ntroduction

The seesaw plank pivots on a central support that is concreted into a used car tire. This makes for a very stable base, yet the seesaw can still be moved from place to place. The seesaw does not have any handles, thus allowing kids of different weights and sizes to ride the seesaw by positioning themselves along the plank until they find balance. For example, a heavier kid would sit closer to the middle and a lighter kid would sit more towards the end of the plank. This is a very sturdy seesaw and the kids will have loads of fun.

The pivot height can be adjusted by simply raising or lowering the pivot height bolts. This project will take you through the complete seesaw building process from start to finish, with plans and step-by-step pictures and instructions. et!s begin" Some navigation hints. The plans and parts are on the next page, followed by the instructions on subse#uent pages. The index page will tell you the contents of each page. $ny page can be reached by clicking on the page number above, so you can jump back and forth to suit. %t!s always a good idea to skim through all the pages first just to get an idea of what!s there.

&entral support plan and parts list

Throughout this project all

measurements are given in both metric 'mm( and standard imperial 'ft and inches(. )hen selecting the wood for this seesaw project make sure that it is suitable for exterior use. %f you cannot source the exact wood sizes as shown in this project, then a near size will do as long as the tire hole will fit the central support unit.. *elow is a list of all the parts which are basically a seesaw plank, a bit of lumber for the central support, a piece of galvanized water pipe, a bit of concrete, half a dozen bolts, some pipeclips and a car tire. +sed tires can sometimes be obtained free from tire stores. The size of the tire used in this project is ,-./-0-,1. That means the tire is ,-.mm '-2( wide and has a hole diameter of 340mm ',12(. 5ou can use a different size tire, just as long as the width and hole size will accommodate the central support.

The parts list

A( Four pieces of 4.mm x 1.mm ', ,/62 x 6 ,/62( wood which are .00mm '602( long for the vertical pieces of the central support unit. B( 7ne piece of 80mm x 1.mm ', ,/62 x 3 ,/62( wood which is 316mm ',3 ,/62( long for the spacer. C( 7ne piece of 60mm '3/12( galvanized water pipe which is 316mm ',3 ,/62( long for the pivot bar. 9ote: )ater pipe is measured by the inside diameter, so the actual overall diameter of the pipe will be approximately 6-mm ', ,/;2(. D( 7ne piece of ,80mm x 1.mm ', ,/62 x - ,/62( wood which is 3000mm ',0ft( long for the seesaw plank. E( Four pipe saddle clips 'size to suit( to fix the water pipe 'pivot bar( to the seesaw plank. F( Four ,6mm ',/62( galvanized carriage bolts which are ,.0mm '42( long.

G( $ used car tire about ,-.mm '-2( thick, 400mm '6ft( overall diameter and with 'at least( a 340mm ',1 ,/;2( hole diameter. H( <ome pieces of thin wood to cover the base of the tire so the concrete does not spill out. I( $ bit of gravel, sand and cement to make the concrete for the inside of the tire. 5ou will need approximately 3/1 of a wheelbarrow-full, which will be about 4 spades-full of gravel, 1 spades-full of sand and 6 spades-full of cement 'which is a ratio of , part cement, 6 parts sand and 3 parts gravel(. =ixing details are given in the instructions.

The central support unit

=ake up the wood part of the seesaw central support unit. &ut pieces A 'the four vertical pieces( and piece B 'the spacer( to the lengths given in the plan and parts list on page 6. >rill ,3mm '8/,42( holes where shown in the plan on page 6. $ssemble the central support unit as shown in the picture. ?efer to the planfor dimensions.

@repare the tire for concrete

ay some thin boards on the inside of the tire to cover the hole at the base. $lternatively you can use sheet plastic, sheet metal or anything else that is able to cover the hole while still being strong enough to hold the concrete in until it dries.

=ake up a batch of concrete

5ou will need approximately 3/1 of an average heavy-duty wheelbarrow full of concrete to fill up the insides of the tire.

To three-#uarter-fill the average heavy-duty wheelbarrow, put in 4 spades-full of gravel, 1 spades-full of sand and 6 spades full of cement 'which is a ratio of , part cement, 6 parts sand and 3 parts gravel(. =ix it all together before adding water.

Then add about half of a standard household bucket 'more or less( of water. $dd a little at a time. =ix with the spade from the bottom and fold over. &ontinue doing this and adding the water until the mix is a uniform consistency. Tip: when mixing, a smaller spade is easier to work with than a larger one.

<tart shoveling in the wet concrete

<tart shoveling the wet concrete into the tire. Aust add a couple of inches on the bottom first and try to get as much as possible into the rim. >on!t fill the tire too much at this stage or it might prove hard to put the central support unit in.

@lace the central support unit

@ut the assembled central support unit into the hole in the tire. )riggle and twist it until it burrows into the wet concrete all the way down to the base. 9ext top up the tire with more wet concrete. @rod and poke and tap to ensure that the concrete

is everywhere inside the tire.

&heck the front for s#uare

<it a straight piece of wood on top of the tire against the front of the support unit. @ut a large set s#uare on the straight piece of wood against the support unit. 5ou will then be able to see if the support unit is at right angles to the tire. =ake any adjustments to the support unit if need be.

&heck the side for s#uare

?epeat the same action as above, but this time to the side of the support unit. 7nce the support unit is at right angles to the tire 'which means that when the tire is horizontal or level, the support unit will be vertical or plumb(, then remove the set s#uare and piece of straight wood and allow the concrete to cure 'set, harden( for a few days.

=ark the center of the seesaw plank

=easure and find the middle of the seesaw plank. >raw a s#uare line across the middle of the seesaw plank using a set s#uare.

=ark for the pivot bar

>raw two more s#uare lines. 7ne each side of the middle line. =ake the two outside lines the same distance apart as the outside diameter of the pivot bar 'water pipe(. Bnsure that the two outside lines are e#uidistant 'the same distance apart( from the middle line.

@osition the pivot bar

@artially hammer in three nails as shown in the drawings. The nails are to hold the pivot bar in place and stop it from moving until it can be fastened. @lace the pivot bar on the seesaw plank between the nails. Bnsure each end overhangs the sides of the plank by the same amount.

Fasten the pivot bar

Fix the pivot bar to the seesaw plank with pipe saddle clips or other suitable fastenings.

?emove the guide nails

7nce the pivot bar is fastened to the seesaw plank, the three guide nails can be removed.

$dd the seesaw plank to the supportunit

@ut two carriage bolts into the pre-drilled holes in the central support unit. There is a choice of two heights. 9ow it!s simply a matter of placing the seesaw plank over the central support and lowering it until the ends of the pivot bar rest on the carriage bolts between the slots in the vertical pieces of the central support unit. >one"
$uthor: es Cenny Bditor: =aree $nderson