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I want to make MY OWN RAIL/BOX

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silent_giraffe
Posts: 1290 - Karma: 2,116
I'm gonna make my own rail/box and i want to know which type of steel or metal or whatever is the smoothest. also, what kind of plastic is used on a box?

+K for bumps
Dec 8 2011 11:15PM
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bgrehan
Posts: 57 - Karma: 28
check out build a jib cult. lots of useful info there. i would suggest 4 tubes of pvc side by side mounted to a wooden frame. cheap, lightweight, and you can build it without a welder.

to mount it to the wood drill a hole through the pipe (should be 2 holes) that will accommodate a screw then drill out one of them to accomodate the head of the screw. then just use a drill and screw it in place and repeat every few feet.

caution: if you've never hit pvc before remember it is way slipperier than metal.
Dec 8 2011 11:20PM
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silent_giraffe
Posts: 1290 - Karma: 2,116
thx

do you know what kind of metal though? i know someone who welds.
Dec 8 2011 11:22PM
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Clark_Griswold
Posts: 1283 - Karma: 49
Check out build a jib cult thet will tell you everything you need to know. and also like said above PVC is better than metal. but if you really want to use metal DO NOT use alumminum.
Dec 8 2011 11:26PM
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Parks.
Posts: 5612 - Karma: 1,093
Use an old bumper from a car...that's what I'm doing. It's metal though not platic
Dec 8 2011 11:26PM
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broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,662
^^ he's got the right idea, but i prefer to do things slightly differently.

first of all, i like a nice double barreled rail. easy to grip and stay centered, as well as easy to make. single barreled PVC is realllllyyy fun, but harder to attach to wood.

also, don't drill holes in the top of the PVC. make the entire frame of your rail (i bet you can figure out how to do that) then take two pvc pipes (i like 2.5 inch on a 2x4 or 2x6) and flip the entire rail upside down. now just drill down through the wood and - would you look at that - no holes in the top of your PVC, and you don't even have to bother spending all that time drilling pilot holes.

i recommend 4x4s for vertical supports and horizontal legs on the bottom to be about as wide as the rail is high + a foot or so. also, PVC comes in 10 ft increments at most places (the home depot, lowes) and although it is quite cheap, it is also quite short. consider making two 10 foot rails. then by propping up supports you can make kinks, bends, etc.

this is all info gathered from trial and error after building like 5 rails and 4 boxes.

have fun!
Dec 8 2011 11:27PM
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970-Pow
Posts: 148 - Karma: 10
Yeaa, Build-a-jib 101 has a shit ton of info on backyard setups

I just built a 12 foot rail based on some instructions for a bit under 50$ total, using pvc and wood
Dec 8 2011 11:29PM
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silent_giraffe
Posts: 1290 - Karma: 2,116
thx +K to you all for christmas haha
Dec 8 2011 11:34PM
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rareison
Posts: 10263 - Karma: 219
If you want a good box, use HDPE (puckboard) it's what all reports use. Or you could also screw like 6 or 7 PVC pipes side by side to make a box.
Dec 8 2011 11:38PM
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Crowley.
Posts: 190 - Karma: 19
Check out build a jib they even give detailed diagrams on how to build a drop in and everything, its a dope cult.
Dec 8 2011 11:38PM
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NW_Rider
Posts: 2580 - Karma: 314
.125 1" DOM steel. made a double barrel in college out of it and it worked great.
Dec 8 2011 11:44PM
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bgrehan
Posts: 57 - Karma: 28
if you really want to use metal, use steel.

I dont recommend this at all as its more expensive, more work, will carve your car up if you want to transport it and your equipment if you hit it the wrong way (i had a friend that toasted his board hitting a metal rail i built. every time he hit it straight on it would take a chunk of his core out from the sharp edge at the beginning of the rail. its a snowboard problem but something to consider.)

lastly did i mention a 12 ft steel rail is fucking heavy even with friends. Not to mention every time you smash your shins on that thing carrying it from place to place you feel like curbstomping a kitten. i can carry a 12 pvc one myself without hassle or difficulty. also you gotta derust it every year and inspect it for nicks and things that will catch you up.

PVC really is better in every way unless your building a setup that will never move and have enough time on your hands to paint it every year. Basically everything that goes into maintaining a rail at a on hill park. also falling on steel hurts more. something to consider.

