DIY Swing Sets: The Essential Piece of Hardware

If you’ve ever Googled DIY swing sets, you know there are an endless number of plans and designs to consider. Additionally, there are tons of hardware and accessory products to choose from. In this blog you’ll learn about the one must-have item for all DIY swing sets. Whether the project is your first or 50th, this piece of hardware will make your life easier.

   The Product

After 24 years’ designing, manufacturing and installing playsets, we know that a strong connecting bracket is an absolute necessity for all swing beams. That’s where the Easy 1-2-3 A-Frame Swing Set Bracket comes in. We designed this product six years ago to add another level of safety, strength and security to our swing sets. Fast-forward to today, and we have a patent pending on the design. And it turns out that we’re no longer the biggest fans of the bracket — our customers are!

The Easy 1-2-3 A-Frame Swing Set Bracket is made of heavy-duty steel that has been welded together. We designed this piece of hardware to work with two 4” x 4” supports and one 4” x 6” swing beam. The idea is simple: Slide in the lumber and fasten with bolts. Repeat on the other side (depending on the specifics of your DIY swing set) and your swing set has a solid, strong foundation.

Demonstration

Specifications to Keep in Mind

There are a few things we’d like you to remember as you plan your DIY swing set. We’ve designed the bracket to work with a kiln-dried 4″ x 6″ with a true measurement of 3-1/2″ x 5-1/2″. Our recommendation is based on the size of the bracket opening (3-5/8″ x 5-5/8″).

With that in mind, we stress that the lumber should never be forced into the bracket. The goal is for it to simply slide in, which is the case for the great majority of customers. In the event that the lumber is too large, we suggest planing down the wood as needed. To avoid this task, we advise bringing a tape measure when purchasing the lumber to ensure you get the proper size.

Finally, for more information on the bracket, check out Eastern Jungle Gym’s verified third party reviews from TrustPilot. They provide lots of first-hand details. And don’t forget that we’re always here to help! Simply give us a call at 1-800-752-9787, or leave a comment below!