Climbing frames, to buy or to build?
The easiest option is to pop down your local toy store and buy one. The problem you then face is that very soon the climbing frame is no longer a challenge and so stops being used. Faced with spending £100+ every year or so, the option of having something that grows is appealing. You can buy frames that you can add things on to like extra slides swings etc., but they are still the same height, which is too high for your 2 year old and too low for your 7 year old.
This is what started me playing around with scaffolding. I use scaff at work and hold a basic scaffolding certificate so I understand how to make solid structures. This is the same stuff you see up the outsides of buildings, I know that for some people it's just too big and ugly looking, ( I'm working on wooden structures at the moment, come back soon ) but my kids like it because it looks industrial. It is also quite cheap, and will last forever. How many rusty climbing frames have you seen? Because it is so strong you can build all sorts of shapes with it and the will not fall down, as your kids get older they can use it like a giant construction set.
Basic frame showing the slide
Swing end of the frame
Frame with scramble net over.
This height of net is for 8+ year olds, make the frame much lower for 2 year olds
The frame is made from 48mm diameter aluminum scaffold pole. Aluminum is lightweight and does not rust. You can use the cheaper galvanized steel pole but it is a lot heavier.
Scaffolding clamps will remain firm with over 3000 Kg of load on them, the only thing you have to be careful of is the poles twisting inside the clamps. If you use a triangle as your basic building unit you cannot go far wrong. So if you note the small bar at 45degrees above the slide platform, that stops the frame rocking left to right, the end with the swing is a triangle. The frame is free standing. If you are going to get older children on the swing the poles need anchoring into the ground. Since scaffold is hollow you can saw the end off a pole at an angle and just hammer it into the ground and it will stay put.
<<<< This is the ladder, wooden battens 5cm square are bolted onto handrail fixings see detail>>>
These fixings secure onto the scaffold using a grub screw, so they can be easily moved if you want a wider rung spacing, spiral ladder etc.
Types of scaffold clamp and their uses
Right angle clamp
Your basic fastener. Very rigid
Wrapover clamp
Not as strong as the rightangle
, but one side is very clean with no bolts sticking out, so very good for making ladder steps or if you need a bar flush with the ground
Swivel clamp
Used to join tube when its not at a right angle. Use only when absolutely necessary as they are not rigid (obviously -they swivel)
