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Jack's Backyard Do-It-Yourself Wood Fort and Swing Set Plans Reasons to buy my design, over other designs. |
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My play system designs are not only great looking and loads of fun, they're also constructed of high-quality, heavy duty materials that parents can feel good about. Home made systems, although designed with the best intentions, are made with entrapment areas, exposed bolts, inferior hardware, or are just plain under engineered. All of my designs voluntarily meet or exceed all safety standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials. |
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Inclined Step Ladder: Some manufacturers offer rung ladders, which are slippery, or vertical ladders, which can be hard to climb. This inclined stepladder is very strong and will help your child develop confidence in his/her climbing abilities. 2x 4 uprights and 2 x 4 supports laminated together make an extra heavy-duty ladder. 2 x 6 steps set at a 30-degree angle provide a wide step-up into fort. |
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Overlapping Joints: Overlapping joints at the base and at the top of my structures add strength and overall stability. This design feature is found throughout the structure. These wood-on-wood features along with the double bolt construction help make the forts adult and kid safe. |
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Dual Bolt Construction: 3/8 double lag bolts are used at all 2 x 6 joints. This eliminates a pivot point in the structure, minimizes leaning, and adds overall strength. There are 4) deck supports with 2" x 6" planks for the deck. Counter-bores recess heads of bolts to minimize snag hazards. I recommend rounding all corners and edges to eliminate sharp corners or edges. |
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Multiple Fasteners at all Joints: 3) 3 screws are utilized at all 2 x 4 joints. This eliminates a pivot point in the structure, minimizes leaning, and adds overall strength. Pre-drilling of all holes before securing, minimizes cracking and splintering of the wood. Notice no cracks and all corners and edges are flush and square demonstrating high quality and craftsmanship. |
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Solid Rail System: Fastened with screws, not brads or nails. Solid rail system is set with all openings 3 or less eliminating entrapment areas and providing a high level of comfort and safety. The rail uprights are on the inside on the fort, not outside, where they can be pushed out. All upper level sides of my playset designs are enclosed unless there is a play event at the opening. |
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Solid All Wood A-frame Assembly: This all-wood a-frame assembly is built to support any load your kids can dish out. Solid 4 x 4 legs and support blocks are secured together using ½ bolt thru beam carriage bolts. The spread of the legs is greater than the height of the swing beam and legs are staked to ground to add increased strength and stability. |
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1/2" Carriage Bolts and Wood: Dont rely on flimsy metal plates to mount the swings to the fort. 4 x 4 blocks and ½ bolt thru beam carriage bolts secure swing beam to fort. When you see this, you will not doubt the strength of this swing assembly. Counter-bores help protect your children from snag hazards and protruding bolt threads. |
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Upgradeable Swing Hangers: I recommend extra heavy duty bolt through beam ductile iron swing hangers mounted to a 4 x 6 beam with 2) 3/8 bolts per hanger. Weight rating is set at 250 lbs, but can easily support more. Spring clips can be used for easy mounting or changing of swings. |
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Completely Moveable: Dont leave your investment behind. My design break down into several large parts that can easily be moved to your new home or sold. Make your playset from redwood and increase the value of your investment of money and time. Due to the over-whelming popularity of redwood and forts, resale value should be 50-75% of original cost. Take a look at the 6' tall fence in the background to see the relative size of my structures. |
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How's this for an endorsement? I know I have a solid design, but sometimes it's nice to see how solid. I recently received an email from a DIY Dad. I've posted his comments below.
My Gemini took a lickin', but stayed up. I guess I'll be needing some new roof tarps . . . ;-)
We had 70 MPH straight line winds at 3 am for about 15 min. It snapped the main part of the tree in half right in the middle. Removing the tree without causing more damage was a challenge, but we have a friend with a bobcat so we were able to lift the tree off without causing more damage.
I will need to replace 3) 4" X 4"s and most of the upper deck and put new tarps on her, but its really remarkable how well the whole structure absorbed the blow. Speaks well for your design.
We have had endless compliments on the playset/tree house for the past 3 years and of course the kids and their friends use it constantly.
Both the tree house and playset are all western red cedar sealed with TWP cedar tone stain (great stuff from coastal sealants)
Feel free to post the pix if you like. I will send you one after I get her repaired.
Gary |
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Natural Wood Designs For Our World. DIY Wood Forts/ Swing Set Kits, Wood Swingsets, Swingset Kits, Swing Set Accessories, Redwood Porch Swings, Wooden Patio Swings, Wood Mailboxes, and more.
E-mail: askjackhow@gmail.com
281-345-1997 Copyright © 2001-2008 Jack's Backyard |
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