Owners of country houses and dachas try to arrange their yard as comfortably as possible. There is a recreation area, flower beds, and a sports ground here. Making a playground with your own hands is quite easy. And the most important element on it is the horizontal bar. It is how to make it with your own hands that will be discussed in our article.
General information about the horizontal bar
The horizontal bar is a gymnastic apparatus consisting of two reinforced racks and a crossbar. This is one of the most popular types of sports equipment that can be installed both indoors and in the garden. The horizontal bar is intended for sports. You can use it to do pull-ups and perform various exercises aimed at strengthening the spine and neck muscles.
The advantages of installing a horizontal bar at the dacha include:
- great functionality;
- wide possibilities for operation;
- ease of self-production;
- availability of materials.
Horizontal bar finishing
Applying an antiseptic and painting wooden or metal structures are the main types of treatment. When operating and constructing the crossbar, the following features should be taken into account:
- the crossbar should not have a rough surface. Wooden or metal elements are carefully sanded before installation, and painting makes the surface more comfortable;
- when performing exercises, you can use different pads and straps to ensure comfort during exercise;
- The area around the structure should be covered with sand or fine gravel. The children's complex can be located on the lawn, but not on an asphalt surface to avoid injury;
- The paint layer of the horizontal bar should be periodically renewed to prevent corrosion of the material.
A sports device located outdoors requires simple maintenance, but the key to durability is proper installation.
Video: making a horizontal bar and parallel bars with your own hands
You can make a horizontal bar on the street yourself, but for this you need to select high-quality materials. This is the key to the strength and safety of the structure.
To install a horizontal bar with your own hands, you need to prepare a drawing containing a drawing and dimensions of individual structural elements. The presence of a horizontal bar provides constant access to sports at your summer cottage. Such designs differ in size. When choosing a suitable structure, you should focus on the size of the garden area and personal needs.
The need to install a horizontal bar in the country
A do-it-yourself horizontal bar in the courtyard of a private house is necessary:
- to strengthen the muscles of the abdomen, back, neck, chest, arms, shoulders;
- regular pull-ups on the horizontal bar strengthen muscles, stretch the spine, and improve posture;
- exercises for children and teenagers on the horizontal bar contribute to the formation of a strong and healthy muscle frame;
- With the help of this sports equipment, endurance and resistance to stress are formed, agility and coordination of movements are improved.
Important : exercises on the horizontal bar are recommended not only for men, but also for women, children, and teenagers.
Step-by-step guide to making a horizontal bar
Before starting work, you need to treat the ends of the supports approximately 60 cm with bitumen. Then, at the site where the horizontal bar is installed, 70 cm indentations are made using a garden drill. Sand is poured onto the bottom and compacted in a layer of 5–10 cm. These actions allow you to prepare the basis for installing the horizontal bar.
Further, the set of works involves the following actions:
- Using a welding machine, you need to weld the horizontal crossbar to the supports. The crossbar can be longer than the width of the horizontal bar. In this case, the ends should protrude evenly on both sides.
The crossbar must be round
The concrete supports of the horizontal bar must be strictly vertical
Video: DIY metal horizontal bar
Features of the children's horizontal bar
The construction of a children's horizontal bar requires careful determination of dimensions depending on the height of the child. At the same time, the design should be more functional than a simple horizontal bar for adults. The best option is a combination of a crossbar, a wall bars, and a swing. A small hanging punching bag, rope or removable swing can be easily fixed to the crossbar if necessary.
A children's horizontal bar can be simple, but hanging elements make it functional
If there is no large area for a children's sports complex, you can make two crossbars of different heights. A swing, a net, a punching bag or other devices are alternately fixed to one of them, and the lower one is used for pull-ups. In any case, a children's horizontal bar should be of high quality, reliable and comfortable.
Types of outdoor sports equipment
combined horizontal bar
Horizontal bars are different: sports, street, home. Each individual option has its own advantages.
As for street structures, they are:
- T-shaped (the simplest option). This design is easy to make, stable and allows you to perform various sets of exercises;
- wall or ceiling (more suitable for indoor installation). Attached to the ceiling or wall (can be done outdoors by attaching it to the outer wall of the house) or to a special installation;
- double, triple . Suitable for users of different heights. An ideal option for manufacturing if both parents and children are involved in the family;
- combined . This is already a whole complex of sports equipment, where in addition to the horizontal bar there is a wall bars, a pumping chair, parallel bars, rings, ladders, a rope and other devices for sports.
