Help with building outdoor swing

How are you planning to attach the two….glue, carriage bolts, screws, combination???

-- Gary, DeKalb Texas

Strength is a bigger issue than cosmetics , so if you are going to pre drill and add a couple bolts and nuts either option should work if your using at least 2×6s .

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop, custom furniture ,maker, woodworking school, heirloomwoodshop.com

#1 is your strongest joint. The half lap provides strength through the overlapped part as well as the bolts and glue. Lowes carries stainless carriage bolts, nuts and washers and use tightbond 3 for your glue.

-- Dan-- Info for all @ http://www.hoistman.com

Gary,,, ill be using combination of bolts and glue

A1Jim ill be using 2×4 for the back and 2×6 for the seat

Papa dan. Titebond III is the glue i have… however i have gotten stainless hex bolts instead of carriage bolts?

Hex will work but the heads will stick out. Let me find the pics of the swing I built. Not as much detail as I thought, but here is a web page for it. http://www.hoistman.com/HoistMan/Swingin.html

-- Dan-- Info for all @ http://www.hoistman.com

Papadan…that is a really great swing..i LOVE the wood and finish…what type of finish did you use?

I have not started putting together the swing yet because i ordered a new blade for my bandsaw and im waiting on it to come in. This is the frame i have built for it…Again this is my first frame ive built. PT 4×4 pine.

The frame is walnut and the slats are birdseye. I soaked all the parts down with Thompsons water seal. After drying I assembled the swing and then used 2 coats of Spar varnish.

-- Dan-- Info for all @ http://www.hoistman.com

Dan how well does that varnish hold up outside?

I take it down for winter and it holds well for 2 seasons. Then light sanding and new Spar. I want to put a roof over it, but just have not gotten around to it.

-- Dan-- Info for all @ http://www.hoistman.com