How to Make a Miniature Porch Swing
- 1). Cut four rectangular pieces of craft wood for the pieces of the bench using the scroll saw. Make two rectangles measuring 1 inch-by-1 inch and two rectangles measuring 2 1/2 inches-by-4 1/2 inches.
- 2). Mark the lines on the wood for the slat holes in the bench pieces using a pencil and ruler. These will be rows of thin, rectangular holes positioned with a 1/4 inch margin of space in from the outside edges of each rectangle. Make each hole a 1/4 inch wide. Make the holes parallel to the short sides of the smaller wooden pieces and the same measurement for one of the larger pieces, but make the holes parallel to the long side on the other large piece. This will become the bottom of the bench. Note that these slats are purely aesthetic. As long as you like the way they look, don't worry too much about the exact measurements.
- 3). Use the oscillating power tool to cut out the slat holes. Turn on the tool to medium speed and insert the router cutter into the middle of each slat hole, then cut it by moving the tip outward to the edges of the holes that you drew with pencil. This will help you control the tool as you cut.
- 4). Sand the wood pieces by hand with medium-grain sandpaper. Sand inside the slat holes by sliding the edge of a piece of sand paper into them.
- 5). Assemble the arms to the bottom of the bench. Attach the short pieces to the ends of the bench's bottom (the piece with the few, long slat holes) using wood glue, positioning them at a 90-degree angle from the bottom, both facing the same direction. Let the wood dry.
- 6). Attach the back of the bench. Glue the bottom (one of the long edges) of the back piece to the long edge of the bench's bottom. Pull two small pieces of epoxy putty (about a 1/4 teaspoon each) and sandwich them between the backs of the arm pieces and bench's back. This will allow you to position the back of the bench at a slight angle, leaning backward. Let the putty harden fully according to the manufacturer's instructions.
- 7). Glue the ends of the four lengths of jewelry chain to the top ends of the bench's arms using 1/8 teaspoon balls of epoxy putty by pressing the ends of the chains into the putty, then pressing the balls of putty against the wood. Let the putty dry before using the glued chains to lift the bench.
- 8). Open the jump rings using the needle-nosed pliers.
- 9). Attach the unattached ends of the chains into the two large jump rings. Use one jump ring on each side, attaching both chains on that side to it by threading the last link in the chain onto the jump ring. Close the jump rings using the pliers.
- 10
Thread the jump rings onto the craft dowel and hold the swing up by the dowel.