Saucer swings are really cool. You can put a few kids on one and watch as they have loads of fun flying through the air together. But before you can send them up in the air, you have to make sure you hang you saucer swing correctly from a tree.
How to hang a saucer swing from a tree? The easiest way to hang a saucer swing from a tree is to use tree swing hanging strapes. You can also use shoulder eye bolts screwed through the tree and bolted on the opposite side. In addition, you can put a rope over the tree limb and tie a running bowline knot. See below for more details about each method.
Tree swing straps
Tree swing straps are by far the easiest way to hang a saucer swing. These straps look like a belt with a loop on the end of it. You simply wrap the strap around the tree limb. Then put one end of the strap through the other and pull. Once the strap pull snug around the tree, you put a carabiner on the end hang down and attach you swings rope or chain.
If your saucer swing doesn’t come with swing straps, you can buy a kit. The kits usually include one or two straps, carabiners, and a bag. The kits range in price from $10 to $20. Most of the tree swing straps that I have seen can support some where between 1000 to 2800 lbs.
Shoulder eye bolts install for tree swings
Shoulder eye bolts are another great way to hang your saucer swing in a tree. Shouldler eye bolts take more work to install than swing straps. They are also less portable than swing straps.
As a note of caution, do not use regular eye bolts. Regular eye bolts will appear to work okay, but they are not rated for angled loads. This means your riders are in danger when they swing. Regular eye bolts can fail when a load is placed on the sides of the eye. They are only rated for a vertical load.
Conversely, shoulder eye bolts are rated for vertical and angled loads up to 45 degrees. Shoulder eye bolts will give you the best performance for you saucer swing.
To put your saucer swing up with shoulder eye bolts, you will need to get eye bolts rated for your size swing. Usually 5/8″ shoulder eye bolts will work. The eye bolts need to be longer than the thickness of the branch you are going to put them into.
Once you have the eye bolts you are going to use, drill a hole through the branch. The hole width should be slightly smaller than the diameter of the eye bolts so you can screw them into the tree branch. One you have screwed the eye bolts into the tree branch, you need to place a lock washer and nut on the end that is sticking out of the top of the limb.
After you have installed the shoulder eye bolts on the branch, you should attach a correctly rated carabiner to the end of the eye bolt. Then attach your saucer swing to the carabiner.
You can also use this same setup to hang a wood seat tree swing from the branch. You can use eye bolts to attach a seat to the carabiners on the rope when you’re not using your saucer swing. Drill holes through a piece of wood and then put the threaded end of the eye hook through the top of the swing. Finish the attachment by putting a washer and nut on the eye hook. Tighten the nut until it is snug. Then hook the carabiner attach to your rope to the seat. To finish the seat off, you can put some fabric over the wood to make it more comfortable.
Hanging Rope over the tree branch
Hanging a swing with the rope over the tree is the most traditional way. You simply measure out a length of rope that matches the height you want your swing to be at when hanging from the limb you will use. Then add 3 to 4 yards to the measurement to compensate for looping around the tree and tying a knot on the limb end of the rope and on the swing end of the rope. The swing height should leave enough clearance that the rider’s feet don’t hit the ground when they are swinging.
If your saucer swing already has ropes attached to it, you can tie a single rope around the limb using a running bowline knot. Then put a figure eight knot at the end with a carabiner to attach the saucer swing rope lines.
If your saucer swing doesn’t have lines already attached, you will have to measure out a length of rope for the number of lines you will have going to your swing. Then follow the procedure above for tying a rope to your tree with a carabiner attached.
You have to be aware of the resistance the tree gives to the movement of the rope when the rider is swinging. The friction created can break down the rope fast. This is why it is good to get a rubber barrier to put between the tree branch and the rope. It will also help preserve the tree branch.
How to hang a saucer swing between two trees?
