A homemade mini half pipe is the perfect utility for any skateboarder, in-line skater or BMX rider. While it is not a way to catch “big air,” it is a way to show off your technical skills and impress your friends. Building a mini half pipe also makes for the perfect social gathering with your skating partners.
Instructions
1. Construct a base for your mini half pipe. Place cement slabs in each corner if you can not build your mini half pipe on solid ground. Your base should be 8x8 square feet and comprised of 2x6 beams placed at every foot (running in only one direction). Use 2x8 beams to construct the base, attaching them at right angles. Use a metal brace (if need be) to attach each beam at the corner, or simply use an electric drill. Each corner of the wooden base should be propped up on a cement block.
2. Build the retainer walls. After the base is complete, begin to cut the plywood for the retainer walls. You will need two sheets of plywood that measure roughly 5x10 feet. You must decide the size and shape of the retainer walls, but for the purposes of this particular mini half pipe, make the retainer walls no more than eight feet in height.
3. Place concrete blocks at six to eight foot intervals on both ends of the base. According to Extreme Skater, you will then need to place Joyce hangers at 8-inch intervals on the retainer walls. The Joyce hangers will lock future support beams into place. Attach the ends of the retainer walls to the corners of the wooden base. Use the same drill/screw method you used to attach the wood that for the base.
4. Place 2x6 beams at 8-inch intervals throughout the mini half pipe. You will have a total of 28 beams. Remember, they will need to be screwed in using a drill or screw gun. Your best method of drilling will be to approach them at the heads of each beam from each side of the half pipe. At this point, you should have eight concrete slabs, twenty-eight 2x6 beams and four retainer walls placed.
5. Create a platform on each side. Place two more concrete slabs on each side with 4x4 beams erected from all four. You may have to drill into the concrete slabs in order to place the 4x4 beams. Cut 2x6 beams to traverse the distance between concrete slabs and connect them to your already placed 4x4 beams. Place 2x6 beams cut to the same size at 8” intervals across the platform and lock it in with a 2x8 beam at the end of the ramp. Cover the platform with 2x6 beams.
6. Cover the original 8x8 base with 3/8” plywood. You will need to use multiple sheets that are cut to fit your base (more than likely two sheets). After you have covered the original base, continue to cover the remainder of your ramp with 3/8” plywood. Remember, you will simply have to cut each sheet to the size of the ramp, which will be six feet across and the maximum length of the plywood you purchased.
7. You will need to coat the plywood with a smooth surface. Masonite will do the trick, but as Extreme Skater says, Masonite is not a water proof surface. However, it is the least expensive, so invest in a simple cover for your mini half pipe. You will need to drill intermittent holes in the Masonite and then screw it in with a flat-headed screw. How many holes you wish to put in the Masonite is at your discretion, but be sure to place enough so that the surface stays in place.
8. Line the top of your mini half pipe with two 1-inch metal pipes (one for each side). This will form the coping and put the finishing touches on the ramp. The coping should be as long as the width of your ramp, which will be eight feet in length. Drill holes in four locations on the metal pipes and corresponding holes the ramp. Screw the metal pipes into the ramp at the designated holes.
Tags: half pipe, mini half, retainer walls, mini half pipe, will need