What wood for children's play equipment

[yeti]

Looking to build some monkey bars for the children in my back garden. Quite a simple structure from say 2" x 5" boards, with ~1" dowel for the bars. Something like this, but smaller and not in oak!
https://www.playequip.com/monkey-bars-for-adults/

Question is, what softwood should I be using which will give me say 10+ years use? Want minimum maintenance and any protective paint/oil should be child friendly..

Brooks Brothers are my (very) local wood merchant and they sell a variety of softwoods here:
https://www.brookstimber.com/softwoods.php

Western Red Cedar? Redwood with a protective oil?

I don't mind the wood colour fading with age; think it adds character to the piece.

 

[ED65]

Softwood, for the dowels? Doug fir might be strong enough but I think you'd want to use hardwood at least.

 

[J-G]

I suggest that a ~1" dia bar is far too small - even for children!

I would start thinking at least 40 - 50mm - and certainly hardwood - beech, ash, elm....

It might be an idea to look at wooden curtain pole - unless you have a lathe that can handle the length needed.

 

[Fitzroy]

You’ll not want a bar with too great a diameter as the kids will not be able to grip. I’ve seen kids wooden monkey bars on friends climbing frames with a diameter of c. 25-30mm but they are only 300-400 mm wide, nothing like the span on your picture.

With regards materials lots of the commercial frames seem made of southern yellow pine that’s been pressure treated.

A kids play frame is in my to do list and I plan to make it from yellow treated building timber.

Fitz.

 

[Suffolkboy]

This any good?

https://www.toolsandtimber.co.uk/hardwo ... VkQAvD_BwE

 

[yeti]

Thanks for your comments. Regards the dowel width, I've some old curtain poles and my boy prefers 32mm in tests.. Thanks for the link to toolsandtimber; the bars in oak work out about £2 each, which is ok.

What about the frame material? I cannot afford hardwood so thought Western Red Cedar was a good alternative?

 

[ED65]

To be on the safe side even going with oak you'll want to select your pieces with care. Grain runout can significantly weaken a dowel, just like it can a hammer or axe handle.

 

[yeti]

Ok, thanks for the info on dowels; that one is squared away.

Any thoughts on the softwood frame material please?

 

[yeti]

Any comments on the software for frame material please?

or what appropriate preservative if using Redwood?

 

[AJB Temple]

If I was doing it on a tight budget I would use pressure treated tanalised softwood framing timber. You can get a 10% trade card from Wickes very easily. I would dip all ends in a bucket of timber preserver. I would probably construct with timber-fix screws or coach bolts.

If I want it to last 10 years then I would use oak frankly and be done with. Buy from a lumber yard.