Attention : when planning to make a horizontal bar at your dacha yourself, it is important to decide not only on the type of its design, but also on the dimensions and materials of manufacture. Typically, metal and wood are used to make them.
How to make a meter-long children's horizontal bar with your own hands
This device for children is best done in combination with other healthy exercise equipment: wall bars, rope, swings. In this case, the child will not perceive exercises on the horizontal bar as something boring and uninteresting; exercises on the horizontal bar will be as organic as riding on a swing, climbing up and down a ladder.
To make it easier to climb onto the bar in the children's version of the horizontal bar, it is necessary to provide a special step - to help kids who cannot jump onto the horizontal bar. For this purpose, you can use a wooden platform that is attached to the horizontal bar.
A wooden stand will help small people and children to climb the horizontal bar
What to make a horizontal bar from: timber or pipe
Before you start making a horizontal bar, it is important to decide on the materials for its manufacture. It can be timber or metal; each individual option has its own characteristics.
Attention : metal structures are more expensive, but they will last much longer.
Metal is always used as a crossbar. A steel pipe with a diameter of 25 mm (for children) and 35 mm (for adult users) is suitable for this. The number of pipes depends on the model of the horizontal bar. There may be 1, 2, 3 and so on. The pipes must be rigid and well polished to ensure safe and enjoyable exercise.
Choosing a place to install a horizontal bar
When choosing a place to install an outdoor exercise machine, various factors are taken into account. It is usually located in the sports area. If there is none, then first outbuildings, flower beds, a garden, vegetable garden, gazebos and decorative elements are placed on the site, and then the location of the simulator is thought out.
Outdoor exercise machines are installed:
- on level areas, away from walls, trees, fences and poles. There should be no obstacles within a radius of 1 m near it;
- soft ground, lawn or special rubber coating. This is done for safety reasons during classes. Additionally, you can lay a soft mat under the horizontal bar, which will weaken the impact if you fall off the machine during exercise;
- in a dark place. To avoid being exposed to scorching direct sunlight while playing sports.
Tip: when choosing the location of the horizontal bar, consider the direction of the wind. You should not place this sports equipment where strong winds blow and there are drafts. Since during intense sports activities in drafts, you can immediately catch a cold, especially for children.
You can place the horizontal bar on the site in the garden, in the backyard, on the sports ground. But it absolutely cannot be installed:
- on the low ground. Since heavy rains and melt water will make training difficult in the spring and autumn seasons;
- on the slopes. This is for security reasons;
- near bodies of water. Especially if small children will be training on the simulator;
- in areas with nearby groundwater.
Advice: if the horizontal bar is made for children, then it is better to place it near the house so that the child is always in sight of the parents.
Also, when choosing the location of the sports equipment, it is worth considering the fact that the metal gets too hot in direct sunlight. Therefore, it will be impossible to practice on it during the day if installed in an open sunny meadow. It is best to choose a dark place to install it.
Preparing to install a horizontal bar in the yard
Installing an outdoor horizontal bar is a serious undertaking that should be approached thoroughly. To begin with, you need to have a clear idea of the tasks assigned to the future structure, the size and location of its installation.
Selecting a location
Before you make a horizontal bar on the street with your own hands, you need to choose a suitable place to install the projectile. This should be done based on the chosen design (regular horizontal bar, horizontal bar + parallel bars, sports complex).
Of course, you should not take the sports device “to the front entrance”; it is better if the horizontal bar is installed away from prying eyes . This option is especially relevant for those who are not in the best athletic shape. Performing exercises on the horizontal bar away from prying eyes, you will not have complexes about your appearance and inept movements.
It is better to locate a sports complex with a horizontal bar away from prying eyes
If there is such a possibility, then the sports structure should be located away from direct sunlight, preferably in the shade of large spreading trees. Then you can protect yourself from sunstroke or heatstroke when exercising in the hot season.
