Monster swingset ideas

[cstamm81]

Hello all, I read through the few posts on here about building swingsets. I am thinking of trying to replicate a commercial style metal framed swingset. It would just be for 4 or so swings, no attached playhouse or anything. Anyway, I was curious if anyone had any experience building a metal frame and then anchoring it into the ground. Here is a link to styles I like: Post Swingsets for Residential & Commercial Use - Component Playgrounds
The two I am thinking of replicating are the post and arch style swingsets. If going post style, I am trying to decide just how deep the posts would have to be sunk. I want this to be able to support full sized adults swinging to their hearts content. I am assuming the force is quite high when a large person is fully swung out. The arch style looks harder to build, but shouldn't require the posts to be set as deep.
I have access to a really big industrial / metal salvage yard and can buy tubing for about .55 / lb, so I know this will still get expensive but not near the cost of buying new. Just looking for ideas / experiences before I start buying steel. I have a backhoe that digs to 8', so setting posts shouldnt be too much of an issue except for maybe the heavy bed of clay that is my yard.

 

[EddieWalker]

Should be a simple project, just be sure to cross brace the poles to form the letter A, and add diagonal bracing from the posts to the beam. Make sure the beam is big enough to handle the span and anchor it with a lot of concrete. How big everything needs to be depends on how high you go and how wide you make it. I would be thinking four inch pipe or bigger should work for posts and beam with 2 inch for bracing. 2 foot holes in the ground should hold it in place.

Eddie

 

[cstamm81]

Thanks EddieWalker. I believe you are proposing making the supports A's, so two support legs on each side. I am proposing having one post per side, so the entire structure would simply be two posts and one beam. This is why I'm wondering how deep and how much concrete I will need as there will be a lot of force trying to pull the posts sideways when swinging.

 

[EddieWalker]

You didn't say how tall you want to make it, but if you are going through the trouble of putting it into the ground with concrete, and you are wanting four people swinging on it at the same time, I would either go REALLY big on the pipe and depth of the hole, or take advantage of all the strength you get out of the A frame design. The taller you go, the more it will move. The more it moves, the sooner it fails.

Eddie

 

[oldnslo]

For reference on the link you posted the PS-20 10 foot high states 4" diameter posts and recommend 24" dia x 36" deep concrete base for each post. This is also only a 2 seater version.

A suggestion for attaching the swing chains to the top rail that I got from my grandpa. Attach the chain to a steel ring that just rocks back forth on top of the main cross member vs some form of pivot point. There is virtually no wear from friction and load is being supported from the top of main support beam. Grandpa made one this way for us kids 60+ years ago and his great-great grand kids are still enjoying it today.

 

[cstamm81]

I'm glad you caught their recommended hole size and depth, I missed that. My thoughts would be I can easily get down 4 to 5 feet, and with my heavy clay soil I feel the cemented posts would be really sturdy. I still wonder about side to side movement though. But now I'm looking at 15' plus tall posts 4" or more in diameter, these can't be cheap. I just really like the industrial look of the 2 post design, now this would all be contingent on me finding large enough posts that are affordable.

Good idea on the swing pivot points.

 

[BHD]

most of the swing sets that were around when I was a kid were made out of 2" pipe, some welded up by the local welder using some gussets at joints and some were kits Is my guess, like sold yet today,

but I would think an A frame set would be better than two posts, if you choose to use two posts, use large posts, 8" min for wood IMO and 6" steel pipe, set deep 4 foot min in concrete,

you get up 10 feet and have some body like want to relive there child hood and try it out that 250 pounds is amplified many times over at the top of 10 foot and moving with force at the top of the posts,

some sites I found for parts if that is your way of going,
Swingset and Playground Swings - Outdoor Fun Store

Hardware and I am sure there are more than these placed if you do a search for swing set parts,
https://www.google.com/search?q=swi...TsyQGAjID4Ag&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAg&biw=1024&bih=640

Swing Hanger Pipe | eBay
Pipe Swing Set Frame Hanger 2 3 8" Pipe Swing Frame End Playground Hardware 1 | eBay
search a little and most all the parts besides the pipe, and maybe even the pipe is on eBay,

most of the swings I grew up on were like the one in the pictures below,

if there is a park or school they replace there equipment for liability reasons fairly often now days you many be able to pickup some parts or a complete swing set for scrap price,

most of the old park sets were around for 50 or more years until the lawyers got involved,
the took the old tall swing sets down and tore out the merry go round, (getting slid off of the by centrifugal force was half the fun)
our park took out the spring loaded rides, (animal body attached to a coil auto spring), yes once in a wile you got bucked off of them,

now they have the small plastic play house sets sets and short slides with all the slides hve covers on them and cages on them, we would bring wax and or dust the slide for faster runs, and try to run off at the bottom with out crashing on your butt,

good luck on your swing projects,

 

[BHD]

our local power company many times will sell used power poles or broken ones usually for next to nothing, (or at least they did, and since many of them are 30+ foot tall, even the upper section of them make excellent poles for things,

My SIL some times builds pole barns, and he will hire the power company to come dig the holes for his buildings they come in with there pole truck and can usually have a buildings worth holes dug in less than an hour, if marked out and they holes are deep and big,

may be worth a call to the town utility department or power provider,