Types
of Wooden Swings
A
swing is a hanging seat, usually found at playgrounds for children, a
circus for acrobats, or on a porch for relaxing, although they may
also be items of indoor furniture, such as the Indian oonjal. The
seat of a swing may be suspended from chains or ropes. Once a swing
is in motion it continues to oscillate like a pendulum until external
interference or drag brings it to a halt. Swing sets are very popular
with children.
On
playgrounds, several swings are often suspended from the same metal
or wooden frame, known as a swing set, allowing more than one child
to play at a time. Such swings come in a variety of sizes and shapes.
For infants and toddlers, swings with leg holes support the child in
an upright position while a parent or sibling pushes the child to get
a swinging motion. Some swing sets include play items other than
swings, such as a rope ladder or sliding pole.
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For
older children, swings are sometimes made of a flexible canvas seat,
of rubberized ventilated tire tread, of plastic, or of wood. A common
backyard sight is a wooden plank suspended on both sides by ropes
from a tree branch.
Swings
should be unique and strong so that we or our children won't get hurt
while having fun.
The 3 Best Types of Wood in a Swing Set
The
3 best types of woods used in today's swing sets. Each have their own
pros and cons. I'll do my best to help you decide which is right for
you.Here is the short version, taken
from another blog post,
with an infographic that sums everything up:
- If you are looking for overall value, go with a solid Cedar swing set. It’s an excellent, all-around wood.
- If you are looking for natural beauty and durability, go with a Redwood swing set. It will last you longer than a set made with Cedar wood, but it will also cost you more. It’s an absolutely beautiful wood and almost always comes with a lifetime warranty.
- If you are looking for the most durable wood, go with a Pine swing set. Premium Preserved Pine will last longer than Cedar and Redwood without maintenance. Its price typically falls between that of Redwood and Cedar and usually comes with a lifetime warranty.
Comparision of the 3 Best Types of Wood in a Swing Set
The agreed
upon quality, ranging from best (5 stars) to worst (1 star), of the
three woods would be as such:
1.
Cedar
The
majority of wooden swing sets today are made from Cedar. And
rightfully so. Cedar is an awesome wood. It's naturally resistant to
rot, decay and damage.
It is a highly
durable wood, used on decks, playsets and other projects, and remains
cost effective as well.
This
affordable, but durable, wood will hold up well for years. Most Cedar
sets come with a 10-15 year warranty. They are generally priced lower
than their Redwood and Premium Preserved Pine counter parts.
Not to
mention, new cedar sets smell terrific!
I would highly
recommend Cedar. Similar to Redwood, it is resistant to insects and
rot. If you can source it, Eastern White Cedar is a wonderful wood to
make a play set out of, as it wont give splinters as easily as many
woods will.
I went a bit
overboard on the play set I built last summer. I went with rough cut
western red cedar 4x4s, and jointed/planed them down to about 3 3/4"
x 3 3/4". This allowed me to end up with very square members.
This was necessary as I did everything using mortise and tenon
joinery (yes, I went overboard).
The primary
problem with cedar warping/twisting is when it is unsupported. Once
supported properly (i.e.- assembled as a structure), the
warping/twisting is minimal.
2.
Redwood
Most
top of the line swing sets are made from Redwood. There are different
types of Redwood trees, however, the most common type of Redwood used
in playsets these days is U.S-grown California Redwood.
Redwood, like
Cedar, is naturally resistant to rot, decay and damage because it
contains tannin, a natural chemical harmless to humans and animals,
but toxic to fungi. Fungal disease causes decay in other woods. It is
also naturally immune to insect damage.
The
reddish-brown color of its bark has earned Redwood (by many people's
opinion) the title of the most beautiful option for playsets, and it
has less volumetric and tangential shrinkage, meaning it stays flat
and straight with minimal, warping, cupping, or cracking. In other
words, not only is Redwood easy on the eye but it also comes
with a natural resistance to wear and tear, so you can enjoy it just
as you purchased it for years to come.
