DIY Teeter Totter / Seesaw from Old Tire
Tutorial:
Supplies:
Tools:
- Mitre Saw
- Hand Drill
- Drill bit (7/64 in. bit for handles)
- 3/4 inch Wood Spade Bit
- Philips Bit Tips #2 (for drill)
- Tape measure
- Level
- Pencil for marking
- Wheelbarrow (for concrete)
- Shovel to mix concrete
- Sander
- Sand Paper for sander
- Welder (to spot weld horse shoe handles together)
Seat:
- (1) 2×6 at 10 ft. Long
- (2) 2x3s at 8 ft. Long
- #8 x 3 inch Philips ,Bugle-Head, Coarse Thread Wood Screws
- (6) Horse Shoes for the handles (I had some used horse shoes lying around my place) but you can buy used ones HERE
- Spray paint for horse shoe handles (I used black)
- (8) #8 x 1-1/4 inch wood screws for attaching handles (four screws for each handle)
Base:
- (2) 2x6s at 20 in. long
- (4) 2x3s at 8-1/2 in. long
- (1) tire with 14 inch diameter hole in the middle
- (2) pieces of scrap plywood to cover the inside bottom of tire to hold the wet concrete in.
- (1) 3/4 inch diameter steel pipe – 8-1/2 in. long (I bought a 4 ft. long pipe and cut it to size with a hack saw)
- one carriage bold at 10 inches long, 1/2 in. diameter
- two washers that the carriage bolt fits through
- one 1/2 inch lock washer that carriage bolt fits through
- one hex nut that fits the carriage bolt
- Loctite found HERE
- #8 x 3 inch Philips ,Bugle-Head, Coarse Thread Wood Screws found HERE
- 2 or 3 Bags of Premix Concrete
- Water for concrete
Directions:
Seat:
Gather your 10 foot 2×6 and your two 8 foot 2x3s.
First, cut the ends of the 2x3s at a 45 degree angle. Notice the ‘pointy sides’ are both on the same side of each 2×3.
Next, match them up by stacking one on top of the other.
Starting at 3 inches from each end, screw the two boards together about every 2 feet along the whole length of the boards with 3 inch, philips wood screws.
Be sure to put a screw about 3 inches from each end.
Next, find the center of the 2×3 and the center of the the 2×6. Mark with a pencil. Now, center the 2x3s onto the 2×6 and screw together, as shown below. Do this by drilling 6 screws, side-by-side, through the top board into both the support boards underneath, as shown by the red arrows below.
After securing all the boards together, find the center and drill a hole through the side of the two support boards with the 3/4 inch spade bit.
Tip: Put a piece of wood on the bottom of the 2x3s when drilling. This will keep the bottom side from splintering.
Last, sand the top and sides of the 2×6. No one wants splinters in their bottoms!
Base:
Time to make the base. First, screw 2x3s onto the center and bottom of 2x6s.
Take the tire…
Now, place a couple of pieces of plywood inside the tire, covering the bottom hole.
Next, mix concrete up with water in the wheelbarrow, as directed on package.
After your concrete is mixed, center the wooden brace inside tire.
Now, fill the tire up with concrete.
Make sure the brace is level.
Let the concrete dry for a day
Decide how high you want the center of the see saw to be. Using the 3/4in wood spade bit, drill two matching holes in the center of the braces. (I wanted a taller teeter totter so I drilled a hole 2in from the top)
Grab the 8 1/2in long, 3/4in diameter steel pipe
Tap it right through the holes that were drilled into both the brace and the middle of the teeter totter (I had two helpers hold the teeter totter up to align the holes while I tapped the pipe through)
Slide a washer onto the 10in carriage bolt and push the bolt through the hole that now has the steel pipe in it
The washer will keep the bolt from sliding through the hole
Add washer on the other side of the bolt…
Slide on the lock washer, it keeps the nut from unscrewing while the see saw is being used
Screw on the hex nut and tighten. You can also use Loctite to ensure the bolt won’t loosen.