Under no circumstances choose an uneven surface for installing the horizontal bar, since both the construction itself and subsequent activities will be complicated by such an unfavorable landscape. It is considered optimal for safe and effective training to install the horizontal bar on a lawn surface or a special rubber covering.
Drawing for the construction of a street horizontal bar at the dacha: dimensions
To build a horizontal bar at your dacha with your own hands, determine and prepare the required amount of materials, you need to decide on the dimensions in advance. The parameters may differ depending on whether it is intended for adults or children. Agree that a child who climbs a high horizontal bar will be at great risk to his health; he may fall and get injured. And a simple action - to grab the crossbar with his hands - will become a real problem for him. You can’t do it without the help of an adult, a friend or additional devices. Therefore, the height of the vertical posts should be such that a person of any age can easily reach the crossbar.
The height of the vertical posts of the children's horizontal bar should be such that children can reach the crossbar without the help of adults
To climb onto the projectile, you can make a special step; it is usually placed on a vertical support at a height of 40 cm from the base.
Adults can make the horizontal bar higher, then they will have to jump to stay on the bar. For a person 170–180 cm tall, a projectile with a height of 2 m is suitable.
The width of the horizontal bar should also vary depending on age:
- for children - up to 1 m;
- for adults - 1.3–1.5 m.
These sizes allow you to perform exercises on the horizontal bar without restrictions. The student will not bump into vertical supports.
The diameter of the crossbar for children's hands is 25 mm; for teenagers and older, a horizontal bar with a horizontal pipe of 35 mm is suitable.
The load that this sports equipment must withstand can reach up to 300 kg.
To build an outdoor horizontal bar with your own hands, drawings are simply necessary.
This is what a drawing of a future sports equipment might look like
Dimensions of the horizontal bar
A DIY horizontal bar at the dacha has its own size requirements. This is important to consider when making it:
- the width of the crossbar should be 1.1 m (for children) and 1.5 m (for adult users);
- handle diameter 25 mm (for children and teenagers), 35 mm (for adults);
- the maximum permissible load on the simulator is 250 kg;
- height of supports – 1.5-2 m;
- the distance between the posts is 1-1.5 m.
Tools and materials needed to make an outdoor horizontal bar
How to make a horizontal bar at the dacha with your own hands? To do this, you need to prepare tools and materials.
The materials you will need in the work process are:
- 2 metal pipes with a length of 2.7 m and a diameter of 10-12 cm (if the racks are metal) or beams of the same height and a cross-section of 100 by 100 mm;
- steel pipe, 1-1.5 m long for the crossbar, with a diameter of 25 mm-35 mm (small diameter for a children’s simulator, larger for an adult).
In addition, to process metal or wood, you will need various impregnations (anti-corrosion agents, antibacterial agents, paint)
To strengthen the structure, you will also need cement to securely concrete the racks.
Some of the tools that will be useful in the workflow are:
- welding machine (if the structure will be made of metal);
- Bulgarian;
- drill;
- shovel and drill;
- saw (if the stands are made of wood);
- tape measure and plumb line;
- container for preparing concrete mortar;
- fastening elements (screws, nails);
- brushes for processing metal and wooden parts.
Preparatory work
Before determining the location for installing structures, you need to select the appropriate type of horizontal bar. Two combined crossbars are the best option. Moreover, the height of one of them is less than the other. The site for the structure should not be located in an open space near the entrance door to the house. It is best to place sports equipment against the side wall of the building or in the shade of trees. In this case, the site should be as level as possible, which will facilitate construction.
Compact horizontal bar is easy to use
A simple horizontal bar can be an excellent exercise machine for adults and children. To do this, you need to make a crossbar, the height of which is approximately 0.6–0.7 m greater than the height of an adult. One part of the beams is attached to the crossbar, and the other is located parallel to it at a distance of about 50 cm. Additionally, you can provide a wall bars, but its installation very labor intensive. Simple parallel bars are universal and can be used by both adults and children. A paired horizontal bar in the form of two crossbars is suitable for performing various exercises.
Simple bars are suitable for various sports activities
When determining the size of the horizontal bar, it is worth considering the following features:
- the width of the horizontal crossbar for children is 1 m, and for adults - 1.3–1.5 m;
- the crossbar for children should have a diameter of 25 mm, and for users over adolescence - 35 mm;
- The diameter of the support posts is larger than the crossbars.
