Looking to build a set of money bars in the garden for the kids - structure will be all wood - 4x4 posts and pressure treated 2x4's. There are commercially available metal bars that can be bolted to the top of the frame, but they are super expensive so I was wondering if anyone had any clever alternative suggestions?
I had thought about a ladder, but the rungs tend to be grooved to prevent slipping - I think I need something quite smooth to be gentle on small hands.
look up self assembly handrails ( I used KeeKlamp). Get suitable diameter for young hands, cut length to suit, buy their clamps to secure pipes to top of the 4 x 2 's
25mm galvanized conduit, cut to length and sandwiched between the 4x4s in 1" deep holes cut with a spade bit.
I mean no disrespect but no broom handles or conduit. If the kids are strong enough to hang from monkey bars they'll be too forceful for either. I cut and used metal conduit to pass 2330 electrics. Weightlifter's bars are the ideal strength and diameter although a swine to cut. My opinion. Local municipal parks have chinning and monkey bars, check out their set-up.
A 2ft length of metal conduit will take my weight, and I'm a shade over 17st. My 5yo son swings about happily on monkey bars at the park; he's somewhat less than 17st.
fair point Rob_bv. As I said. my opinion. Haven't been on playground ironwork for 50 years+. It was all made of heavy duty stuff so it could withstand non stop playing if need be.
Thanks - I agree that broomhandles and conduit are not strong enough - the self assembly handrail tubes sound like a good idea. You can buy a welded monkey bar rail just like the ones the have in the parks, but the cheapest I can find so far is £350 and it's not very long.
I had same issue over the summer -- the pre-made ones you can buy are crazy expensive. I used 34mm diameter (3.25mm wall thickness) galvanised tube from an online shop which was about the right size for my kids' hands. Each one is 1.5m, fixed at both ends into a wall flange screwed to timber and supported with a timber in the middle. Was fine to cut with a hacksaw and takes my weight ok.
20mm conduit put inside 25mm conduit is one of the strongest things known to man try bending that bar steward..!
If you use hollow conduit fill inside with suitable sized concrete or mortar at 1 to 4 for added strength