So has anyone ever built a skateboarding half-pipe for a client?
Surfing around the net I found plenty of free plans for half-pipe construction but in reading them so far I notice they all use plywood for the halfpipe surface. Looking at the X Games on TV it seems to me the surface is a lot smoother and better looking than plywood so I’m thinking the pros use MDO (medium Density Overlay) for the surfacing. Anyone know for sure or have any kids that might be really up on this?
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Replies
Jerrald,
One of my guys is a skateboarder. The ramps he skates on are use hardboard-Usually multiple layers of 1/4". The City of Austin recently constructed a skate park. Basically the same techniques used in pool construction except all corners get covered angle iron or pipe cut in half and the finish is ultra smooth.
Bruce
What is used is a product known as Skatelite . It's a paper and phenolic resin product. It's made by Richlite, and good luck getting any. I've never dealt with a company before who was so proud of their product that they refused to sell it…
Fortunately, they have a competitor, Paper Stone.
Phat
Never underestimate your ability to overestimate your ability
Edited 9/12/2006 7:20 pm by Phat
I built a quarter pipe when I was 17. My brother (15 at the time) and I were into inline skating ( I could jump over a garbage can) so we got the plans from at skate magazine (skateboarding). It was simple. We built it in a day and its been outside every since. That was 11 years ago.
I don't have any pictures, but if I remember correctly, we used 3/4" ply for the sides, 2x4 purlins between and then 2 layers of 1/4" ply. 2" or 3" pipe at the top to slide, and a metal plate at the bottom.
I never did learn to drop in on that thing. My brother did though.
I built one for a clients daughter, used 2 layers of 1/4 ply wood offseting the seams and then a layer of 1/4 masonite. works realy good and is super smooth. Price if i remember correctly was about 12.00 apiece for the masonite but that was 3? years ago. I even had my designer draw up the plans cost her 75.00 and she thought they were so cool she framed them and put them in her daughters room.
Another product to look into is one made by TrueRide:
http://www.trueride.com/
It looks like a great material. I haven't contacted them yet to see if they sell the material direct. Seems to have a lot of uses outside of skateboard ramps (the company also uses the material for outdoor furniture and cutting boards).
Jerrald, I'm shocked. YOU were watching the X Games?? You're going to build a ramp? Gnarly, dude. I would definitely spin this off as a separate business, the high-end stair clients will not understand.
have a brother who's built a large number of these.
Have heard of Skatelite, but i think he always used off-the-shelf plywood. Just a word of caution: if you use regular ply, treat the edges. He hit the side on a spill once and got a trip to the emergency room with a nice 6" splinter jammed into his hip.
For several reasons, some skaters don’t prefer crowding in skate parks. Often, they use spots like rails, stairs, and ledges as skating obstacles. Others create their own ramps in the comfort of their homes.
If you’re one of them, stop the worry. Let’s take the thrill of skating to your homes by learning how to build a quarter pipe, a common skatepark obstacle.