Content
- 1 Pros and cons of round hanging nest swing
- 2 Types of hanging nest swings
- 3 How to choose a swing nest
- 4 What you need to make a swing with a net yourself
- 5 Schemes of swing-nests
- 6 Dimensions of swing nests
- 7 How to weave a swing-nest with your own hands
- 8 How to attach a swing nest
- 9 Useful tips
- 10 Conclusion
- 11 Reviews of swing nests
A favorite home entertainment for children can be a swing-nest (step-by-step instructions for making a swing-nest with your own hands are given below). The restless temperament of kids requires unforgettable adventures and various attractions on which you can crawl, lie down, swing, climb and rocket down.
The nest swing is a favorite attraction on the playground
Pros and cons of round hanging nest swing
An ideal playground for children includes a complex of several types of objects - traditional and chain hanging swings, nest swings, trampolines, balance beams, spring mechanisms, labyrinths, stairs, slides.Recently, nest swings have become especially popular.
What it is
The nest swing is a semi-rigid structure with a rim and a mesh-like binding inside. This device is suspended from a strong metal crossbar or beam on thick ropes using powerful carabiners.
You can allocate a separate place in the local area for a swing-nest by mounting a special frame-support for it
To make the swing as safe as possible, the rim seat is braided with climbing rope or tow rope. The middle of the central part of the seat is made of ropes intertwined in the form of a web, which are fastened with a rim along the entire radius.
Due to the features of the ride's seat, these swings have other names:
- swing "Basket";
- swing "Cobweb";
- Swing swing;
- swing "Oval";
- swing "Stork's Nest".
Of course, children will agree to ride on a simple swing or even on a tire suspended from a tree, but a device in the form of a nest will give them much more joy and positive emotions.
Features of nest swings
The peculiarity of the nest swing is not only the unusual round shape of the seat and its size. "Nest" has a number of advantages over traditional carousels and has additional opportunities for children's entertainment:
- The “basket” is designed for children and even adults.
- The nest swing children's attraction can accommodate several children at the same time on either side.
- The device can swing in any direction, you can sit, lie, stand and jump on it.
- When the basket-seat is designed in the form of an oval, the swing can be adapted for children's daytime sleep as a hammock.
A nest swing can be made more mobile if you use powerful and strong carabiners as suspensions.
Advantages and disadvantages
Nest swings have their pros and cons, just like any similar structure made with ropes.
Advantages:
- The device is designed for heavy weight (up to 250 kg) and can be used by a whole group of children and adults.
- The design does not have sharp corners, and is covered with durable fabric, high-strength multi-strand rope or cable.
- The swing can be used outdoors or at home.
- The device is adapted to any weather conditions, does not deteriorate or rust.
- Easy to store and clean.
- The swings are quick to install, they are mobile and do not take up much space (you can take them on a hike, on vacation or to visit).
- Easy to attach to a sturdy crossbar, accessible support or wood.
- The nest swing is multifunctional - you can sit, lie, stand or bounce. A homemade hoop swing is used as a hammock.
There are practically no disadvantages to nest swings. The only exception can be the increased abrasion properties of polypropylene rope in places of greatest load and contact with a metal surface. In new models of factory swing nests, this fact was taken into account and now the device is equipped with special bushings that resist abrasion.
The swing can easily accommodate several children
Types of hanging nest swings
For active recreation of children in city playgrounds, parks, kindergartens and garden plots you can find different types of nest swings.They all have the same structure and differ only in the type of material, the method of weaving the baskets and some changes in the design.
Photo selection of different types of hanging nest swings:
An ordinary swing-nest is a structure made of a round hoop with braiding and a mesh seat.
The swing basket can be round, rectangular or square. To make the seat, dense polyamide fabric or tarpaulin is used
Using two rims in the design, you can make a comfortable swing with a backrest
If you get a little imaginative, you can construct a swing-nest from improvised means or upgrade ordinary ones
The swing seat can be woven in the form of a “checkerboard” - it’s not difficult to do, and the elasticity of the seat will be as comfortable as possible
The basket of a hanging swing-nest can be in the form of a curved rectangle; children can not only ride on such devices, but also relax during the day in the fresh air
A budget version of the swing can be assembled from a thick-walled plastic pipe and polyamide fabric
A swing-nest can be made with a backrest using straps and rings - it’s even easier to build a basket by covering the rim and middle with thick synthetic fabric
Another type of hanging attraction is a cocoon swing; making such a model will require more professionalism and much more effort.
If you try hard, the “swing-nest” idea will turn out to be a wonderful cradle for your baby
A nest swing can be made into a full-fledged rocking bed with a headrest, a soft lounger and pillows
How to choose a swing nest
You can make a children's attraction "Swing-nest" for your dacha with your own hands, or you can buy it ready-made.When choosing factory swing designs, you should pay attention to the description of important characteristics:
- Maximum permissible load (carrying capacity).
