Blue prints for a teeter totter/see saw?

Question:My five year old is about to turn six and I would like to make one for her. I know It can't be hard, I really just need to know what goes in the middle. It'd have to be something tall enough to make each side go pretty high.

Answers:
It is actually quite easy and not terribley expensive.

You can consider adding safety features if you wish, after or during the main construction.

As is the case in Chain Link Fence posting, you should have galvanized pipe, even the Plumbing type, Thick wall, at 2 1/2 inch diameter perhaps.

The plank can be 2 x 8/... 10... whatever you decide is a comfortable seat for the size of the child. and probably 12 ft long.

The pipe can be your choice in height, but consider that at the top of the tilt how far the child might fall to the ground. IE: a cross bar 3 feet from ground level equates to 6 ft off the ground at the high point of the tilt.

The verticals should be put into pre dug post holes at maybe 24 inch depth, and pour concrete in the hole, keeping the post plumb. If you choose plumbing pipe, have threads at the top of each vertical to accept 90 degree elbows and then at whatever width you choose the support to be (24 inch?) have the horizontal threaded at both ends. Put them all together as the concrete is setting, maintaining Plumb.

Once set/cured, balance the board, and add to that appropriate size clamps securing the board to the pipe, underneath, Loose enough to allow swing. To center the brackets you can drill holes just outside the bracket and install a galvananized bolt through the cross pipe. Or for a more elaborate method add a collar holding the brackets from shifting.

You can use the gavanzed plumbing pipe for the handles as well, in a smaller diameter. The handles can be attached to the seat with a collar that the vertical part or the handle screws into and bolt the collar in an appropriate spot allowing it to be centered and the seat area large enough for the comfort of the child. At the top of the vertical, which should be threaded, you'll attach a "T" with interior threads to accept two other short pieces, also threaded, and screw those into the "T" at the outer limit of the handles screw on pipe caps.

Steven Wolf