BTW this is all from experience.
Dec 9 2011 10:03PM
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bgrehan
Posts: 57 - Karma: 28
if your looking for coping material dont bother. if you use pvc you will have more than enough edge control and round pvc doesnt chip at the edges like a sheet of HDPE (think that material was mentioned earlier)
Dec 9 2011 10:05PM
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THURSTY
Posts: 393 - Karma: 174
i have an 8ft pipe one of those green ones and want to make a down rail any suggustions!?!!?
Dec 9 2011 10:08PM
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silent_giraffe
Posts: 1290 - Karma: 2,116
thx man appreciate it +K

does the PVC wear down after a couple seasons on it? as if your skis acted like a really dull cheese grater?
Dec 9 2011 11:23PM
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broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,662
my oldest rail is going on its 3rd winter season and has endured 2 summers as well. have only had to replace 2 out of the 4 pipes of PVC, once. that was from breaking in the cold when my ski tips nailed it spinning on or off. the rest of my features combined have only 1 chip in the end of one of the pipes that does not affect the box at all.

i wouldn't worry about it. PVC is durable, you ain't gonna cheese grate that shit
Dec 9 2011 11:33PM
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monkatizer
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 1,518
hahaha not at all i have pvc that has lasted 3 years and is still going strong. it would be impossible to wear it out. but watch out for your front edges, unless they are dull they can catch a tiny bit
Dec 9 2011 11:34PM
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Zump.
Posts: 3338 - Karma: 305
I'm contemplating buying a culvert pipe. What size should I go with? 18''?
Dec 10 2011 12:25AM
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silent_giraffe
Posts: 1290 - Karma: 2,116
thx guys. BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE! how many pvc's lined up do i need to get my spins on/off down? like how thick to get the most grip? i think it's just 2 but i'm not sure. what is the diameter of the pvc?
Dec 10 2011 12:31AM
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broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,662
honestly i'd say a single barreled rail would grip best. like a 3.5 inch diameter pipe?
Dec 10 2011 12:43AM
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bgrehan
Posts: 57 - Karma: 28
i think shotgun rails are best. its easier to edge on a thinner rail and it forces you to refine your skills. also shotguns are easier to build because they fit squarely on 2x4s.

I would think thin single barrels would be harder to build because theres not enough contact points on the support to make it strong against sideways impact. But... Ive never tried making one. Has anyone done it?
Dec 10 2011 8:16PM
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broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,662
yeah, i would see that as a problem. although i think it would be the easiest to grip. think about it: widest box: hardest to grip, skinnier box: easier to grip. should be the same concept for rails.
Dec 10 2011 10:49PM
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monkatizer
Posts: 4704 - Karma: 1,518
true, but with single barrels comes the lack of some stability. and its not like youre gonna notice a huge difference with gripping either
Dec 10 2011 11:03PM
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Jew-Jitsu
Posts: 159 - Karma: 45
use small pvc's
Dec 11 2011 9:18AM
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Jew-Jitsu
Posts: 159 - Karma: 45
also everyone's probably seen it but check out line travelling circus 1.2 thats sorta the idea i'm trying to put out, with the small pvc's

Dec 11 2011 9:20AM
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MikeRR
Posts: 84 - Karma: 116
if you wanna keep it cheap, just use pvc and 2x4s cuz the hdpe can get expensive. i made all of my rails out of 2x4s and pvc pipes and they r holding up well so far and it wasnt expensive at all
Dec 11 2011 10:41AM
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MikeRR
Posts: 84 - Karma: 116
if you wanna keep it cheap, just use pvc and 2x4s cuz the hdpe can get expensive. i made all of my rails out of 2x4s and pvc pipes and they r holding up well so far and it wasnt expensive at all
Dec 11 2011 10:41AM
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Deluge
Posts: 4401 - Karma: 805
PVC always a great choice
Dec 11 2011 12:20PM
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FreeVillain
Posts: 747 - Karma: 260
Honestly if you keep the PVC from summer into winter it is soft in summer and gets "cheese grated" then in winter gets brittle and cracks if you crash on it so I'd recommend Storting it when it gets colder instead of keeping it out instead of leaving it out
Dec 11 2011 6:44PM
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stupendous-man
Posts: 8637 - Karma: 13,293
zach i will pretty much give you my rail next time we go skiing... it never snows at my house anyways and i dont have a summer setup haha. but i made it all for free out of scrap wood and pvc on bored weekend. its not the best but its sturdy and slides well. 10 ft long

Click for larger image
Dec 11 2011 7:13PM
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broto
Posts: 9039 - Karma: 25,662
i use it during winter...
Dec 11 2011 7:40PM
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