Thread: Sharon's custom porch swing... - Family Woodworking

I bought the plans for Norm's porch swing. My wife didn't care for the size so I had to lengthen it and make it deeper. Break out the drawing board! She is visiting her Mom and wanted photos so she could show her the swing before Sharon returns home on Thursday. Did I mention....I miss her? It's been a long 3 1/2 weeks! So here it is in white oak.

The seat slats aren't attached yet. I will finish them separately from the frame and then attach them. You can see the pre-drilled holes in the seat slats. I will screw the slats on with stainless steel screws, plug the holes with oak dowels and sand smooth. Then apply finish to the plugs.

Notice the only hardware that will be visible are the 4 stainless steel bow eyes. Even their mounting hardware is recessed and the holes plugged with glued oak plugs.

All the joints are mortise and pinned tenons except....the two middle seat supports which are trapped between the lower back rail and the front seat rail.

There are 15 vertical back slats but only 5 are glued. The middle slat and two at each end. Even with slow setting glue, to glue all 15 would be nearly impossible for this old guy to do solo.

If my count is correct there are 50 mortise and tenon joints in this swing. I learned to dearly appreciate my General International hollow-chisel mortiser, a sharp hollow-mortise chisel and a sharp bit!

It was quite the learning experience!

red meat