You happen to have a chair, but what you really want is a swing. Maybe you want it for quiet evenings spent on the porch, or maybe you want it for the kids to play around with. Or maybe you just want a fun, hands-on project to complete. Whatever your motivation, turning a regular chair into a swing is a simple way to put a smile on everyone's face. Within just a few hours, you can turn that old chair into a delightful family treat.
Instructions
Preparation
1. Buy the rope or chain you want to use for your swing. Nylon is an excellent material due to its strength and resiliency, but when constructing swings for children it is recommended that you use a rope made of something with a better grip, such as polypropylene. If you're using chain, the recommended type is galvanized 1/0 double loop.
2. Remove the legs from the chair using a saw. There are different blades available for both wood and metal. Get as close as possible to the bottom of the chair so you don't leave sharp stumps behind.
3. File or sandpaper what's left of the legs to get smooth edges. This is a good time to measure the length and width of your chair; you'll need these measurements later, so write them down.
4. Mark four spots for pilot holes with a permanent marker in the four corners of the chair, leaving about two inches between the mark and the edges of the chair. Drill the pilot holes.
5. Insert the eye bolts (5/16 inch wide by four inches long) into the holes and secure with a flat washer and nuts. Place the S-hooks through the eye bolts. You have now managed to convert a chair into a swing; all that is left is to attach it to something.
Hanging
6. For a porch swing, drill two pilot holes directly into the ceiling joist you want to hang it from. Use your chair measurements to calculate how far apart the holes need to be (this should equal the length of the distance between the two front pilot holes in the chair). Screw the heavy duty eye bolts (3/4 inch wide by four inches long) into the pilot holes.
7. For a tree swing, make sure the branch is alive and at least eight inches thick. Drill two holes through the tree. Use your chair measurements to calculate how far apart the holes need to be (this should equal the length of the distance between the two front pilot holes in the chair). Insert galvanized or stainless steel heavy duty eye bolts through the holes in the branch. Secure these with a flat washer and nuts.
8. If you are using chains, attach them to the front eye bolts in the chair. Run them up through the eye bolts in either the ceiling or the branch, then bring them down and attach them to the back eye bolts in the chair.
9. If you are using rope, pass the rope through the eye bolts in either the ceiling or the branch. Make sure the rope is even on both sides, and pass it through the front and back eye bolts of the chair.
10. Tie the rope at all four eye bolts in the chair using a bowline knot. This type of knot will not slip or untie when a load is placed on it. Detailed instructions for tying this knot can be found at AnimatedKnots.com.
Tips Warnings
Use galvanized or stainless steel materials; other types of metal will rust or decay over time.
Do not tie a swing rope with a regular knot. Use a non-slip bowline knot or someone could get hurt.
Tags: make, chair, swing, pilot holes, bolts chair, chair into, chair using, through bolts, your chair, apart holes
