DIY Doctor UK DIY Forums

Hi

I am considering making a wooden swing chair for the garden. I was thinking an A-frame type design.

What type of timber would be advisable for the A-frame and what for the seat slats and frame would you suggest?

Any pointers (design wise) also greatfully received!

the best wood material for garden furniture by far and away is teak - in the quantities you are talking about though it will be horrifically expensive and not exactly eco-friendly.

a good second would be oak, but again its a very expensive material and neither teak nor oak are easy materials to work with if you are not au faix as they are both hardwoods - takes its toll on the ole chisels let me tell you.

cheaper and easier would be pressure treated softwoods such as pine.

I used Western Red Cedar which is a very resinous soft wood and therefore quite weather resistant. The bench itself is a very simple elegant design the slats being strung together with bead spacers.

Teak is definiately the best timber you can use for this project. Its has high natural oil content and will last for years with little maintenance.

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