A hammock provides an enjoyable way to relax in the shade and beat the summer heat waves. However, with store prices rising daily, building your own from scratch might be the way to go.
To help with this, we’ll be taking you step-by-step on how you can build a very comfy hammock.
A great thing about this hammock is that it is freestanding. This means it stands independently, so you don’t need trees or poles in your garden or balcony to mount it.
So, let’s get to the workshop to start building it.
What You’ll Need
Before building the hammock, you’ll need to make a quick run to the hardware store. Here are some of the things you’ll need.
- A 100 x 100mm Profile Pipe
- A 100 x 100 x 5000mm Wooden Block
- A Chain Link
- 12 M12 Bolts, Washers, And Nuts
- A Hammock Sling
- Rust-Inhibiting Spray Paint
- Wood Wax
Cut Out the Hammock’s Metal Base
Clamp the 100 x 100mm profile pipe on your workbench. Using an electric hacksaw, cut out two 500mm long sections.
Next, cut out two 250mm long sections from the profile pipe. When cutting the profile pipe, use gloves, and eye goggles to protect yourself from flying sparks.
Also, add a bit of cutting fluid to the profile while cutting it to reduce friction and protect the blade.
Cut Out an Angled Section on The Pipe
After cutting the 250mm sections, adjust the hacksaw blade to cut at a 45-degree angle. Mark out a 400mm long section on one side of the pipe
Use a try square to draw a 45° line to the other side of the profile pipe. The longer side should be 40mm long. Cut the profile along that line.
Cut out another section just like this.
Clean Up the Metal Pieces
Using a wire brush, clean all the burrs and impurities from the edges of the metal parts you just cut. Go over both ends of all the profile pieces with sandpaper to prepare them for welding.
Trim The End of The Angled Section
Place one of the 500mm pipe sections on the workbench. Take one of the angled pieces and place the angled edge flat in the middle of the 500mm section.
Ensure the angled piece’s lower edge is flush with the edge of the 1m piece. Using a pencil and try square, mark the section of the angled profile hanging over the 500mm profile.
Trim off the section you just marked using the electric hacksaw. Do the same for the second angled piece.
Mark Some Holes in The Metal Base Pieces
Place the 500mm profile pipe section on the workbench. Mark out some points 50mm away from both ends of the pipe. The marks should be in the middle of the profile.
Turn the section over and mark the other side the same way. Next, place the 250mm sections on the workbench.
Mark out a point 50mm away from one edge in the middle of the pipes. Turn the profile pipes over and do the same for the opposite sides.
After this, place the 400mm pipes on the workbench. Mark out a point 50mm away from the non-angled edge in the middle of both pipes.
Turn the pipes over and do the same for the other sides.
Drill The Points in The Metal Base Pieces
Using an M12 drill bit, drill some holes in all the points you just marked out in the metal base pieces. Make sure the hole goes clean through both sides of the pipe.
Weld The Base of The Hammock Together
Place one of the 500mm pieces on the workbench and make sure its holes face out to the side. Next, put one of the 250mm pieces on top of it and make sure its holes are facing out to the side too.
Align the 250mm profile to ensure it is right in the middle of the base piece and hold it in place with a magnetic square. Next, weld them together with a strong weld all around.
Place the angled piece on the other side of the base piece opposite the 250mm piece. Make sure its angled edge is perfectly flush with the base piece.
Also, make sure the holes on the profile are facing up. Next, hold it in place with some magnetic squares and weld it all around.
Make sure you weld all the joints properly because they will be bearing loads. Do the same thing for the second set of base pieces.
Paint The Metal Bases
Place both metal bases on a covered surface. Using a rag and some degreaser, clean the surface of the base pieces to remove any grease or dirt from their surfaces.
Next, spray them down with any rust-inhibiting paint of your choice. Make sure you turn them around while spraying to get an even coat.
After the first coat dries, you can add another coat for a better product.
Cut Out the Wooden Supports for The Hammock
Place the 100 x 100 x 5000mm wooden block on a flat surface. Mark out five sections, with each section measuring 1.5m, 0.75m, 0.75m, 1m, and 1m each.
Cut out each section from the wooden block using a miter saw.
Reduce The Cross-Sectional Areas of The Wooden Blocks
Set your planer to a thickness of 95mm. One by one, feed section of the wooden block through the planer to reduce their cross-sectional area.
Make sure you feed both sides of the block through the machine to get an even 95 x 95mm cross-sectional area.
Fillet The Edges of The Block
Place all the wooden sections on the workbench. Using a router, carefully go over each section’s edges to fillet and give them a rounded shape.