- Dimensions, shape of the basket.
- Type of finishing (materials of manufacture).
- The quality of the materials and fasteners used.
- Availability of a support frame.
- Company manufacturer.
- Certificate of conformity.
- Operation warranty.
A set of these important indicators can ensure the safe, most convenient use of swing nests for one or several children at once. Particular attention should be paid to the maximum permissible load of the device for use by adults.
What you need to make a swing with a net yourself
All models of swing-nests have a similar design, however, the materials used to manufacture a particular type of attraction may be different. To make your own swing nest, you may need the following materials:
- Steel pipe, aluminum or plastic gymnastic hoop, metal-plastic pipe, old tire.
- Polyamide fabric, tent fabric, tarpaulin, foam sheet, felt.
- Polyamide or polypropylene rope, climbing cord, repik, nylon or jute rope, synthetic mesh, chain.
- Metal locks, carbines, rings, clamps.
Each type of swing requires its own set of materials. To make the device, you will need a tape measure, scissors, a mechanic's knife, wire cutters, rubberized work gloves, electrical tape, and PVA glue.
Schemes of swing-nests
Drawings for the step-by-step creation of a swing-nest with a round basket and its hanging:
- The initial stage of building a swing is creating the base structure of a round basket.
- The intermediate stage is attaching the swing basket to the holding hangers.
- The final stage is hanging the basket with hangers to the support frame.
Dimensions of swing nests
The shape of the basket and the maximum load capacity of the swing directly affects its size. For example, small “Nest” models with a round basket are designed for a weight of 70 kg, medium-sized devices can withstand 150 kg, and large outdoor swings for adults – 250 kg.
Ready-made factory swing nests have standard sizes and are designed for a certain weight:
- Round nest swings are produced with a basket diameter of 60-120 cm. Such devices have a load capacity of 70-140 kg.
- Swing-nests with an oval-shaped basket are made with dimensions of 100x110 or 120x130 cm. Their maximum load capacity is 150-200 kg.
- Swings with a rectangular basket shape are produced in medium sizes, but, as time has shown, they are inconvenient to use, since the swing seat tends to turn over.
When making your own swing nests, you must take into account the number of children or adults who can use them at the same time. This fact affects the maximum load of the swing structure and, ultimately, its size.
How to weave a swing-nest with your own hands
Weaving the seat of a swing-nest with your own hands is a creative process that does not require adherence to strict rules. For this purpose, you can use proven weaving methods, or you can create your own design using available material. A master class on weaving different types of swings with your own hands is offered below.But before weaving begins, the base of the basket – the rim – should be installed.
How to make a round nest swing with your own hands
The swing-nest device consists of 3 main parts:
- Support (frame, beam or tree branch).
- Flexible suspension system (rings, carabiners and hanging slings).
- The basket itself with a wicker seat.
Installation diagram of the swing-nest basket using carabiners
For the rim of the swing you can use:
- steel hoops;
- metal-plastic pipes;
- PVC pipes;
- bicycle wheels;
- old tires.
The most reliable and durable can be considered a rim made of steel material. For this purpose, you need a piece of pipe with a diameter of 13-15 mm and a length of 1-1.5 m (depending on the size of the future basket). You can bend the pipe on a special machine, then weld both ends together and sand the seam. Next, you should weld 4 (minimum) rings to the pipe to attach the suspension system. The finished rim of the basket must be painted with primer-enamel for metal surfaces to prevent the formation of rust. This completes the work of preparing the base of the basket.
After the main element of the basket has been successfully installed, you can begin the most enjoyable work - the exterior finishing and decoration of the basket, weaving.
How to weave a swing-nest from polyamide rope
Most often, polyamide rope is used to weave the basket of swing nests. It looks great, is not afraid of moisture and temperature changes, has a smooth surface and holds tight knots perfectly.
To weave a basket from polyamide rope you need to prepare the following:
- base for a basket with loops for hangers (metal or plastic rim);
- polyamide cord - approximately 50 m (depending on the diameter of the basket);
- construction tape;
- scissors;
- work gloves.
To weave a swing-nest basket with your own hands, you can use a completely different pattern, but most often they make the “Spider Web” pattern, since it is not difficult to make and performs its task perfectly.
Scheme of weaving a basket with the “Spider Web” pattern
Step-by-step instructions on how to weave a swing-nest:
- Pull 2 loops onto the rim from the bottom and top and fix them so that the place where they are twisted is exactly in the center of the circle.
- Next, the same action on the circle must be performed on the right and left.
- Then the loops twisted in the center should be evenly distributed over the entire diameter of the base of the basket.
- From a thinner rope, use one thread to braid tense loops, starting from the middle of the circle in increasing diameter.
- Cover the rim of the basket with a layer of thin foam rubber, cover it with thermal insulating material and braid it with a thick polyamide rope around the entire circle.
