If you want your children to spend more time outside than indoors, you should make the outdoors more enjoyable. Making a hanging swing is a great way to recycle unused tires while providing a play area that your child will enjoy for years to come. All you need is some equipment and a little guidance, especially in considering the safety factor, in making a hanging swing from old tires.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Making a Simple Used Tire Swing
Step 1. Look for used tires that are not used
Make sure the tires are clean and still in good enough condition that they won't tear under human weight.
The bigger the tires, the better-at least, to a certain extent. You'll want tires with enough space for kids to sit on, but if the tires are too big, they won't weigh enough for a regular tree branch. Look for tires with a balance of size and weight that are just enough to hang on your tree
Step 2. Clean the tires
Wash with detergent, scrub the outer surface, and rinse the inside as well. Once the tires are clean enough, you can use the tires.
Use WD40 or a tire cleaning product to remove stubborn oil spots. There will be a lot of people sitting on these tires, so the cleaner the tires, the better. Also make sure to remove any residual cleaning residue as well
Step 3. Find a good tree branch that your tires can hang from
The tree branches should be thick and sturdy, with a minimum diameter of 25 cm. Make sure the tree is large and healthy, without any signs indicating that the trunk is unstable. Isolated maple or oak trees are usually best suited for this.
- The choice of branch will determine the length of mine you need. A good distance to swing used tires is approximately 2.7 meters from the branch to the ground.
- The branches should stick out of the tree far enough so that the tires you hang won't hit the trunk. Also, don't attach the string too far at the end of the branch.
- The higher the tree branch, the higher your swing can swing. If you want to make a swing for a small child, choose a branch closer to the ground.
Step 4. Buy a rope
Get a mine that is approximately 50 feet (15.2 meters) long. Mine must be of good quality, will not be torn if there is a load imposed on it.
- There are many different types of ropes you can use for your swing, including climbing ropes or utility ropes, but you can also use chains-if you prefer. On tires, chains will last longer, but ropes are easier to handle, have less potential for harm to tree limbs, and are easier for children to handle.
- To prevent the rope from unraveling, you can thread the tube along the parts of the rope that are prone to unraveling (i.e. where the rope comes into contact with trees, tires, and hands).
Step 5. Make some drainage holes in the tire
Since your swing will be left outside in the rain, water will collect in the tires. To avoid the accumulation of water, drill three holes in the bottom of the tire.
Be careful when drilling your tires. On the inside of the tire there are metal fibers that your drill tip can hit. Be prepared to drill through several different layers
Step 6. Use the folding ladder to reach the branch
Be sure to position your ladder securely so you don't fall. Ask someone to hold it while you climb it.
If you don't have a ladder, you'll have to find another way to attach the rope to a tree branch. Find a roll of duct tape, or something similar in weight, and tie it to the end of the rope. Then, throw the duct tape over the branch, over the top, along with the rope. After that, untie the duct tape
Step 7. Attach the rope to the tree branch
Position it so that the rope does not rub against the trunk or knots. Wrap the rope around the branch a few times to make sure it stays in place.
If you have a tube, attach it to the part of the rope that is in direct contact with the branch
Step 8. Make a pole knot or fisherman's knot on the part of the rope that attaches to the branch (Don't use a dead knot
The dead knot is designed as a knot for use in first aid. If you pull back from both directions, the knot will come loose.) Make sure the knot you are attaching is solid. If you don't know how to make a knot, find someone who can do it.
If you pass the rope over a branch off the ground by throwing it, you must first make a live knot out of the ground and then tighten it so that it attaches to the branch
Step 9. Tie the other end of the rope to the top of the tire
Again, use the pole knot to secure the string to the tire.
- Before you make a knot, calculate how far the tire is from the ground. The tires should be spaced far enough away so they don't hit anything on the ground, and so your child's feet don't drag on the ground. Thus, the minimum distance, preferably, is one foot from the ground. However, the tires should not be too high so that your child can ride them easily. Make sure your tires are at the right height when you tie the knots.
- Remember to make sure the drainage holes are at the bottom, with the top of the tire directly opposite the holes.
Step 10. Cut off the excess mine debris
Tie the ends of the rope so they don't get caught.
Step 11. If you wish, set the ground under the swing
Add leaves, or loosen the soil to make it softer to land on if your child jumps (or falls) off the swing.
Step 12. Test your swing
Make sure the swing can swing well. When testing it, make sure there is someone on guard nearby to help if something goes wrong. If it's good enough, invite your children to play with it.
Method 2 of 2: Creating a Horizontal Used Tire Swing
Step 1. Look for used tires
It must be in a clean and good enough condition so that the surface will not be damaged under load.
You can choose the tire size you want, but remember that big tires also carry a lot of weight. You'll want tires that are big enough for several kids to sit on, but tires that are too heavy won't be able to hold up a normal tree branch
Step 2. Clean the entire tire
Wash with detergent, scrub the outside and inside.
