Photo by Melody

Pony Tire Swing

Editor's Note: The now famous "Pony Tire Swing" has been one of our most requested items of all time. Previously it has been passed around as a Word document file, and for your convenience and that of the author's, we now present it to you here in the comfort of your browser!

Cut this pattern on a bias ply tire (all the way through both sidewalls):

Spread open the cuts and ease the joints, so they fold inside out.

The tire must be turned inside out for the design to work, it takes a bit of muscle. If you have problems with the joints, carefully heat them. As you open the tire, it will begin to take shape.

See? Don't forget you are turning the entire tire inside out, while you spread out the jointed remains.

Creasing the joints will have to be done, and this is the hard part. Rubber is pretty tough, you might have to scribe the rubber a bit so it will bend for you.

Whenever you get to a joint where a bolt is to be, insert it loosely so the shape will stay. The rubber will want to return to its original form. When you do the head you must bolt through the nostrils first, that will form the face. Then bolt through the cheek, through the neck (both sides) to the opposite cheek, and put the nut in place to secure it. This will make the ears stand up and give the neck curvature.

Head detail, cut tire as shown in drawing. Turn tire inside out (use bias-ply, not steel belted, for safety).

Likewise bolt the base of the neck, to ensure the head and neck remain formed, this will ease the seat and rump.

Place your hanging rope through the cut at the top of the head. For extra sturdiness, insert a bolt underside onto which the rope affixes.

The bend at the base of the neck is difficult and requires a bit of muscle. Before you hang the rear up, put an old fan belt over the head to hang at the neck as reins.

For the Seat back and tail, loop the tail back onto itself and using a small bolt, Secure it together with the nut on the outside, keeping the bolt head flush with the inside of the tyre.

You'll also need to insert a bolt through the body of the saddle. Make sure the ends of the bolts don't stick out, after they have been secured, if they do, cap them (don't want cuts and scrapes from the thread end).

ENJOY!

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