Building a High Bar

[birdi_gurlie]

So...my dad said we could put up a high bar or something similar in our backyard if I'd use it
[And obviously, I will.]
However, I have to design it and such [how to put it up etc...]
The area he talked about was between 2 trees:


that's the details of what I have to work with.
I know I need a high bar itself [just a straight bar] but at a high school in our area they have one where it's a high bar but it's attatched to 2 chains [that attatch to a top high bar] so that the bar itself swings.
I have about a 7' difference between the two trees he talked about putting it up between.
Should I put up a "swinging" high bar? If so, how long should the chain be? And how high should the "top" high bar be?
If not, should I put something else up instead of just a plain bar? [It's be about 7 feet long...QUITE long for a high bar like that.]
Anyone have any tips for such a project?
Any ideas?

[powerplant42]

I built one for about $20 in my backyard.

7' might be too wide... And I'm worried about the irregularities in tree trunks that might make it unsafe otherwise...

Do you have any pictures?

[birdi_gurlie]

That's the shortest it can be, most likely, because those are the closest trees that are decently thick.
We were going to screw it into store-bought wood, but the trees would be the side posts.
So, it'd look like:

With the bar attached to two wooden boards, and the boards screwed into the trees.

[powerplant42]

You could cut off about a foot and a half of length if you buy big enough boards to attach to the trees.

All you really need is some black iron pipe (or other suitable material) and some sort of soft stuff to go underneath (maybe woodchips, rubber pellets, etc.).

[birdi_gurlie]

Explain the design, please.

Yeah...we'll have to figure something out. Right now, it's just dirt. [Still better than the mats in the weight room.]

[powerplant42]

It's simple... Thread the bar into the wooden blocks, then screw the blocks into the trees. Do you see what I mean?

[KirkB]

Depending on the size and age of the trees, they're not exactly solid. They GROW each year, and they bend in the wind. Just keep that in mind when you build in the tolerances into your design.

Remember the guerilla highbar design in the jungle? Also, search for 3P0's thread about using a flex pole as a highbar.

Kirk

[vault3rb0y]

BTW... hes talking about me when he says 3PO lol.

[birdi_gurlie]

Kk.
that said, I found the post, but still don't really understand.
Also, how would you go about making the bar flexible?

[altius]

You do not need a bar any more flexible than a steel bar would be BUT the forces generated in the swing are such that the bar MUST BE absolutely secure -and for you probably about 8' off the ground. get the BTBdvd to see the girls using the high bar on it. Sorry folks but it was the septics who came up with the phrase "It pays to advertise",

[vault3rb0y]

Dont worry about it bending. That is aimed more toward simulated an actual vault and really just an idea out there for fun! A straight high bar is better for training because it will be as much strength training as it will technique. A bar that bends is just a theory at this point. But you can take the same concept for construction (similar to a swingset) and put a metal bar instead.

[birdi_gurlie]

Okie dokie!
And I already have BTB2...thats part of the reason why I started doing those drills.