mrjimyjohn

sorry if im posting this in the wrong section or if theres already a thread for this, but i was hoping to build a little box to hit in my backyard (around 2x8ft and around 2 feet tall) as far as the actual box goes i have a bit of experience with building things like that (ive made a few skateboard ramps for the summer ) but im not sure hat to use for a top most people ive talked to say puckboard but im not sure where i could get that... Ive also heard of atuff like ultra high density blah blah blah but that stuffs way too expensive for my budget (as low as possible, but definetly under $100 for the top)
any help would be great thanks guys!!

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Brett_1115

Hey, I made my own box this past winter. I went the more expensive route and got the good stuff overall so it would last. I could send you some pics if you would want those for reference. Anyways, I would just like to say first of all 8ft long is really short... You don't think so when building it but when riding on them it doesnt last long. Mines 16 ft long which consists of two 8ft boxes one after the other... and the first 8 ft ends really fast. I highly suggest at least 12 ft. Next thing I can help you with is the top sheet. Lairds plastics has shops all over canada/ usa so look them up and find local shop. They sell a plastic called hdpe which is like puckboard. This runs a lot more expensive than your 100 dollars but well worth it. This plastic is basically identical to that used in parks at resorts. For cheaper alternatives theres plexi glass which generally cracks. This or cheaper plastics at home depot

david_z

i agree with everything Bret_1115 says. If you're on a shoestring budget you can use PVC pipe for the sliding surface just mount 4 or 5 pipes side by side, get something like 1.5" O.D. PVC and that should do the trick. If you google it or look on youtube for backyard snowboarding you'll see what I'm talking about.

But yeah, 8 feet is short. I have a skateboard rail that's maybe 7 feet long and it's just barely long enough to practice on. I'd also say go with 12ft minimum even if you ahve to build it as two boxes and put them against one another, you should be able to hinge them or fasten them pretty cheaply if you're worried about them coming apart.

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john doe

I used a PVC trim board found at Lowes to make a nice box. It is $50 for a 3/4"x9.5" 12ft long piece.

MSH

Hey Brett, do you think you could send me the pictures? My mail is manisnaer90@gmail.com

Donutz

Or just put 'em up in this thread. I think you'll find people are interested.

I did what Brett said and contacted Lairds for a price (Canada). I'll post the results if and when I get them as no-one seems to ever talk actuals.

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Karasene

High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Sheeting | U.S. Plastic Corp.

HDPE^ online store. I looked into making my own box past fall. I've heard plexiglass / acrylic will crack out in the cold. And make sure you get it thick enough. 2/3" to 1/2" to be able to counter sink and keep those nails below the suface.

Don't know about pvc.. I might be wrong but I'm pretty sure someone told me the ends of the pipes chip after use in the cold. I'd spend the extra to do it right.

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Donutz

Woo! Not cheap, and those are US$. I notice that it tops out at 8' long. Do you just butt two or more pieces together to get a long box? Or do you put them together with an angle cut? Maybe a 45 degree butt joint or something?

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Donutz

Lairds just got back to me. The best alternative is a 4x10 sheet of UHMW, which is denser than HDPE. Goes for $210 Cdn. At the other end is stress-relieved HDPE, 4x8, at $96 Cdn. Thickness is 1/4", which would be ok if you glued it down instead of screwing it.

I eyeballed a box at about 10" width, but I could be off. What's the range of widths?

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david_z

I would do 45 degree butt joint to connect two segments.

10" will be plenty. The narrower you make it; the better you're going to be. If you learn how to ride a 4" or 6" box you'll have no trouble stomping the same moves in the park.

Yes, PVC will chip and is prone to gouging if you're spinning on to it so if you're working on 270 on, etc. you'll wreck the pipes. The good thing about PVC is that it's dirt cheap like $3 per 10ft length of 1.5" OD. But you ghould buy extra and be prepared for it to need replacing/fixing.

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