The finished basket should be secured to the hangers using carabiners. The length should be no more than 2 m. This swing-nest model can be hung on a support frame or on a strong tree branch.
Basket swing-nest with a weaving pattern "Spider Web"
How to make a swing from a mesh
A swing nest made of mesh is the easiest way to make a children's attraction. If desired, such a structure can be created and hung in a few hours.
For this you will need:
- rim (steel or metal-plastic, aluminum or plastic hoops) – 1-2 pcs.;
- synthetic fiber mesh – 100x100 cm;
- thick polyamide cord for suspensions (diameter from 4 mm) – 10-15 m;
- work gloves;
- scissors and construction tape.
The seat for the nest swing can be woven from rope or cable, or you can use a ready-made nylon mesh
How to make a swing-nest from a mesh, step-by-step instructions:
- The rim is braided with cord or covered with polyamide fabric.
- Then place a piece of synthetic mesh on the rim, wrap it and bend the ends to the middle and secure them.
- On the finished basket, mark the location where the hangers are attached. Having made a loop from the cord, go around the rim with it and pass the free end of the suspension through it. Do this with all 4 pendants.
- Secure the upper ends of the suspension cord with the fastening rings (or carabiners) of the support frame.
Such a structure can be hung on a tree branch, on a specially prepared support, or on a vertical beam of a building, for example, on a terrace or in a gazebo. If you equip the upper ends of the hangers with carabiners, the swing-nest can be made mobile.
How to weave a swing from a hoop and rope
Weaving a swing should be carried out in 3 stages - creating a seat mesh, assembling the structure and braiding of hoops, weaving hanging slings.
To create this design you need the following:
- aluminum or plastic hoop – 2 pcs.;
- rope made of synthetic fibers with a diameter of 3 mm or more - 60-80 m (approximately, depends on the diameter of the hoop);
- scissors;
- work gloves;
- construction tape.
Weaving a basket swing-nest from rope using the “macrame” type
The first stage of creating a swing-nest basket is weaving the seat mesh. The most commonly used technique is “macrame”. Exact patterns for weaving patterns can be selected on the Internet. On each hoop you should separately create your own drawing of the future seat with sufficient rope tension.
At the second stage, the swing basket is assembled. To do this, both hoops need to be folded together and a single braid wrapped around the rim. Braid with force every next 12 turns.Approximately 40 m of rope is used for 1 m of rim.
The third stage is weaving the hanging slings. They need to be woven using the macrame technique with twisting (preferably) or straight knots. The length of the hangers depends on the height of the hanging frame, but not more than 2 m. Weave the upper end of the slings into the fastening rings and secure them.
How to attach a swing nest
Swing-nests are installed on support frames, hanging beams or on trees.
Attaching the swing-nest to curved hanging beams
Attaching a swing-nest to a curved metal profile pipe
Attaching the swing nest to a wooden support frame
It is best and most reliable to mount the swing-nest on a standard frame made of wooden beams (10x10 cm).
Progress:
- To begin with, you need to make 2 support posts in the shape of the letter “A” from timber (see diagram below).
- Then the crossbar should be secured to the support posts. It can be made from the same wooden beam or from a steel pipe. The length of the crossbar is equal to the height of the swing hangers.
- Using special hangers, you need to attach the swing slings to the installed crossbar, and they, in turn, are connected to the basket with large rings or carabiners.
Installation diagram of a support post made of wooden beams
After all the main work is completed, the swing-nest should be tested for the maximum permissible weight. To do this, you need to load the basket by 100 or 200 kg (depending on the carrying capacity of the model) and swing it a little. During such a test, it is possible to determine the actual distance from the basket to the ground under load, check the strength of the suspensions and the stability of the frame support.
Installation of a swing and horizontal bar on a timber support frame
Useful tips
Some useful tips for those who want to build a children's entertainment attraction “Swing-nest” with their own hands:
- Before you begin installing the swing, you should make sure that the chosen location is safe and accessible for children.
- It is better to install nest swings on shaky ground (for example, sand), a rubber track or grass.
- If you plan to hang the swing on a tree, you need to make sure that the branch will support the weight of the structure itself and 3-4 children in total (with a margin).
- The main part of the structure, the basket, must have a high level of strength, with the expectation of bearing the weight of several children and an adult. The basket should not be deformed, jump off the hinges of the device and be dangerous.
- The optimal height of the basket from the ground is no more than 0.5 m.
Despite the safety of this device, children’s games on swing nests should be supervised by an adult.
Conclusion
Step-by-step instructions for making a swing-nest with your own hands, given in this article, will help parents competently build entertainment for their children and will protect them from possible mistakes and miscalculations in the design. It is not at all necessary to follow exact finishing rules. By showing imagination and craftsmanship, you can design beautiful, comfortable and safe attractions for children on your own site or in a city yard.
Reviews of swing nests
How to make a swing-nest with your own hands, video:
