How to Make a Tree Stump Teeter-Totter
Published January 16, 2013
A tree stump teeter-totter (seesaw) makes a fun addition to any yard and can be built with several lengths of construction grade lumber in an afternoon.
- Begin by cutting the stump 12-inches above the ground.
- Purchase a 10-foot 2x8 board and two 10-foot 2x4s for the teeterboard or seat.
- Attach the 2x4 to the underside of the 2x8 centered and on edge in a “T” configuration.
- Drill through the 2x4 and attach it to the 2x8 with either deck screws or lag bolts.
- Cut two pieces of 2x4 24-inches long, and glue and screw these pieces to the center of the 2x8s to reinforce the center section of the teeter-totter.
- Drill a 1-inch hole through the reinforced section for the pivot pipe.
- Build the attachment bracket out of 2-inch lumber in an inverted “T” configuration and attach this to the stump with 3 or 4-inch lag bolts. The teeter-totter will require two of these.
- Bore a 1-inch hole through the attachment bracket for the teeter-totter to pivot. Use 1-inch galvanized pipe with pipe caps to close both ends of the pipe. The attachment bracket should be 12-inches high to the pivot hole and approximately 18-inches long.
- When assembled, the teeter-totter should be 24-inches off the ground at the hinge point.
Be sure to test out the teeter-totter before allowing children to use it, and treat the wood for weather resistance.
Last Updated: January 16, 2013
About Bill Washburn William Washburn has a BA in advertising from the Art Center College of Design and has taught at the University of Southern California and Northrup University. Writing from a well-connected studio in the rural foothills of the west coast, he is a frequent speaker at local art associations and has published numerous articles discussing periods of art history and the fundamentals of drawing and painting. William is a master gardener who grows his own culinary herbs, organic heirloom vegetables and a variety of fruits. He writes frequently about his gardening experiences. He is an accomplished advertising writer, fine art painter, and art director with more than 20 years' experience.
