How to Build a Teeter Totter

Free Counters

Building a backyard "teeter totter" or as some might call it a "seesaw" can be a rewarding and fun experience.

You gotta wonder what came first the fulcrum or the seesaw. Being a key tool used by our ancient ancestors, it is quite probable that the fulcrum was discovered and employed in ancient Babylon, Egypt, Greece or a similar setting. Maybe every skilled craftsman owned one and it probably didn't take long for junior to put it to use as a great way to spend an afternoon, exploring the ups and downs with some good friends.

As a DIY project, I would rate the difficulty on this build to be a 3 out of 10. (10 being the most difficult) Coincidentally 3 is also the average number of days it may take to complete this project depending on various factors, like weather, tool availability, your general health, your skill level, time without interruption, etc.

Tools that you will likely need:

Tools
- speed square
- pencil
- tape measure
- circular saw
- disc/belt sander
- drill press
- hand drill
- various drill bits
- scroll saw/band saw
- hammer
- chisel
- drum sander
- belt sander
- palm sander
- ruler
- sissors
- 4 wood clamps

Materials
- 1 [10' 2x4]
- 1 [8' 2x6]
- 1 box of 2.5" screws
- 1 length of chain link top rail
- 2 metal pipe fasteners
- 1 4' 1.25" wooden dowel
- outdoor paint or clear coat
- 3 sheets of copy paper
- 2 Chain link end caps
- 1 3/4" wooden dowel

That should pretty well cover it. Now that you read the tool and supplies list lets get down to it. This project stemmed from the fact that I have a small 1/2 acre yard and two little kids without much of anything to play on in it. And I happened to have most of the above tools and supplies laying around, so this was a project waiting to happen.

To begin with you'll want to make a sketch of the general project.

Once you have a basic drawing, you can begin to work on your pieces. Take your tape measure, pencil and speed square, and measure and mark off your cut lines on the two boards. I cut my 2x4 into 6 equal pieces, each being 20 inches. 2 pieces to become the fulcrum posts and 4 pieces to make the rest of the base. Then cut the 2x6 down to 80", next measure and mark it off at the midway point.

Time to make your templates. Start by measuring off your first piece of paper to the width of the 2x6. Next cut it down to the size of a 2x6 piece. Fold it in half lengthwise and sketch out a nice curve to eliminate the sharp corners. Next add another curve down the side to create a sleeker "old fashioned ice cream spoon shaped" look. Cut out your curves on the folded paper and when you open it, you will have a symmetrical template. Next measure in about 10 inches and mark off the center for the handle posts.

Now that you have a working template for the teeter totter seat, set it aside in a safe place and begin making the template for the fulcrum. Again start with marking off the width of a 2x4 and folding and cutting down to size. Next fold in half length wise, and draw a curve to round off the top.

(Quick Tip: Measure twice and cut once. Kid friendly playground equipment does not have splinters or sharp corners. Take your time and get it right.)

Measure in about 2 inches from the rounded end and draw a circle on center with a diameter of 1 5/16". (the size of the top rail pole you found lying in the yard, or if you chose to substitute a wooden dowel, or piece of galvanized pipe, measure and mark accordingly. Cut and unfold, you should now have a traceable template for the fulcrum posts.

The last template you should need will be a nice curve for the feet of the base. Once again, set up a 2x4 sized piece of paper and this time, do not fold it. sketch a nice smooth curve from one corner on the short side and extend the curve around to the long side, cut it out and you should now have a template for making the curved feet. (See Picture below)

Now with your 3 templates, layout and trace them onto each piece of wood according to their purpose. The seat at each end of the 2x6, two pieces of 2x4 as fulcrum posts and 4 pieces of 2x4 for the feet.

Next clamp your 2x6 to your work surface and using your belt sander, round off the corners and the curves to your traced lines, being careful to hold your sander level in all 3 planes of movement.


Using your disc sander, round off the two fulcrum posts, and all the corners off of the base feet.

Next you'll need to drill your holes in the fulcrum posts to accommodate the piece of pipe that the teeter totter will ride on. Measure in about an inch on each rounded end and mark off the center. The hole will need to be about 1 5/16" to fit the piece of top rail.

Mark off the center on two of the base feet and then lay out 4 screw holes for the attachment of the fulcrum posts. Using your drill press pre-drill and countersink the holes in the two base feet.

Next you will need to attach the fulcrum posts to two of the base feet. Once you have them centered you can layout the 4 notches that will be needed to get all 4 feet on the ground. Rather than try to type out what I mean, please see the first picture below.

As seen here, the teeter-totter base is assembled. The fulcrum posts are attached to two of the base feet. Then two other base feet are notched and screwed in place across the first two. A small piece of wood dowel was placed near the top to add strength. And as you can see a piece of top rail was cut and slid through the holes drilled in the tops of the fulcrum posts. This is what the 2x6 with rock back and forth over. This stand is very strong and should withstand a few years of regular use. It can be bolted down, cemented in place, buried in the sand. Or even weighted down with a cinder block. It is strong and versital.

Wooden Teeter Totter Base

Another day or two have passed and I have finished shaping the handles using a benchmounted beltsander. It was not easy but if you don't own a lathe, what can you do? (I suppose you could substitute 1/2" Galvanized pipe with flange and fittings to make 2 "T" handles but where is the challenge in that? :)

After shaping and drilling the handle tops with 1/2" holes for mounting, I used a scroll saw to cut and notch the handle bases with 1/2" pegs to fit into the holes in the handles.

I then prepped the 2x6 by giving it a good sanding and rounding off all the edges. It is as kid friendly as a plank of wood can get. After sanding I attached a 3/4" steel strap to the underside which will hold the plank to the piece of chainlink top rail as seen in the first photo.

You can probably buy a perfectly shaped strap to accomplish this, however I opted to cut, shape, and drill my own strap from a small piece of steel. Buying one premade would save you time. SO would using PVC or Galvanized pipe for handles. :) Together those substitutions would probably save around 2 hrs of hand crafting work.

Using a rubber mallet I tapped the handles together and pre-drilled the holes on each end for the 2 1/2" mounting screws. (Assemble with wood glue for additional support...) Next screw them down into place and the main teeter totter is complete. You can now assemble and use the teeter totter.
However there is still the issue of finishing the ends of the piece of fence rail that it rides on. I do intend to cap the ends to make it more kid friendly.

But as of today, the kids tested it out and it worked beautifully!

As a final step I will be applying a clear coat to it to make it more weather resistant. You may opt to paint it, clear coat it, or leave it "raw".

See finished assembly picture below.

Teeter Totter

I will try building two or three more of them and see what the local market on selling these will support. My wife seems to think that hand made seesaws may go for $150.00 around here. I can only hope. As selling just 2 at that price would help in upgrading and acquiring new shop equipment. :)

HAPPY BUILDING!
The plans, templates & detailed instructions will be available for a small fee of $5 via Paypal. E-mail me if interested and I will contact you when the plans are available.

FreeCracker4Jack