A halfpipe is used by skaters as a skating ramp. So if you decide not to go to a public skate park you can have your very own personalized ramp right in your backyard to invite your friends over and have a good time. Grab a few friends to help with the construction and with the instructions given below you can make your very own halfpipe.
Tools required
- Hammer
- Tape measure
- Circular saw
- Drill (with bit selection)
- Fishing line
- Materials required are:
- 8 – 10 sheets of Plywood (3/4”)
- 2*4 Board
- Joists
- Nails or Screws
- Laminate
- 10-foot PVC pipe
Instructions
- Get information to determine the overall size of your halfpipe.
- Lay out your framing system with two symmetrical sides. You are going to construct a four (4) feet wide and eight (8) feet long bracing structure from a 2*4 inch board. The base must consist of two (2) sections that are 4*8 feet with floor joints spaced at about 7 and 7/8 feet apart.
- Lay the vertical and horizontal bracing on its side, it should measure 3 feet 3 inches high. Three sections should now be there. Use the fishing line to outline a curve 5 foot by 7½ inch radius this will be the bowl of the halfpipe.
- Using the radius line to mark the support areas, you will then construct a side bracing. By doubling the base and vertical support system this provides additional support to the bottom.
- 5. Take the two vertical support sides and cross members and connect them together. They should be placed 7½ apart from each other. Where the plywood seems to meet the cross members, it should be doubled up to add extra support when in use. Not doing this can cause the plywood to separate.
- Take the plywood decking material and attach it with 3-inch screws. Then double up the decking on the starting platform and the ramp. Use glue to fasten a smoother surface to the plywood decking to give a smoother finish so that when it is time, skating will be less rigid.
- Install the joists to support the starting platform so it can hold several persons at one time.
- The grinding rail represents where the starting platform and vertical decking meet. To minimize damage from this area we need to install a section of blocking along the transition section. Use a 10-foot-long PVC pipe and screw it into the support system and the plywood. A screw should be used for every 7 – 10 inches of length. This is referred to as the transition cushion.
- Consider where the best locations are on the half pipe that can be used for disassembly. Take note of how big the base of the halfpipe is, along with the other pieces, and find out where it can be stored in case it needs to be disassembled.
Tips and Warning
- Find something to cover and protect your halfpipe from the rain and other elements of nature that cause wear and tear.
- Check on your halfpipe regularly for maintenance and to secure its stability. Check on the pieces so pieces can be fixed or replaced as soon as possible to avoid injuries.
- It is recommended to use screws instead of nails to build the halfpipe because this makes it easier to disassemble.
- If the halfpipe is not sturdy enough, you can bury 6 inches of the quarter pipes in the ground or use concrete as a foundation area.