You can also use a tire cleaning product to clean it
Step 3. Find a suitable branch to hang the tire on
The branches should be thick and strong, about 10 inches in diameter and 9 feet off the ground.
- Make sure the tree is large and healthy, with no signs of instability or internal damage.
- Make sure the point where your swing hangs is far enough away from the rod that the swing won't hit the rod easily. This means that you must install your swing at least a few feet from the rod.
- The distance between the branch and the tire also indicates how high your swing will swing. The longer the rope, the higher your swing will swing, so you should choose a branch that is closer to the ground if you are making a swing for small children.
Step 4. Purchase equipment and materials
You will need three "U-bolts" with two washers and nuts for both sides of the bolt. In other words, you have to buy four rings and four nuts for each U-bolt. In addition, you'll need 10 feet of rope, 20 feet of galvanized chain, and an anchor "s" large enough to anchor your three chains at the end.
- The rope you buy should be of high quality and won't break or unravel under heavy loads. There are different types of mines you can use, such as rock climbing mines or utility mines.
- Instead of an S-anchor, you can use carabiners, link links, or rotating lock hooks. These options will allow you to take the swing off easily, but they are also more expensive.
- The chain does not need to be large. When you buy it, check the weight rating. Make sure the level is enough to support a third of the weight of some small children. It's a third of the capacity as you'll be using three chains to distribute the load.
- Decomposition of the mine can be prevented by attaching the tube to the point where it is in direct contact with the tree.
Step 5. Make some drainage holes on the tire surface
The part with the drainage holes will be the bottom of the swing. The holes will ensure that water collects on the inside of the tire because the rain will fall to the ground easily.
Be careful when puncturing your tires. There will be metal fibers on the inside of the tire that you will have to drill
Step 6. Place your ladder under the branch
Make sure to place it securely, i.e. on solid ground
If you can, ask a friend to hold your ladder
Step 7. Wrap your rope around the tree branch and tie the ends
Wrap it around the branch a few times before tying it in a dead knot.
- Later, you'll hook the S-hook on the rope, at the bottom of the branch. Tie it around the rope so the rope won't slip out.
- Make sure the knot is solid. If you don't know how to make one, find someone who can.
Step 8. Cut the chain into three parts, each of the same length
You'll need to determine the length by using your tyre's hanging height. Measure from the S-hook to your desired top position of the tire. This distance will be the length of each piece of your chain.
Your tires should be high enough so that your child's feet don't drag on the ground; the minimum distance is one foot from the ground. However, the tires should not be too high so that your child can climb up and down on their own
Step 9. Hook the ends of each chain section under the S-hooks
Close the S-latch by clamping it with a few pins so that no pieces of the chain can come loose.
Step 10. Position and drill holes for your U-bolts
Make sure you make the same intervals for each hole on the top of the tire.
- Position your bolts close to the outer rim of the tyre, on the circumference of the rim, not across it. The outer edge of the tire surface is the tougher part, and will ensure that your tires don't deform when hung.
- Remember to place the side with the drainage holes on the bottom, with the top where you will attach the bolts.
Step 11. Attach one U-bolt to the end of each chain piece
Make sure the chain is not twisted at the top.
Step 12. Install the three U-bolts on the tire
Ask someone to help hold the tire so you can attach the three bolts. Place one nut and ring on each end of the bolt before threading it through the holes into the inside of the tire. Then, attach a ring and nut to the end of the bolt that is on the inside of the tire, so that the tire wall is clamped between the two rings and the two nuts.
If you are working alone, place your tires on something that will support them high enough so that your U-bolts can be attached. If the tires you are using are too heavy, try to get help
Step 13. Check if your swing swings properly
When testing it, make sure there is someone on guard nearby to help if something goes wrong. If it's good enough, invite your children to play with it.
Suggestion
- Several types of tires-such as car, truck, or even tractor tires-can be used to make swings.
- Check your swing mine regularly. After being out for a while, the mine may need to be replaced.
- An alternative way to hang a tire swing is to use eye bolts and a playground chain. Attach the chain to the eye bolt after attaching it to the branch and tire. If you choose to use this method, check the threads attached to the branches and tires regularly to ensure safety.
- Instead of using regular tires, try using something else to make your swing. Perhaps you could use a chair without legs, or you could cut the tires into a new shape that's easier to sit on.
- Decorate your swing with paint. If you paint the entire surface with outdoor paint, your swing will look more attractive while keeping your clothes clean by preventing them from coming into direct contact with the old tires (no matter how often you clean them).
Warning
- Remind anyone using your swing to “sit” on it, not stand up. Standing on a tire swing is very dangerous.
- Limit the number of people on your swing-one or two at a time. The strength limit of tree branches is not too great.
- Do not use tires with steel belts inside. The steel can pop out of the rubber tires and cause injuries to children using your swing.
- Supervise children as they use the tire swing to make sure they are using it properly.
- Swinging used tires can cause injury to those sitting on them or pushing them. Tell your children to be careful when swinging and not to push them too hard.