There are kits you can buy for hanging a saucer swing between two trees. These kits come with two straps for attaching to the trees, a strap to attach the other two straps together, and two carabiners. It acts as a two-rope swing. To install the straps, attach one strap to one tree and the other to another tree. Next, attach a carabiner to the end of each strap you attached to each tree. Then, attach the stablizing strap to each of the two carabiners. Finally, attach your saucer swing lines to the carabiners.
An alternative solution is to use two ratchet strapes, a swivel, and a carabiner. You can see how it is done by visiting mommybytes.com. This solution looks like it will work for a temporary setup. Its lack of a stablizing strap in the middle to help distribute the load across a larger portion of the center may be a failing point if used too much.
We create a set of illustrations to show you how a saucer swing can be hung between two trees.
In the illustration above, you can see a saucer swing hanging between two trees. This is accomplished by wrapping two straps or pieces of rope around the tree. Then connecting the two straps together with metal clips and another strap. Finally, the saucer swing is hung from the two metal clips. See below for detail illustrations.
You can see that the strap is wrapped around the tree in a crisscross pattern. You can also wrap your straps around each tree more times for extra security. After wrapping the strap around the tree, the strap is passed through a metal clip to help secure it to the tree.
The two straps coming from the two trees are each connected to a metal clip at the end not wrapped around the tree. These clips are then secured by another strap in the middle to create tension and a place to attach the saucer swing ropes.
The saucer swing is attached to the two metal clips that are holding the two straps from the tree together.
Is a flying saucer swing the same thing as a saucer swing?
Yes, a flying saucer swing is the same thing as a saucer swing. I put this in here because I was confused when I first started looking at saucer swings and I figured someone else might be confused too.
How much weight can a saucer swing hold?
It is amazing how much weight some of these saucer swing say they can hold. The maximum weight limits on saucer swings ranges from 200 lbs to 700 lbs. Can you imagine, a swing holding 700 lbs. This makes it really nice that you can get on the swing with you little ones and know that it will support the weight.
Just be sure that the other hanging accessories you use can support the load that you intend to put on the swing. You should choose parts that are rated higher than the load you will put on them.
Check that your tree is strong enough to hold a swing and its rider. You need to ensure that the tree and branch are large enough and health.
Are saucer swings safe when hung on trees?
Like any kind of swing, you have to use precautions to make the ride on a saucer swing less risky. I say less risky because all activities have some inherent risk. This includes riding a saucer swing.
First, you want to make sure you get a saucer swing that is rated for the weight and number of riders that will be riding on your swing. Second, you have to make sure the swing in hung properly. Third, you have to make sure that the ground is cleared and has the a good cover in case of a fall. Fourth, you have to make sure that the swing is used appropriately.
None of these measures will guarantee no one will get hurt. But, they will help to minimize the danger and the degree of injury that could potentially happen.
What should go on the ground under my saucer swing?
The ground under your saucer swing is just as important as how you hang it. First, clear the ground below you swing. Remove any sharp objects, tree branches, rocks, or anything else that could hurt one of your riders if they fall or when they are getting on or off the swing. Be sure to clear a distance beyond the furtherest point of your swing.
Once you’ve cleared the ground you need to decide what you want to place under the swing. You can put natural grass, artificial grass, pea gravel, sand, rubber mulch, rubber mats, or wood mulch.
Can I get a saucer for a swing set?
Yes, you can get a saucer swing to mount on a swing set. A saucer swing for a swing set is the same thing as a saucer for a tree. You just need to mount it to the swing set. You can use the same techniques for mounting a saucer swing to a tree to mount your saucer swing to a swing set.
Do saucer swings come in different sizes?
Most of the saucer swings available range in size from 24″ to 40″. If you want a bigger swing for multiple people to swing on, you should try a platform swing. Platform swings are available in sizes up to 60″.
Is a saucer swing the same as a spinner swing?
A saucer swing is a type of spinner swing. A spinner swing is any swing that spins. A spinner swing is hung with a swivel. The swivel makes it easy for the swing to spin.