In order for the work to proceed as quickly as possible, you need to make a drawing of the structure. This is necessary even for simple horizontal bars, since the diagram indicates the dimensions, mounting angle, and location of all elements.
The drawing facilitates the construction of the horizontal bar
As a basis, you can take a ready-made drawing of the design you like and change the parameters depending on the height of the users. At the same time, it is worth considering the ease of use of the structure by adults and children if the device is universal.
How to choose material
To make a sports device, you can use wood or metal pipes. The first option is low cost, but the wooden elements require careful processing and painting. At the same time, each part is well polished, which will avoid splinters during operation. Thick support posts with a cross section of 100 mm are required for the crossbar or beams. The upper hand bar is made of a rounded element with a diameter of at least 40 mm.
Wooden structures are more comfortable for children
Metal structures are made from round or profile pipes, but the hand bar should always be round with a diameter of 35 mm for adults. The supports require profile pipes with a cross section of 50x50, and the wall thickness must be at least 3 mm. For the horizontal bar, steel pipes are optimal, which are coated with an anti-corrosion compound and then painted.
A simple horizontal bar can be easily made multifunctional using hanging rings or a rope
Combined options are effective, in which the supports are made of wood and the crossbar is metal. The design is low cost, reliable and practical. All parts are painted with paint for metal or wood, but the composition must be intended for outdoor use.
Quantity of material and tools
When building a horizontal bar made of metal, you need to determine the dimensions of each part, because the calculation of materials depends on this. The support pipes must be about 2.7 m long, since they are deepened and concreted into the ground approximately 60 cm. The minimum width of the crossbar is 1 m. Thus, for the work, two support pipes and one crossbar are needed, which have the necessary characteristics.
The list of tools and additional materials includes:
- grinder and welding machine;
- electric drill, drill or shovel;
- tape measure, building level;
- brushes and compounds for metal processing;
- container for mixing sand and cement.
Wooden or metal ends of supports must be treated with bitumen. This is necessary to prevent corrosion and maintain the durability of the structure. Therefore, for work you need to prepare bitumen by heating it in a metal container to 160 °C.
Step-by-step instructions for making and installing an adult outdoor horizontal bar
So, after the design of the horizontal bar has been thought out, a place for its placement in the yard has been chosen, all materials and tools are ready - you can begin the work process. We will look separately at how to make a horizontal bar for children and adults.
The nuances of making a children's design
Children's exercise equipment usually does not exceed a height of 1-1.5 m. They are made in combination with other exercise equipment: wall bars, swings, ropes, ladders. Then the child will not be bored while practicing, and the training will be perceived as a game process. To make it easier for children to climb onto the top bar, it is better to build a small step.
Tip: when making a children's horizontal bar, attention is paid to the strength and stability of its design.
Installation of vertical racks
As for the horizontal bar for adults, their height varies from 2.2 m to 2.6 m. To install vertical posts, two holes are prepared, 0.5 - 0.7 m deep (for metal supports) and 1-1.2 m for wooden racks. They dig with a shovel or drill. Holes are dug at a distance of 1.5 m from each other. A 15 cm layer of sand is poured onto their bottom and carefully compacted.
Drawing up a drawing
To create a drawing of an outdoor horizontal bar, you will first need to determine exactly where the structure will be located. The site should be carefully assessed. If possible, to save money, the crossbar can even be installed between trees. Based on the available area, the dimensions of the horizontal bar and other elements of the projectile are determined. The area for the projectiles must be level.
When creating drawings with your own hands, you must take into account that some of the support pipes will go underground. The classic height of the finished horizontal bar is 2–2.2 m. The width usually varies from 1.5 to 2 m. The lower part of the pipe should go about 1 m into the ground. To prevent the structure from loosening after installation, additional supports can be welded on the sides.
The height of the structure is determined depending on the height of the student. For children, it is necessary to create low crossbars up to 1 m. To make it more convenient to climb onto a high apparatus, a special leg can be mounted on the pipe. The diagram of the pull-up bar must be ready before purchasing materials. It indicates how many pipes will be needed to create a suitable sports structure, and what thickness they should be. For example, to manufacture only a horizontal bar, 6 m of pipe with a diameter of 110 mm, as well as 2 m of pipe with a diameter of 30 mm are required.