Mark Out the Screw Holes in The Wooden Sections
Bring out the metal base pieces and place them on the workbench. Take the 1.5m wooden beam and fit it into both metal pieces’ bottom (250mm) profile.
Make sure the wooden section goes all the way to the end of both metal profiles for a tight fit. Mark the points where the holes on the metal base intersect with the wood. Remove the wooden section.
Next, take the 1m wooden section and place each in the angled holes on the metal bases. Push them in well for a tight fit. Once they fit in well, mark the points where the holes intersect with the wood.
Lastly, take the 0.75m beam and fit it into the central holes on the metal base pieces. Slide the wooden beams, so they are right in the middle of the metal base pieces.
Next, mark the wooden beam where the holes intersect on both sides.
Drill The Screw Holes on The Wooden Beams
Fit an M12 bit into your handheld drill. Next, drill a hole through all the points you marked on the wooden beams.
Make sure you drill the holes so the points on the front and back line up. This is especially important for the 1m beam.
To do this, drill the wooden sections halfway through at one of the points. Next, turn it over and drill it through at the other point at the back.
Paint The Wooden Sections with Wax
Place all the wooden sections on a covered workbench. Using a paintbrush, apply a layer of wax on the surfaces of all the wooden beams.
This will help make them waterproof to protect them from decay and the elements.
Assemble The Hammock’s Stand
Take all the parts of the hammock stand and place them where you want to install the hammock. Place the metal base pieces down first and ensure they face each other.
Next, connect both base pieces with the 1.5m long wooden section. When fitting the wooden beam in both sections, ensure the holes in the wood line up with the holes in the bases.
Lock the wooden beam in place with an M12 bolt, nut, and washer in both holes. Next, place the 0.75m wooden beams in the center holes on both base pieces.
Make sure the holes in the wood line up correctly with the holes in the profile, then lock the joint in place with a bolt.
Finally, place the 1m beams in the angled profiles on the metal base. Line up the holes on the profile with the holes on the wood and lock the joint in place with an M12 bolt and nut.
Cut Out the Profile Pipe for The Hammock’s Endcap
The hammock’s endcaps will be the attachment points for the sling on top of both stands. To make it, first mark two 120mm long sections on the profile pipe.
Cut out the sections using the electric hacksaw. After cutting out the sections, place them end down on a piece of sheet metal and trace out their outlines.
Cut out the outlines from the sheet metal using an angle grinder.
Weld the Endcap Together
Place one of the 120mm profiles on the workbench and place one of the sheet metal pieces under it. Ensure all their edges line up properly and weld them together.
Do the same for the second set of endcap pieces. After welding them together, grind them down to remove any burrs or protruding welds.
Also, make sure all edges are flush with the body.
Drill Holes in The Endcap
Place one of the endcaps on its side and mark a point 30mm from its top edge in its middle. Flip it 90 degrees to its top and mark another point 20mm from its top edge in the middle of the pipe.
Drill both points with an M12 drill bit. Do the same for the second endcap.
Paint The Endcaps
After drilling, sand the endcaps and clean them with a degreaser to prepare them for painting. Next, place them on a covered surface and spray them with a coat of rust-inhibiting.
Let the first coat dry, then apply another coat for the best results.
Add The Chains to The Endcap
Divide the chain into equal halves using the electric hacksaw. Next, take one of the chains and secure the top link to the side hole in one of the endcaps using an M10 bolt and nut.
Next, secure the body of the chain to the top endcap hole using another nut and bolt. Ensure you tighten the nuts properly so they hold the chains firmly.
Do the same for the second chain and endcap.
Add The Endcaps to The Hammock Stand
Take one of the endcaps and fit it over the inclined one of the wooden beams on the hammock stand. Make sure the side with the chain hanging over is facing inwards.
Next, push it in until it fits snugly over the endcap. Do the same for the second beam and endcap.
Add The Sling to The Hammock
The hammock’s stand is finally done. All you need to do to finish it off is to add the sling for the hammock, so you can start enjoying it.
Clip both of the slings’ carabiners into the chains on either side of the hammock’s stand. You can clip it on lower or higher chain links to modify the hammock’s height.
Final Product
Congrats, your new hammock is finally complete! You can set it up on your balcony or garden and even take it with you on camping trips.
Now you can kick back with a cold one and enjoy the breeze in the shade.
For more great home DIY projects like this, I recommend you check out the Home Workshop channel on YouTube. You can even connect with them on their Facebook page for more home DIY updates.
