porch swing

This is one of the most beautiful proch swings I have seen.
Love it.
MaFe

-- Mad F, the fanatical rhykenologist and vintage architect. Democraticwoodworking.

Beautiful.
It looks like the one I built out of “Santa Maria” hardwood.
Great job.

-- If you want it and it's within reason... It's on it's way!

This is really nice. you did a great job.

-- Tim- http://www.asliceofwoodworkshop.com; Twitter-@asliceofwood; Facebook-http://www.facebook.com/asliceofwood

I could swing in that thing all day Emmett.
Great job !

-- Eric

Sweet! Nice job! On my to do list. Will keep your’s in mind….......

-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.

The seat profile looks like it should be really comfortable – nice design and great looking too!

-- Steve - Impatience is Expensive

Very nice! This is on my to do list! Let us know how the chains through the holes in the arms work out. I’ve seen it done like this many times but it always seems to me that the chain would chew up the wood as you swing… I’m looking for alternatives to compare with. Thanks.

-- Clay (Master Kindler) ~ Central VA

Beautiful job.
The only disadvantage of such swings is that one has to push one’s feet against the floor to swing.
When we used to do craft fairs, there was a chap who’s design included a footrail, which was pivoted onto the chair, but had a separate chain (I think). Resting one’s feet on the footrail, and gently pressing made the chair swing – very comfortable and easy.
Unfortunately I can’t remember any constructional details, but perhaps one of the LJs might throw some more light on the subject ?

-- Don, Somerset UK, http://www.donjohnson24.co.uk

claymation
the chain doesn’t move in the hole it pivots at the top in the hanger

don johnson
I was thinking of designing a footrest but couldn’t come up with anything. I’d be interested in a seeing something like that. I’ve seen the ones with two swings facing each other with a foot rest between them.

-- Emmett, from Georgia

Don, Dig for that foot rest plan. I’d really like to see it. Thanks!

-- Clay (Master Kindler) ~ Central VA

Well, having made the comment about the footrest, the previous couple of remarks obviously challenged me ‘to put my money where my mouth is’, but I realised that I was referring to swings I had seen over ten years ago. I made a number of ‘phone calls tracking down old ‘crafties’ with whom we did fairs in the past, trying to find the name of the chap who made the chairs I had seen. After explaining my quest to people who had not heard from me for five years or more, and much memory-searching on their part, and gradually getting closer to an answer, i eventually tracked down the the right person.
Although the business had closed some years previously, when the chap who designed the chairs had died, luckily his wife still retained the same ‘phone number for her own enterprise of renting cottages in Wales, so I was able to speak to her. After explaining the reason for the call, she has promised to send me pictures of the particular swings, and – if she can find it – a drawing, but by regular post rather than e-mail.
So – it may take a while, but I should eventually be able to ‘show’ as well as ‘tell’.

-- Don, Somerset UK, http://www.donjohnson24.co.uk

Don, you’re a good man! You’ve gone above and beyond!
Thanks.

-- Clay (Master Kindler) ~ Central VA

Thanks don
looking forward to seeing that foot rest

-- Emmett, from Georgia

Mainly for Claymation and woody57, but also to prove that I wasn’t talking nonsense, here is a picture of the swing seats with footrest-swing-action that I mentioned.

I recall a conversation with Terry – the chap who came up with the original idea – when he mentioned that it took him some time to work out the exact method of fitting the footrest and the positions of the three chain attachments, but the main picture shows fairly clearly – I think – his final solution. The footrest pivots on its supports, and just gentle foot pressure on it keeps the swing moving. The design seems ‘safer’ in some respects, as I was always afraid of catching my foot on the floor, and trapping my leg, under a regular swing seat when ‘scooting’ the swing, but you guys with your porch swings have much more expertise in this area.

I said earlier that Terry had died since I last had contact with him, so it was his daughter, Debbie, who kindly took the time to dig out the information from the records of the family business – which is now defunct. Whilst talking to her I said that if there was anyone who wanted to use the technique on a commercial basis, that they should contact her for full details/working drawings, and to discuss whether any payment might be appropriate for the use of her father’s ideas. It would seem fair to me that his family should get some recompense for all his development work, but I have no idea whether there would be any legal obligation in this regard. I guess that for personal projects there could be no problems.

I would be very disappointed if my mentioning the subject on LJs meant that the family lost out in any way.

-- Don, Somerset UK, http://www.donjohnson24.co.uk

Don, Please express my thanks all the way back up the chain of information! I really like this design. No plans to build it commercially. I’m getting ready to put on a full “country porch” addition and this will be the finishing touch! I, too, have an uncomfortable feeling letting my legs go under the swing… This looks much more relaxing.

-- Clay (Master Kindler) ~ Central VA