DIY Network

Blog Cabin '08: Building a Porch Swing The Blog Cabin crew builds a porch swing for the large wraparound porch. Get all the info on DIY's Blog Cabin '08 From "Blog Cabin" episode DBLG-203

Handyman Jimmy DiResta, of DIY's Hammered, takes a moment to enjoy the rewards of his labor on the porch at at DIY's Blog Cabin.

With the foundation set, the logs in place and the roof underway, the Blog Cabin crew turn their attention to the expansive wraparound porch. Stopping by to help host Ahmed Hassan and cabin contractors Chris and Simon are John and Jimmy DiResta, hosts of DIY's Hammered. The DiResta brothers bring their skills and thrills to the Blog Cabin to deck the deck with one-of-a-kind porch furniture.

In this project, using some leftover cedar logs and highly specialized tenon drill bits, Jimmy and Ahmed create a rustic porch swing. Using the specialty equipment and some cedar posts left over from the banister railing and other projects, they "sharpen" the ends of logs like big pencils to create the joinery. They also make use of some leftover tongue-and-groove lumber to create the seat for the bench swing. The specialized tenon cutter, and Jimmy's high-speed handyman skills make short work of extra porch seating.

Below is a summary of the basic steps as seen in this Blog Cabin project, along with a list of tools and materials used.

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Materials:

cedar posts or logs
2x tongue-and-groove lumber
exterior grade fasteners
misc. framing lumber
chain
eyelets

Tools:

measuring tape
safety glasses
pencil
1/2" electric drill
Forstner bit
tenon cutter
cordless drill/driver

	Figure A
	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H

Steps:

• Determine the size of your bench. Ours was approximately 6 feet long, with the seat measuring roughly 16 inches and the back roughly 24 inches. Project envisioner Jimmy DiResta sketched out a basic design to help visualize the components (figure A).

  Design Tip: If you're unsure of how big to make your bench, find an already made one that's comfortable and suits you and simply use those dimensions.

• Acquire enough lumber material to frame your bench. For this design, what's required includes three long pieces for the main framing members and enough to create back supports and arm rests as well (figure B). We used kiln-dried cedar logs that were approximately 5 inches in diameter.

  Materials Tip: Cedar is a good selection for many outdoor applications because it's weather- and pest-resistant.

• Fashion the seat and seat back. For the materials, any sturdy 1x or 2x material will work. We opted to use 2x6 tongue-and-groove (figure C) since some was left over from building the Blog Cabin roof. In this application, tongue-and-groove is an added bonus since it will increase stability.

• Cut the pieces to length. Build the seat frame first. It's simply a large rectangle made by joining two long sections of cedar with two shorter sections (figure D). This seat employed mortise-and-tenon joinery created using a special system of tenon cutters and forstner bits from Lumberjack Tools. "Sharpen" the end of one log using the tenon cutter (figure E), using a strong 1/2" electric drill. Then, using a forstner bit, cut a corresponding hole where the two pieces will join.

• Assemble the frame. After all pieces are cut and drilled, assemble and secure with exterior screws. Repeat same steps for the other side of the bottom frame.

• Build the back. Using the same method of tenon cutters and forstner bits, build the back. Set the vertical supports for the back into the rear brace of the seat (figure F). Use one log for the upper back brace mortised to fit over the vertical supports. Secure all joints with exterior screws.

• Build the arm rests. The arm rest is essentially an "L" anchored into the outer seat frame and the vertical back supports with the same mortise-and-tenon joinery.

• Fill in the seat and back. Nail or screw a 1x support along the inside of the bottom frame to hold the seat material (figure G). Cut your seat material to the proper width and secure it to the frame. Do the same for the back.

• Attach the hardware. Four connection points are necessary to connect the swing to the chain, and two to connect the chain to the porch. Pre-drill and screw in large screw eyelets or hooks into the seat frame and backrest. Attach hooks or anchors to the hanging location and run chain between (figure H).

• Have a seat. Relax!

Return to Blog Cabin 2008 home page.

RESOURCES :

tenon cutters and log tools
Lumberjack Tools
Website: www.lumberjacktools.com