Things You'll Need
Instructions
Measure and cut two pieces of 1-by-8 oak 16 inches long. Cut a third third piece of 1-by-8 oak 14 inches long.
Glue the edges of the two 16-inch pieces together to create a 16-inch square. Use exterior wood glue. Run a bead of glue along the edge of one board. Align the edge of the second board with the first.
Hold the two sections in place with wood clamps until the glue dries.
Place the 14-inch board, centered, across the seam of the two 16-inch pieces. Attach the brace, using an electric drill and 1 1/4-inch wood screws. The braced side forms the bottom of the seat.
Turn the seat with the brace facing down. Find the center of the seat. From one corner, draw a diagonal line to the opposite corner. Use the same process to create an "X" starting at the opposite corner. The center is where the two lines cross.
Draw a circle on the seat's surface. Tap a small finishing nail into the center of the seat. Tie a string measuring half the length of the seat to the nail. Attach a pencil to the other end of the string. Pull the string taut, and with the pencil trace a complete circle on the wood's surface.
Remove the nail and string. Use a jigsaw to cut out the circle following the pencil mark.
Drill a hole through the center of the seat using an electric drill with a 1-inch spade bit.
Sand any rough edges with sandpaper. Paint the seat with exterior acrylic paint.
Push the bottom end of the swing rope through the hole in the seat. Tie the end of the rope in a tight knot to prevent the rope from coming out of the hole. Burn the end of the rope to prevent fraying.