| Playground: Building the Frame for the Swing / Finishing the Tower |
From "Weekend Handyman"
episode WKH-113 |
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Time: 18 hours over two days.
Difficulty Rating: It's rated a 2 on a scale of 1 to 5.
Materials for Complete Project: Play system (including lumber, hardware and accessories)
Open end wrenches
Socket wrench and sockets
2 deep sockets (9/16" and 3/4")
Electric impact wrench Day Two Building the Frame for the Swing and Finishing the Tower - The first step of day two is to build the ladder that will support the monkey bars that come out from the end of the playset. The ladder will also be the end support for the structure.
Note: The hardwood rungs (figure A) are built so they fit all the way into the ladder. - Tip the ladder over, then drive 2-5/8" self-tapping screws into each rung to hold them in place. Self-tapping screws eliminate the need for pilot holes.
- After one side is done, flip ladder upright and lay the other frame on top, fit the other end of the rungs into the corresponding holes (figure B).
- Lay the ladder back down and drive self-tapping screws in as before.
- To create more stability, it's smart to build an A-frame by putting two bolts through the bottom of the ladder and the 10' long 4" x 4" base plate.
- Next, attach the 7' long 4" x 4" angle braces on each side (figure C). Leave the nuts loose until entire frame is assembled.
- Use an electric impact wrench (found at most rental stores) to tighten everything.
- Now it's time to put on the hardware for the swings. Tip the monkey bar swing beam up on one end and lay it in position.
- Attach the cast aluminum swing hangers using 2-3/8" x 6" bolts (figure D). Locknuts will hold them in place. Be sure to tighten all of them once they're all on.
- Attach the steel support brackets (figure E) to the end of the monkey bars, one on each side using 3" carriage bolts.
- Now that the hardware is on, it's time to attach the ladder to the swing beam. Lay the top of the A-frame ladder assembly down so the two supports fit on outside of monkey bar swing beams.
- Bolt the two parts together, leaving the nuts loose for now.
- With two people, lift the two sections so they'll stand upright.
- One person goes on top and the other person hands the tower end of the swing beam by resting the ends of the beam on the monkey bar support (figure F).
- Put the bolts all the way through to prevent the beam from falling back off the support.
- Lift the end and drop the bolts through the two pre-drilled holes in the cross support and tighten up.
- Once the tower end is attached, you can adjust the A-frame until it's upright.
- Put a carriage bolt through when the holes in the brackets line up with the holes in the uprights (figure G).
- Shim the end of the frame and toenail a couple of screws to hold the shim.
- Attach the roof of the tower by attaching the gable ends by driving in 3" screws, one through each end.
- Lift the first pre-assembled roof panel (figure H) that's made of cedar.
- Drive screws through and into the 2 x 2 to attach the roof.
- Attach the other roof panel on the same way.
- Attach four plastic roof anchors (figure I) that tie gable ends to the four support posts.
- Once the two roof panels are on, slide on the cedar roof cap and attach two screws in each end into the gable end underneath (figure J).
- Attach the 20" walls.
- Attach the accessories.
- Lay down the landscape fabric.
- Lay rubber mulch to the depth of 4-6". An alternative to rubber mulch would be pea gravel or wood mulch.
Note: Rubber mulch is made 100 percent from recycled tires and is one of the safest ways to protect your children when using a playground.
RESOURCES :
National Program for Playground Safety
For information on playground safety, click here.
MerryTime Play System
Model: Sundance IV
Color: Beveled (open front)
Suggested Retail Price: $3,049
Accessories with Suggested Retail Price:
- Rock Wall Climber ($308)
- Comet Cruiser (($139)
Full Bucket Tot Seat ($69)
Trapeze Rings ($25)
Air Pogo ($149)
Picnic Table ($98)
Available at the Active Adventure Play System site (see info, below):
MerryTime Play Systems, Inc.
Website: www.activeadventureplaysystems.com
Rubber Granular Mulch (GroundScape Technologies)
GroundScape Kids Premium
Color: Red (also available in teal, brown, green, blue and cypress)
Suggested Retail Price: $2.40 per sq. feet
Available at www.groundscape.com for nationwide dealer network or call 800-678-4967.
GroundScape Technologies
Brooklyn Heights, OH 44131
Phone: 877-922-7529
GUESTS :
Mark Tegen
President
MerryTime Play Systems, Inc.
1520 15th St.
PO Box 196
Two Rivers, WI 54241
Phone: 920-794-7877
Toll-Free Phone: 800-678-4967
Fax: 920-793-5351
E-mail: Merrytime@lakefield.net
Website: www.merrytime.com
Jeff Koch
Sales & Marketing Manager
MerryTime Play Systems, Inc.
See contact information, above.
Brian "Spanky" Pankratz
Installer
MerryTime Play Systems, Inc.
See contact information, above.
Jeff Hill
Independent Sales Representative
GroundScape Technologies
4595 Van Epps Rd.
Brooklyn Heights, OH 44131
Phone: 877-922-7529
E-mail: csenders@groundscape.com
Website: www.groundscape.com
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