If you plan to make beams in the yard with your own hands, then you will need to indicate their dimensions in the drawing. They can be connected to the main post of the horizontal bar or made independently of it. In the second case, you will need to create 4 support posts. The height of the bars is usually 1.5 m, the distance between the support points is 60–80 cm. 2 poles 1–1.5 m long are installed on the supports.
The Swedish wall is also created from metal pipes. The steps are formed from a pipe with a diameter of 30–35 mm. They are welded or secured with a clamp to the supporting structure. The width between the pipes of the wall bars is usually 1 m, the standard distance between steps is 20 cm.
If a single structure is created, then one of the pipes can act as the main one for both the crossbar and the steps of the Swedish wall. Thus, to make a combined wall and horizontal bar, only 3 pipes are required.
Decorating Tips
Experts in this field give useful advice to beginners:
- Since the horizontal bar has been in use for more than one year, it is better to make it from metal. Moreover, the metal must be regularly treated with anti-corrosion compounds. Especially carefully it is necessary to treat the underground elements of the supports before concreting them;
- The horizontal crossbar must be well sanded. It is also recommended to wax it periodically so as not to scratch your hands and cause less calluses during training. Better yet, buy special straps, hooks and other devices for training on the horizontal bar at a sports store;
- paint the finished structure. Firstly, this will extend its service life, and secondly, it will help the horizontal bar fit harmoniously into the surrounding landscape design. Children's exercise equipment can be painted in bright colors that attract the attention of children;
- the area around the horizontal bar should be covered with gravel, sand or concrete. It must be well-groomed and not overgrown with grass. To soften jumping or falling off the horizontal bar, you should put a mat under it. You can either sew it yourself or buy it ready-made at a sports store.
Advice: when choosing paint for a horizontal bar, attention should be paid to material with a hammer effect. This paint not only applies in one layer, but also reduces slipping during training.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that installing a horizontal bar in a personal plot will help all family members lead a healthy lifestyle. Various exercises are performed on it, aimed at strengthening almost all muscle groups, correcting posture, and strengthening the spine. In addition, outdoor activities also have a positive effect on health. Regular exercises on the horizontal bar will help you develop relief and strength. The horizontal bar is the first step to a healthy life, vigor, lightness and self-confidence.
Horizontal bar - types of exercise equipment
Crossbars are: street, indoor and sports:
- sports horizontal bars are a crossbar. It is at a height of 278 cm, has a length of 240 cm and a thickness of 2.8 cm. Sports crossbars are used by athletes to practice complex gymnastic exercises in sports and gyms,
- home horizontal bars are divided into door, ceiling and wall. This is a widely available strength and endurance training device. Wall-mounted horizontal bars are often presented in the trade of exercise equipment, in which the horizontal bar and parallel bars are combined by one frame. The same design includes handles and a backrest for pumping up the abdominal muscles. Door crossbars are installed in doorways and narrow corridors. Ceiling horizontal bars are fixed on the ceiling,
- street horizontal bars are all types of bars located on the street. Cascade bars are horizontal bars assembled in a cascade with increasing height. Park horizontal bars, school and training horizontal bars - this group of exercise equipment includes monkey bars, parallel bars, poles and much more.
Outdoor horizontal bar - a common design on a sports ground
Photo gallery: types of horizontal bars
Tree trunks can be used as supports. The indoor horizontal bar can be attached to a wall or ceiling. The outdoor horizontal bar can be equipped with monkey bars. The cascade horizontal bar uses crossbars of different heights. The simple design of the horizontal bar consists of supports and a crossbar. Children's horizontal bars are equipped with swings, rope ladders, and ropes.
The benefits of training
Constant training on the crossbar helps to develop relief and strength, and systematize nutrition. Developed muscles ensure good blood circulation and gas exchange. Trained muscles mean endurance and resistance of the whole body to diseases and physical stress. The horizontal bar is the first step to vigor and lightness, to self-confidence. These are beautiful shoulders, arms, torso and back. Hanging on the bar takes the stress off the spine. The longissimus dorsi muscles relax, stretch and naturally relieve tension in the vertebrae and intervertebral discs. The horizontal bar is health.