Handles:
Time for the handles! My husband spot welded these horseshoes together into cute handles. Using a 7/64 inch drill bit, pre-drill 2 holes on each side of the bottom horseshoe. After spray painting them, I screwed them on with #8 x 1-1/4 inch wood screws.
Tip: Make sure when attaching handles to leave enough room at the ends to sit. (I attached my handles about 15 1/2in from each end of the teeter totter).
If you want to varnish the wood or paint it to keep it from weathering, you can do that as well!
Now you are finished!! Yay!!
Doesn’t this look fun!
Be sure to check out my other Outdoor Kid Fun Ideas HERE!
DIY Teeter Totter / Seesaw from Old Tire
Sharing at these great link parties:
The Hearth & Soul Celebrate Your Story Inspire Me Monday You’re the Star Inspire Me Monday Inspire Me Monday Wonderful Wednesday Tuesdays at our Home Make it Pretty Monday Recipe & DIY Linky Project Inspired Inspire Me Tuesday Creative Muster Party Wow Me Wednesday Talk of Town Party Your Whims Wednesday Turn About Tuesday Turn about Tuesday Homestead Blog Hop Tuesdays with a Twist Wonderful Wednesday Home and Garden Thursday Share Your Style
More great link parties I’m sharing at:
To Grandma’s House We Go Vintage Charm Simple Homestead Blog Hop Waste Not Wednesday Party in Your PJs Thursday Favorite Things Grace at Home Keep in Touch Home Matters Party Funtastic Friday Friday Favorites Family Homesteading/off the Grid Friday at the Fire Station Flaunt it Friday Handmade Otherwise Happy Pink Saturday Dare to Share Saturday Sparks Create, Bake, Grow & Gather A Morning Cup of Joe! Happiness is Homemade Sundays Best Link Up Saturday Shuffle Blog Hop Over the Moon Dishing it & Digging it
Susan Lea
Thanks for the fantastic tutorial! It’s so clear and easy to follow. My poor hubby’s “Honey Do” list just got one more thing added to it, but this is for the grandkids (and me!)
Vicki
We’re building this today for our granddaughters. Thanks so much!
Tee
Awesome!! They are going to love it!!! I’d also love to see a pic or two when you’re done 😉
[email protected]
Sylvia|Grace for a Gypsy
Oh my! My little grandbabies would love love LOVE this! Going to pin it and share it!
Tee
Thank you Sylvia! Yes, this teeter totter is ALWAYS a kid magnet at my house!
Anita Holland
A brilliant idea will definitely be trying this for my niece. Pinned
Tee
Thank you Anita!
Aritha
Wow, that is awesome!
Tee
Thank you Aritha! I’m glad you like it!
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 2! Shared ♥
Tee
Thank you for sharing Dee!
Sylvia|Grace for a Gypsy
Great post! I showed this to my daughter who is always making something or building something! Thanks for linking up to the #GatheringofFriendsLinkParty 3
Tee
Thank you Sylvia!
Marie
Tiffany, your kids must be the luckiest kids on the block for having such a DIY savvy Mom. I bet all the neighborhood kids hang out at your house. I’ve thoroughly been enjoying all your amazing outdoor DIY ideas for kids. Mine have long since left the nest but I’m pinning these for my grandchildren.
Tee
Thank you so much, Marie, for your kind comments! I have to admit that the neighborhood kids do like to hang out over here, but I like it that way! Thanks for pinning it too!
Julie Briones
You are SUCH a smart diyer! Love this sweet teeter-totter with the tire as the base! Thanks for sharing, Tee!
Tee
Thank you Julie for your kind comments!
Cecilia
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing at Vintage Charm!
Tee
Thanks Cecilia!
Liberty
Yes, this does look fun! Thank you for sharing at the Best of the Weekend. I will be featuring you this Friday.
Liberty @ B4andAfters.com
Tee
Thank you Liberty! Awesome!
Laurie
Great simple backyard toy! I like it!
Thank you for sharing at the Homestead Blog Hop!
Tee
Thank you Laurie!
Dee | Grammy's Grid
Thanks so much for linking up at the #UnlimitedMonthlyLinkParty 3! Shared.
Tee
Thank you Dee for sharing!