See saws aren’t just for playgrounds; they can be right at home in your backyard too. Kids love playing with see saws and you’ll have fun making one. A novice with the right amount of handiness needs only to roll up their sleeves to attempt this fun and rewarding project.
Materials
- Metal tubing or 2x8” stock
- Metal U-frame or post stock
- 2x4” pressure treated board
- 22x8” pressure treated boards
- 2x10 inch pressure treated board which is 10 feet in length
- 10+’ metal perforated strap
- Bolts
- Screws
- Cement
- Outdoor Oil Paint
Sand
- Water
- Padding
- Cover materials
- Staples
- Post anchors
- U-clamp
Tools
- Wood drill with assorted bits
- Metal drill with bits
- Shovel
- Hammer
- Staple gun
- Circular saw
- Jigsaw
- Level
- Tape measure
- Sand paper
- Pencil and paper
Building Instructions
Foundation
- Lay out the length of the seesaw on a level surface.
- Locate the middle of the ground for foundation holes.
- Set holes 4 feet deep and 1 foot wide.
- Place concrete tube into the hole. The top of the tube should be 3” below the surface of the ground.
- Attach an anchor to accept vertical supports.
Posts
- For the posts, a one-piece metal U-post system or two vertical posts connected by a metal pipe and bolted on at the ends to a wooden post system can be used.
- For wooden posts, cut and sand the corners then drill and counter sink the screw holes.
- Attach posts to foundations and then to each other.
Lever
- Choose length of wood or metal lever.
- If wood is used, attach a metal strip to the underside of the stock.
- Drill holes for the seat into both ends. Holes connection will differ depending on the material chosen.
- Counter sink all screw and bolt holes.
- If wood is chosen, attach a cross support to strengthen the seat attachment.
- Attach the lever to foundation support with U-clamp.
Seats
- Attach padding to the seat area (foam or cushion material works perfectly).
- Cut a square piece of vinyl and staple it over the cushioning, onto the seat.
Handles
- Drill a hole in the lever arm approximately 18-24” from the end of the lever.
- Drill another hole in the 1x2” piece of stock.
- Screw vertical shaft into the horizontal lever and then add a cross member to the vertical beam for the rider to hold on to.
Finishing Touches
- Sand down any area on the see saw that looks like a splinter or sharp edge until smooth.
- To paint, use outdoor oil-based paint to provide protection against general wear and the elements. Apply a few coats.
Tips and Warnings
- If you are in a frost zone, when making the foundation, dig the hole deeper than the 4 feet frost-line.
- Use paint that does not contain lead, as lead is toxic.
- Two coats of weather resistant stain can be added after the paint is dry.
- When mixing cement a smaller spade is easier to use than a larger one.