Redwood is no
doubt a beautiful and durable wood. However, due to most
Redwood lumber today not being "Heartwood Redwood," Redwood
sets have slipped a notch in their durability factor.
Keep in mind
that almost all swing set manufacturers who make Redwood sets will
tout them as the best, when in fact, the quality of Redwood sets have
declined in recent years due to the lack of Heartwood Redwood being
used.
Nearly all
Redwood sets come with a lifetime warranty.
3.
Pine
If
you are looking for the most durable swing set, I would recommend
Premium Preserved Pine. (not regular pine) Contrary to popular
belief, Premium Preserved Pine playsets, and NOT Redwood, are the
most durable of all wood playsets used today because the pine is
preshrunk and preserved.
These two
processes minimize shrinking, warping, cracking, cupping, and fungal
decay. Pine can withstand harsh weather conditions and can hold more
moisture than Redwood and Cedar, which gives Premium Preserved Pine
playsets a decades-long lifespan.
Pine is not
the prettiest wood, however. Where as Cedar and Redwood have a darker
color and warmth, pine lacks this darkness and warmth. It is by no
means an "ugly" wood, though. because
it fit my budget at the time. If I were to do it again I might have
spent more and used redwood or cedar as some others have suggested.
When I used to build decks we would always try and use redwood or
trex, but both of those are more expensive.
One thing I
did do that you should do no matter what kind of wood you use is to
seal it. I used a really good protective paint that also contained
sealant and some UV protective solution and the swing is still in
pretty good shape after 8 years. However, this swing is pretty beefy
(I used 6x6 posts and 6x10 beams) so warping wasn't really that much
of an issue for me, just a little splintering here and there.
Another thing
you can do is put some Boracare on it. It's perfect for keeping all
wood-eating pests away from wooden outdoor structures, like swings.
One
thing to note: Treated woods, such as Premium Preserved Pine, tend to
be looked down upon by some playset dealers and manufacturers. The
short reason for this is that - in
the past -
treated woods were treated by a chemical with trace amounts of
arsenic - CCA - a chemical toxic to humans.
Playset
manufacturers today that use pressure treated and preserved woods,
such as Playnation,
however, do NOT
use
chemicals containing arsenic. The new treatments are copper based,
and are Greenguard
Certified.
They are 100% safe for playgrounds and children.
Nearly all
Premium Preserved Pine playsets come with a lifetime warranty.
Swings
and Accessories
We
have varied collection of Swings and Accessories. We believe in
making them as per your taste so they are handmade and you will not
find any 2 products of similar design to be same. We make swings in
various material types like:
1.
Teak Wood Swings
2.
Acrylic Swings
3.
Rope Swings
We
also provide with Swing Accessories most importantly links which are
made from Stainless Steel, Brass and German silver. We vouch for the
quality and cost of these Swing accessories along with the
durability.
Components
of Wooden Swing
Typical
components of an outdoor playset include:
1.
Towers
In
a playset, a tower is a vertical structure with one or more decks
placed at various levels. A deck is essentially a horizontal play
surface contained within or attached to a tower.
2.
Bridges
Towers
may be connected to one another via fixed bridges or chain bridges
for children to walk across.
3.
Ladders
Rope
ladders and fixed ladders are common accessories for play-sets.
4.
Sandboxes
A
sandbox often accompanies an outdoor play-set.
5.
Slides
Playground
slides may be covered or uncovered.
6.
Swings
Swings
are usually mounted on a free-standing swing-set.
7.
Monkey bars
Towers
may be connected by monkey bars as well as bridges.
Conclusion
Well, there
you have it.
These are the
3 types of wood you will find when looking to purchase a new swing
set. Which one is best for you is yours to decide.
In most cases,
as long as you maintain the wooden furniture online Bangalore by
staining/sealing each year, each of these woods will last you for
many years to come.
Which wood
would be best for swings according to you?
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