Introduction: Portable Lounge Swing
This is my design for a portable and light weight lounge swing. Designed to look like a gazebo it has a hexagon shape, and ropes that go to a single point to mimic a gazebo's roof. An other design feature are the slightly translucent fabric strips that suspend the user in the air.
Step 1: Materials
Here is a list of what you'll need to make the portable lounge swing.
- Plywood 3.6 mm thick.
- 100% Polyester lining fabric.
- 18 mm pine dowel, length 2100 mm.
- 15 mm pine dowel, length 2100 mm.
- 7 mm by 7 mm pine slat, length 2100 mm.
- 7 mm by 18 mm pine slat, length 1800 mm
- 18 mm by 35 mm pine slat, length 2 x 2400 mm.
- 26 mm by 91 mm pine beam, length 1800 mm.
- 4 mm thick polypropylene rope, about 2 meters long.
- 8 mm thick polypropylene rope, about 8 meters long.
- 10 mm thick polypropylene rope, about 15 meters long.
- White sewing yarn.
- Support color sewing yarn.
- Closed metal ring, outer diameter 50 mm, inner diameter 40 mm.
- Carbine hook, 8 mm thick, 80 mm by 40 mm.
Step 2: Making the Seat.
The seat is made out of the plywood panel, and has pine supports in between the two sheets. It's completely kept together using wood glue, no screws or nails are needed. The thin plywood can be cut using a utility knife.
You can find the exact dimensions of the seat on the 3D model shown above.
Step 3: Cutting the Dowels and Slats.
- Cut eight 18 mm dowels to a length of 250 mm.
- And one 18 mm dowel to a length of 170 mm.
- Cut four 15 mm dowels to a length of 70 mm.
- Cut eight 7 mm by 7 mm slats to a length of 210 mm.
- Cut four 7 mm by 18 mm slats to a length of 75 mm.
- And one 7 mm by 18 mm slats to a length of 170 mm.
- Cut seven 26 mm by 91 mm pieces to a length of 30 mm.
Step 4: Drilling Holes in the Small 70mm Long Dowels.
These dowels will be used as buttons to secure the top part of the swing to the seat for transport.
- Two of the dowels need 1 hole that's 5 mm wide trough the middle.
- The other two need 2 holes 2 mm thick and 10 mm apart.
Step 5: Constructing the Top Part.
Cut the pieces as seen on the dimensions picture, when all the pieces are cut you can glue and screw them together to become the top part. After that you can attach the ropes to the frame and put them trough a single metal ring in the center this will give it that gazebo look.
Step 6: Making the Various Fabric Parts.
First you'll need to cut the strips of fabric you,ll need out of the lining fabric.
- Four strips of about 500 mm by 1600 mm. The finished parts will be 220 mm by 1200 mm.
- Four strips of about 140 mm by 500 mm. The finished parts will be 70 mm by 300 mm and 450 mm.
- Two strips of about 100 mm by 300 mm. The finished parts will be 40 mm by 150 mm.
- And one strip of about 200 mm by 400 mm. The finished parts will be 90 mm by 300 mm.
All of the fabrics have white stitches lengthwise and orange or your color of choice stitches across the width.
The four main strips are used to support the weight of the person swinging. They are made by first folding the 500 mm piece in half so you'll have one double piece of fabric that is 250 mm wide. Then using the white yarn stitch down the length of the piece of fabric on both sides. After that you fold the ends of the fabric down to create a 1200 mm long piece that has a 200 mm overlap on each end. Then using the orange yarn or whichever color you prefer, stitch 3 double stitches 6 in total as seen on picture number two.
Al the other pieces follow the same set of rules, firstly they are attached to the seat using the 7 mm x 18 mm pieces of wood. Secondly they have either a button hole or a dowel attached to the other end. The two small pieces used for the handle have an opening for a 15 mm dowel.
Step 7: Attaching the Various Fabric Pieces to the Seat.
Hide the shrews you'll need to attach the fabric strips under the fabric, or under the dowels.
Step 8: Connecting the 2 Small Dowels to the Underside of the Seat.
Drill 2 holes 50 mm from the edge and in the middle. Thread the thin rope trough, and make a small double knot. After that repeat the process trough the dowels.
Step 9: How the Fabric Strips Are Used.
- Place the top piece of the swing on the underside of the seat.
- Then attach the two long strips to the seat using the 2 dowels.
- After that attach the two shorter pieces to each other.
- Finally attach the rope using the small piece in between the handle.
Step 10: How to Assemble the Swing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsIVOBMVJD8&feature=youtu.be