You can use a spring at the fulcrum point instead of a metal bar.
There is plenty of children's outdoor play equipment on the market, but it can get pricey. One way you can solve this problem is to build some of the equipment yourself; this will cost less and give you the freedom to customize your outdoor play toy. For example, you can build your own teeter-totter and use a spring in the middle instead of the traditional bar, which will allow for a little more swing during use.
Instructions
1. Dig a hole to secure the spring to the ground with cement. The hole should be 1 foot across in both directions and at least 18 inches deep. Make sure when you choose your location for this hole that there is enough room for the whole teeter-totter to fit once it is constructed.
2. Mix the cement mixture in a bucket according to the product instructions. Pour the cement mixture into the hole you just dug. Smooth the surface so it is flush with the ground.
3. Insert the four 6-inch bolts into the cement with the threads pointing up at least 2 inches up out of the cement. Make sure these are perfectly vertical and spaced to the hole dimensions of the plates that are attached to the spring. Allow the cement to dry thoroughly according to the instructions before attaching the rest of the teeter-totter.
4. Measure and cut the 4 inch by 1 inch wood into two 1-foot long sections and four 6-inch long sections.
5. Set one of the 1 foot long pieces on a sturdy surface so the 1 inch side is on the surface and the 4 inch side is vertical. Place a 6 inch long piece on each side of the 1 foot section so it resembles a "U."
6. Attach the overlapping piece on each side to the 1 foot long piece with two wood screws on each side. Construct another "U" with the other pieces that you cut. These are your teeter-totter handle bars.
7. Measure in 2 feet from each end of the 6 feet long piece of lumber and mark it with a pencil.
8. Flip the handlebars so the "U" is upside down. Position these handlebars at the pencil marks with the free ends of the "U" on each side of the 6 feet long piece at that point. Secure the handlebars in place with two wood screws on each side of the handlebars.
9. Measure to the middle of the 6 feet long piece. Center the spring and metal plate at this point. Make sure the spring is exactly in the middle by measuring on both sides to the end to make sure they are the same distance. Trace where the holes are for the plate and put the plate and spring to the side.
10. Drill holes on those marks. Make sure the drill bit you use is the size of the plate holes.
11. Feed the 3-inch long bolts through the top of the 6 feet long piece into the spring plate. Attach the nuts to the ends with a wrench until snug.
12. Position the plate on the other end of the spring over the bolts in the cement. Attach the plate in place with nuts.
13. Paint your teeter-totter any color you want using a nontoxic, waterproof exterior paint and allow it to dry.
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