The languid, back-and-forth rhythm of a swaying swing slows time on a lazy summer day. From this vantage point, you can sip a cool drink, watch neighbors stroll by, read quietly, or enjoy the hushed tones of shoulder-to-shoulder conversations. Whether it hangs from the sheltered confines of a front porch or off the branch of a backyard tree, our swing is sure to transport you away from the hurried pace of your work day.
The high-backed swing hangs securely from sturdy, 5/8-inch-diameter nylon or hemp rope that runs through the swing's arms and frame. Distinctive diamond shapes cut in the back and sides echo a detail from the Adirondack-style Sunset chair (published in July 1997). A yellow transparent stain emphasizes the grain of the wood; it is also protected with several coats of an exterior, satin-finish polyurethane. We built the swing of vertical-grain fir, but you could substitute other woods, such as redwood, cedar, or hardwoods suitable for outdoor use.
The average woodworker can build the swing in a weekend; staining and sealing will add several more days, due to drying time between coats. Most cuts can be made with a circular saw, handsaw, or saber saw, but the angled back support would be more easily cut with a table saw. A full-service lumberyard can generally do this for you.
MATERIALS
Two 8-foot 2-by-4s
220 1 1/4-inch deck screws
32 2 1/2-inch deck screws
Nine 10-foot 1-by-4s
Countersinking bit
One 10-foot 1-by-6
Two 10-foot 2-by-4s
5/8- or 3/4-inch-diameter rope
COST: About $150
PRINT THE PLANS
PLANS for this porch swing are available here in "pdf" format. You will need to have the Adobe Acrobat Reader software installed on your computer in order to access this file (it's not difficult, and it's free; there's a link to the download page below).
If you have the Acrobat Reader installed, it will launch automatically once the file is downloaded: Click here to download the plans.
If you do not have the Acrobat Reader, click here for easy instructions on how to get it.
Then come back to this page to download the plans.
