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Natural Rail

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KarmaInitiative
Posts: 2028 - Karma: 174
I've been building stuff in my woods to ski in the winter and I'd like to build a natural rail with like a downed tree, but ive got no idea how to do it. Anyone know how or have any tips?
Aug 23 2010 3:39PM
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HamFaceGirl
Posts: 5242 - Karma: 2,676
not really sure how ski resorts do it, but looking closely at my local ski resort that does it it looks like all they do is shave the tree down really well and put some wax on it, but don't take my word for it. Chances are that is how it is done
Aug 23 2010 3:45PM
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MothaHucker
Posts: 4678 - Karma: 2,591
shave off the bark on top, u can use wax but you wont really need it the cold and ice will slick it up for u and then put it on something and ur good to go
Aug 23 2010 3:52PM
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theblacktaco
Posts: 1462 - Karma: 82
can u slide wood easily ..im always so scared to do it
Aug 23 2010 3:55PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
a friend of mine designed some wooden rails for an indoor funpark, he flattened the logs with an electrical wood planer...
Click for larger image
^^you should rent one, a makita or hitachi, a quality one because the cheaper black and deckers or bosch are garbage and will break down or jam before you've finished 1 log

with my makita i finish a 12ft log in under half an hour...

sliding it works, but trust me on this, especially for skiers, it's better to put an HDPE sheet on top, because your edges will catch sooner or later.....

if you refuse to go for hdpe, you should finish it off with some lacquer (sp)
as many layers as you have time/money for and the would will absorb...

it hardens the wood, makes it weather resistant, makes it flatter, smoother and thereby better to slide...

(after 1 layer take a sandpaper and brush over it to even everything out, then apply following layer, and so on ...)
Aug 23 2010 4:02PM
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I_Am_Mod
Posts: 13214 - Karma: 3,753
so what he did is top the rails off with Metal, HDPE or just many layers of lacquer....

here you get a glimpse of what work is involved in making these babies....
Aug 23 2010 4:08PM
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chardi
Posts: 5040 - Karma: 59
dull your edges!
Aug 23 2010 4:10PM
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kzskier69
Posts: 13 - Karma: 56

what i would do man is shave the entire tree down so then its real smooth. then get some kind wax to put on it. thats basically what i would do

Aug 23 2010 7:18PM
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HIT
Posts: 3524 - Karma: 4,996
no, my skis always grip and i faceplant
Aug 23 2010 7:30PM
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