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How do I anchor a swing set?
I need to anchor my children's swing set without using concrete? i was told that Home Depot sold a "kit", but no one there new what I was talking about!! Any advice!!
6 Answers
Ok, the stores will sell a kit that consists of 4-6 rods (about 12-15" long). They are like heavy gage tent stakes. You're supposed to pound these in to act as "deadman". Horse-pucky.
It's a simple structural engineering calc to tell us that a 60 pound child (swinging hard) can exert around 480 pounds of uplift force in the two legs opposite to the child's apex position. 2 kids, in sync with their swinging, can tip the thing over.
Two options:
1. If you are renting or planning on moving soon, you should stick to the "deadman" stake concept but take it up a notch. Buy 24" -32" concrete forming stakes and a sledge hammer. Angle the stake as you pound one down immediately adjacent to each leg and bolt them together (use round head fasteners for safety). You should try to get the stake down sio only 2-3" is above ground.
2. If you own, I'd suggest building a concrete "deadman" for each leg. It's a deadweight equal to the uplift force per leg. Since the child was exerting 480 pounds uplift, and that's resisted by the two opposite legs, the deadweight needs to be 480/2 = 240lbs at each leg. Since concrete weighs 160 lbs / cu ft, that means a block of 1-1/2 cu ft or 16" x 16" x 12". I'd dig a square hole at each leg, that was 16" deep x 16" x 16". I'd set a framing strap in the concrete as I mixed and poured the blocks. The strap would be screwed (self tapping sheet metal screws - lots) to the leg later.
Note: there was an intentional 4" space above the top of concrete deadman. That's to allow soil/grass/etc to be on top of the block. It also allows you to abandon the concrete blocks (in place) when you are moving away. No one will ever know they are down there.
It's a simple structural engineering calc to tell us that a 60 pound child (swinging hard) can exert around 480 pounds of uplift force in the two legs opposite to the child's apex position. 2 kids, in sync with their swinging, can tip the thing over.
Two options:
1. If you are renting or planning on moving soon, you should stick to the "deadman" stake concept but take it up a notch. Buy 24" -32" concrete forming stakes and a sledge hammer. Angle the stake as you pound one down immediately adjacent to each leg and bolt them together (use round head fasteners for safety). You should try to get the stake down sio only 2-3" is above ground.
2. If you own, I'd suggest building a concrete "deadman" for each leg. It's a deadweight equal to the uplift force per leg. Since the child was exerting 480 pounds uplift, and that's resisted by the two opposite legs, the deadweight needs to be 480/2 = 240lbs at each leg. Since concrete weighs 160 lbs / cu ft, that means a block of 1-1/2 cu ft or 16" x 16" x 12". I'd dig a square hole at each leg, that was 16" deep x 16" x 16". I'd set a framing strap in the concrete as I mixed and poured the blocks. The strap would be screwed (self tapping sheet metal screws - lots) to the leg later.
Note: there was an intentional 4" space above the top of concrete deadman. That's to allow soil/grass/etc to be on top of the block. It also allows you to abandon the concrete blocks (in place) when you are moving away. No one will ever know they are down there.
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