Attaching a Horizontal Plank Between Two Vertical Planks

[peter.persson]

Hello.

I am in the process of building an outdoor gym and previously started a thread asking for tips and advice. Link:
https://www.byggahus.se/forum/threads/bygga-utegym-tips-och-rad-mottages-gaerna.484057/

Note! The thread does not include the latest design, which has changed quite a bit since then.

I have decided to go with 95x95 mm posts (those that stand straight up from the ground).

The outdoor gym will have monkey bars (for arm walking), and to get up, it will have three steps (on each side) (see image).

Now to my question: how should I attach the steps to the posts?
The steps have dimensions of 45x45 mm and should be attached between two vertical posts that have dimensions of 95x95 mm.
I was considering using a joist hanger for this, but it probably wouldn't look very nice - and you might accidentally cut yourself on the metal.

Thanks in advance.

 

[peter.persson]

Clarification of the image:

The gray "forks" at the bottom symbolize the concrete footings.
The light brown, vertical lines symbolize the posts (95x95 mm).
The dark brown, horizontal lines symbolize the rungs (45x45 mm) - these are what I want to attach to the posts.

 

[klaskarlsson]

Hi.

I'm in the process of building an outdoor gym and posted an earlier thread asking for tips and advice. Link:
[link]

Note! The thread does not have the latest drawing, which has changed quite a bit since then.

I have chosen to use 95x95 mm posts (those that stand upright from the ground).

The outdoor gym will have monkey bars (for hand traversing) and to climb up there will be three steps (on each side) (see picture).

Now to my question: how should I attach the steps to the posts?
The steps have dimensions of 45x45 mm and need to be attached between two vertical posts that have dimensions of 95x95 mm.
I was considering if I could use a joist hanger for this, but it might not look very nice - plus one could accidentally cut themselves on the metal.

Thanks in advance.

You should NOT screw into the end grain of the steps - it won't hold.
If you don't want to use metal (angles or joist hangers), I would route grooves in the posts, which I would then slide the steps into and screw them so they don't move.

Alternatively, you could simply screw them onto the front of the posts instead of between, straight through into the posts with a good length on the screw (so it projects into the post say 40-50 mm at least - not as nice, but it should hold.

 

[tensiden]

I would have made it a bit "overkill" and routed or otherwise arranged so I could recess the steps into the posts. Then maybe a screw from the outside to hold it together.

 

[mexitegel]

Make your 95x95 posts from two 45x95s that you screw and glue together, but before you do that, saw them out so you can recess your 45x45s.

 

[Larsa]

A tip is not to use pillar shoes, they do not handle lateral loads very well, use plinth iron instead.

If you place a block 45x45 between each step, you can screw the steps into them, and the blocks into the post.

 

[Hep]

You have received both tips and questions in your other thread. You might want to address those things before moving on, since you're not finished there, as it seems based on your pictures here.