For a few years it was considered hopelessly outdated, this comfortable mixture of garden bench and swing. The hammock swing is currently experiencing a great comeback as part of the retro trends and is finally back to being an absolute feel-good object in the garden. Unfortunately, finished models are not cheap. Nevertheless, a wooden hammock does not have to remain a dream, because with a little manual skill, experienced do-it-yourselfers can make it relatively inexpensively themselves. We have clearly summarized the exact procedure in the following assembly instructions.

The seat of the swing seat can be built from pallets

The blueprint

In detail, the Hollywood swing consists of the following parts:

  • frame
  • Carrier for the swing
  • Seat
  • and optionally a sunroof.

When choosing the wood, make sure that the material is sufficiently thick, after all, two to three people want to be able to sit safely on the seat. This also applies to the support beams, which should never be thinner than 10 by 10 centimetres.

Step 1: The seat

A wide variety of options are available here. You can make these yourself from sturdy plywood panels, build a frame with battens or, which is very popular at the moment, use a construction made of Euro pallets (29.99 €) compared to that of our beach chair made of pallets. The frame construction made of beams and stands is also suitable for hanging up a rocking chair made of cotton fabric thanks to the swing hooks attached to it.

The simplest form of the seat is the connection of plywood panels with a thickness of at least 18 to 20 millimeters. In this case, the continuous back and seat are glued and additionally screwed.

Also quite easy to implement is the variant with lower cheeks, on which cross braces for the seat are attached. Choose a slightly flattened angle for a comfortable sitting position. Two rests on the sides stabilize the seat and at the same time ensure good seating comfort.

List of materials for the stand

This consists of two lateral beam constructions with a cross beam above.

The building material

The beams should be 15 centimeters thick. You need in detail:

  • 4 square stand beams
  • 1 crossbar in the length of the planned finished size
  • 2 crossbars, about 1.50 meters long
  • 2 short cross braces with a length of about one meter
  • Threaded bolt with screw connection and lock nut
  • angle
  • wood screws and washers
  • 4 solid chains as suspension
  • stable swing hook
  • if you want a sunroof, additional awning logs and slats for reinforcement.

tool list

  • Saw with miter box, jigsaw (€36.18) or a miter and chop saw
  • Cordless screwdriver and/or drill
  • Wood drill bit that matches the size of the screw

Fabrication of the frame

In the first step, the stands are mitered at the top so that they are at the angle specified in the assembly instructions. The screw connections are pre-drilled, provided with adhesive and screwed with carriage bolts.

The cross braces are then inserted. To do this, measure the length of the frame posts and divide by three. The reinforcements are attached at the level of the first and second third. Here, too, the pre-drilled screw connections are additionally glued.

Shorten the crossbeam to the desired length and fasten it to the two stand parts with the angle fittings. Additional slanted supports, which are screwed with threaded bolts, provide additional stability.

Mark and pre-drill the holes for the swing hooks. Push the hook through and tighten the lock nut.

attach awning

Cut the awning fabric according to the dimensions given in the assembly instructions. Although this fabric does not fray very much, it is advisable to hem the raw edges that will be open later with the sewing machine. Alternatively, you can fold them over and staple so that the hem is held in place by the staples.

Build an awning frame from a log and slats attached to the side. Then screw the fabric-covered frame to the stand so that it remains flexible. Use suitable washers and thumbscrews for this purpose.

hang swing

Now you can attach the swing. For this purpose, the chains are shortened to the desired length with an angle grinder, for example. Comfortable seat cushions, which are available in a variety of designs, provide the finishing touch to your self-made swing seat. This frame is practical: You can also use it for a self-made children's or baby swing set on the terrace.

tips

Since raw wood that is exposed to the weather conditions without protection quickly becomes unsightly, you should varnish or glaze the swing seat after completion. Match the tone to your garden furniture or add a contrasting accent to the seat cushions.

Category:

Garden design