Thread: wood to use for monkey bars

Thank you Paul for taking the time to write back.
I too owe "bahty" an apologie for the partical highjack of his thread.....thank you for your understand.
I hope admidst all the inform "bahty" you have gained some help to build the "monkey bars" for your children just like those in the photo you posted.
looking forward to seeing the biuld "bahty".
Cheers, crowie

I like Jungle Gym

By the way, can anyone recommend how to finish ash for rungs?

Thanks,
Bahty

I will definitely keep this thread alive until I complete the project and will post final pictures

Late to this thread.

I had to build several sets of monkey bars for my kids last school in Spain. The local 'builder' tried to use aluminum ladders, but the treads just ripped the kids hands on the first day.

I just used 4x2 treated pine for the sides and 'bog standard' 1"1/4 dowel from local building supplies. Width was about 450 total, rungs were recessed in and alternate rungs screwed with stainless 3" screws.

All given a good dollop of acrylic varnish.

3years on still there and no broken kids yet.

Originally Posted by bahty

I like Jungle Gym

By the way, can anyone recommend how to finish ash for rungs?

Thanks,
Bahty

In some ways an oiled finish is preferrable as it provides more grip. Consider here that the olympic apparatus has no finish material whatsoever: Just raw timber. The gymnasts also cover their hands with resins, which I am assuming will not be an option for your children. You will have product over there and there is not much point in relating what we could use here. Most oils are based on tung oil.

However you might also like to consider a satin or even matt varnish finish. The reason I say this is that if enough sweaty, dirty childrens' hands come into contact with the bars they will start to look fairly unappealing. A varnished bar (not full gloss mind you) will be easier to clean perhaps than an oiled finish.

Regards
Paul

Hello everyone,

Finally, I have completed building the jungle gym/monkey bars and it came out pretty nice, very sturdy and kids love it

Thanks to everyone who replied - I really appreciate all the answers and comments.

Here are some pics

Very exiciting looking piece of apparatus Bahty. I'm sure the kids will absolutely love it. Well done and thanks for posting the pix.

Regards
Paul

Originally Posted by bahty

Hello everyone,

Finally, I have completed building the jungle gym/monkey bars and it came out pretty nice, very sturdy and kids love it

Thanks to everyone who replied - I really appreciate all the answers and comments.

Here are some pics

What a top job you've done there "bahty"....WELL DONE!!
Cheers, crowie