical segments
You must first calculate the height at which you want to hang the tire. Measure the distance that separates the “S” hook from where you want the top of the gum to be. This is the length of each piece of chain.
The swing must be high enough, so that the child's legs do not touch the ground, so at least 30 cm. However, make sure it is not too high or your child will not be able to climb it on his own
Step 9. Attach the last link of each piece of chain to the lower end of the "S" hook
Close the hook with pliers, so the chains won't slip and come off.
Step 10. Decide the location of the holes to secure the U-bolts and proceed to drill them
Remember to space them evenly on the shoulder of the tire before using the drill.
- The bolts must be fixed close to the outer edge of the rubber, following the direction of the circumference and not perpendicular to it. The outer edge of the shoulder is the strongest point of the tire and will not deform once hung.
- Remember that the shoulder with the drain holes must face down, while the opposite shoulder, with the U-bolts, must face up.
Step 11. Insert a U-bolt into each end of the chains
Check that the chain is not twisted along its entire length.
Step 12. Secure the bolts to the rubber
Get help from someone who can hold the tire while you fasten the bolts. Insert a nut and washer into each end of the bolt before drilling through the holes in the tire shoulder. Then add another washer and another nut on the threaded part blocking the bolt from inside the tire. In the end you will have a sequence as follows (from the outside to the inside): nut, washer, shoulder of the tire, washer, nut.
If no one can help you, simply place the rubber on a raised support that allows you to attach the U-bolts. If the tire you have chosen is too heavy, a support always comes in handy - even with a helper present
Step 13. Test the swing to check that it is well secured
Before allowing the children to play with it, sit and rock on the tire under someone's supervision, in case there are any problems. If everything goes as planned, you and your children are ready to have fun!
Advice
- For this project you can use many different types of tires: those for cars, vans and even tractors.
- Periodically check the rope for signs of wear and breakage. After several seasons under all kinds of bad weather, the rope needs to be replaced.
- You can use an alternative technique to secure the swing with ring bolts and a specific chain for swings. Hook the chain to the ring bolts after fixing them to the branch of the tree and to the tire. If you opt for this method, check your connections often to be sure of their safety.
- Try using something else to build the swing instead of the tire. For example, you can take a chair whose legs you have removed, or cut the tire giving it a shape that makes sitting easier.
- Decorate the swing with paint. If you paint it with very resistant paint, it will be really beautiful to look at and will not dirty your clothes, since these will not come into direct contact with the old rubber which still transfers the black color, regardless of how much you have cleaned it.
Warnings
- Inform all people who want to use the swing that they must sit and not stand, because it could be dangerous.
- Make sure that no more than 1-2 people get on the swing at a time. The tree branch is not able to withstand a greater weight.
- Do not use a tire with steel bands inside to build a swing. They can pop out of the gum and injure babies while swinging.
- Monitor children when they play on the swing, to make sure they sit correctly.
- A swing built with a tire can cause injuries to both those who use it and those who push it. Tell all people who will use it to be especially cautious and not to swing / push too hard.
