CANOPY FOR A SWING.
Fig. 101.—General View of Rustic Canopy for Swing.
[Fig. 101] is a general view of the canopy and swing, and [Fig. 102] a side elevation slightly more elaborate in design than [Fig. 101], the chief members, however, being exactly the same. The material used is stripped fir saplings. Six of these are required for the uprights.
Fig. 102.—Side Elevation of Canopy for Swing
(Alternative Design).
The middle posts are slightly larger in section, as they have to carry the cross rail supporting the swing; a good size for these is 6-in. diameter at the base by 10 ft. or 12 ft. high. The outer posts may be 4¾-in. to 5-in. diameter at the base. The posts are sub-tenoned (see [Fig. 103]) to elm sills 10 ft. 6 in. long by 8 in. diameter. Tenons are formed on both ends of the posts, and seatings and mortices at 4-ft. centres are made in both the sills (bottom rails) and plates (top rails) to receive them.
|
Fig. 103.—Fixing Middle Post of Canopy to Sill. |
Fig. 104.—Details of Joints of Rails, Struts, and Posts for Canopy. |
Fig. 105.—Securing Cross Rails to Plates and Posts of Canopy.
The short rails are 4 in. in diameter by 3 ft. 6 in. long, and are stub-tenoned and pinned to the posts at a height of 3 ft. 9 in. from the ground line. The struts also are tenoned and pinned to the middle posts and sills, as shown in [Fig. 104], where, it will be noticed, the struts are in one piece and the braces in two, the latter being hollowed to fit in the angles and over the struts.
Fig. 106.
Fig. 107.When all the members are ready for the final drive home, the tenons of the rails should be just entered to the posts; the struts and braces are next placed in position and driven up, then the sill and plate are entered and driven home, and finally the several joints are secured with oak pins. This operation will be carried out better with the work in a horizontal position. When the two sides are so far completed, they may be erected in position and fixed with temporary battens, at a distance apart of 7 ft. 9 in. centres, while the top cross rails are being fitted.
Fig. 108.—Front View of Fenced Seat for Canopy.
|
Fig. 109.—End View of Fenced Seat for Canopy. |
Fig. 110.—Fixing Rope to Eyelet. |
The middle cross rail which carries the swing is 6 in. in diameter and 8 ft. 6 in. long. A seating is formed on the plates, and a shallow one upon the rails, which are secured with long 3/4-in. diameter bolts and nuts; the latter are let into the posts at a distance of 8 in. from the top, as shown in [Fig. 105], which is a cross section through the plate near the middle rail. Short struts may also be fixed between the posts and cross rail, as in [Fig. 105]; they are not shown in [Fig. 101]. A floor is formed of saplings, connected to the sills, thus preventing them from spreading. The trellis-work, both on the roof and sides, is now fixed. This is composed of 1¾-in. and 2-in. twigs.
The swing hooks ([Fig. 106]) pass right through the rails, and are secured with nuts and washers. Collars should be forged on the shanks to prevent the hooks being drawn too far into the wood when screwing up the nuts. The shank is screwed ¾-in. Whitworth pitch thread, and the hook is 1¼ in. in diameter at the thickest part. The hemp rope is spliced around galvanised iron thimbles (see [Fig. 107]), which take the wear on the hooks. The rope is usually secured to the seat by simply knotting the ends.
Should the swing be used for very young children, a seat provided with a fence will be necessary, as shown at [Figs. 108] and [109], which are front and end views respectively. The back rail and the two side rails are fixed to the seat with the balusters; but the front rail is tenoned to open-ended mortices in the side rails, and thus made to hinge, to facilitate the lifting of the children on and off the seat, the rail being secured in its closed position with a brass pin and retaining chain. The suspending rope in this case is passed through the end rails and knotted to the seat. [Fig. 110] shows the rope passed around and whipped to an eyelet.