Welding a rail for skiing

Should you be using a welder if you don't know how to weld something so simple? Not to be a dick.

Mostly just try not to blind or electrocute yourself. I wouldn't worry too much about the rail.

I always wondered if it would be possible to steal rails from around town. Just cut them off at the legs if they only have two or three ground anchors. they dont have to be nice ones just like parking lot barriers that you could sand down but I would think that would be a lot easier than making them. yea its stealing but who gives a shit

PULLI always wondered if it would be possible to steal rails from around town. Just cut them off at the legs if they only have two or three ground anchors. they dont have to be nice ones just like parking lot barriers that you could sand down but I would think that would be a lot easier than making them. yea its stealing but who gives a shit

what a miserable idea.

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Well you gotta start somewhere...

i would reccomend you learn to weld before attempting a rail. If your going to build one go with a simple single or double barrel rail. kinking it will take more equipment then you probably have

I wouldnt be surprised if a local metal worker would weld the joins for you if you brought him all the pieces. Toss him some beer or something. It would literally take him 15-30 mins.

do you have access to metal? what kind of material are you going to use? do you have a design/dimensions laid out? what welding process are you going to be using?

you need to take care of all these things first.

I actually welded a whole professional rail by myself this year. I'll go and get pictures in a sec. BRB

CalebTheKillianI actually welded a whole professional rail by myself this year. I'll go and get pictures in a sec. BRB

and were waiting for OP to deliver

I used rustoleum paint and primer on them. Top is 8' 2X2 steel, supports are 12' of 1.5X1.5 steel

ChuckTestaand were waiting for OP to deliver

I delivered, look up!

get a mig welder, arc welding is a pain in the ass

Move to Alaska, attend to AVTEC, become certified welder, end thread

Dr.Prof.JiberSo basically I'm gonna weld a rail for a summer setup but I don't really know what the best way to do it would be, what kind of rail should I do, and if possible how would I kink it up? Skiing

We need more information if were gonna be any help. What kind of welding machine are you using? where are you getting the material? do you have all the other things you need to build a rail like a grinder and a bandsaw?

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Not really. Unless you do really really really awful welds and just kind of barely tack it together you're probably fine. I mean you and your friends hitting a rail in the backyard. If that rail is made of steel, and held even decently together it's going to be hard to fuck it up. And even then if you didn't build it right and you break it you can fix it.


OP What kind of material do you have access to? If you have to go out of your way to get it you might want to build a couple rails to make it worth while. Metal rails really aren't that expensive to build, especially for backyard length. You could build an unskirted 20 foot flat rail for just over $100

If you want some high quality tools that will last forever don't listen to this next part.

IF you're poor and want the tools you need to build a rail, find out where the closest harbor freight is to you. You can get a cheap welder there for $100 sometimes even less. You can also pick up a grinder for $15/20. Sure harbor freight tools are notorius for being sketchy but they can get the job done and are cheap as fuck.

If you want to spend a little more you can get a nice grinder for 50. The cheap ones you're getting a little more risky but if it lasts it's pretty easy to get your $15 worth. Especially if you're only building one rails.

I think all the shitty welders come with a ghetto mask that you can use to weld. Really all you would need for one of them is some wire. Grab a 5 pack of tips as well. They're cheap as fuck like $1. Also grab a couple extra grind wheels and a 3 pack of flap discs. The grind wheels are like $1 each there. The flap disc pack are around $10 for a 3 pack. If you don't have a saw and are only building a rail or two you can do it with cutoff wheels. The packs of those are cheap but you'll eat through them fast. A 10 pack is like $8 but they don't last that long. At the same time you don't have to make THAT many cuts. IF you're going to want to do more rails in the future might nto be bad to invest in a cheap chop saw. The cut off wheels are still nice for getting in to hard to reach places.


For a basic flat rail you really don't need much and they aren't hard to build. If you're rail is going to be 20' or less you can use one piece for the top and just cut out your legs so the top will automatically be smooth (As long as you clean the shit off it).

For kinks just cut one of your pieces at an angle and weld it. Make sure to grind the top and the top of the sides where you'll slide.

Don't leave huge gaps between the first leg and the end of the rail. A small gap is fine and useful for linking rails and moving them around but if it's too big you can end up with a diving board. Then when you jump onto the rail or switch up at the end you'll feel the bounce and it could throw you off.

If you want to build one go for it.

SteveIrwini would reccomend you learn to weld before attempting a rail. If your going to build one go with a simple single or double barrel rail. kinking it will take more equipment then you probably have

Those are actually the hardest rails to build. Flat bar is the easiest. Everything just lays flat automatically(Unless you manage to cut it super weird)


And you can kink just by cutting it at an angle and welding it back together. You don't need to bend unless you're making a c, s, u, rainbow, or kicker rail.

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danm thats sick

https://www.newschoolers.com/watch/300679.0/Emo-skiing

pretty sure this was cut out of the ground somewhere back in the day. tbatt knows more about it. looks pretty tight.

liam..https://www.newschoolers.com/watch/300679.0/Emo-skiing

pretty sure this was cut out of the ground somewhere back in the day. tbatt knows more about it. looks pretty tight.

The video didn't show up for me so I had to grab the link from the quote.

I thought that was gonna be about the rusty 14' single tube flat from the mill that got snagged around 05 06.

The rail in that video was pulled out for paving and they saw it threw it on the roof and drove it home and repurposed it.

And ted has no love for the streets anymore. He went soft and moved out west because he hates the way we livin in the east. He used to be down for the gully.

theabortionatorThe video didn't show up for me so I had to grab the link from the quote.

I thought that was gonna be about the rusty 14' single tube flat from the mill that got snagged around 05 06.

The rail in that video was pulled out for paving and they saw it threw it on the roof and drove it home and repurposed it.

And ted has no love for the streets anymore. He went soft and moved out west because he hates the way we livin in the east. He used to be down for the gully.

yeah figured you would know too, this rail wasn't the one i remembered just remembered the gfa guys seemed to have at least two hanging around. since the gully gore crews haven't been the same.

liam..yeah figured you would know too, this rail wasn't the one i remembered just remembered the gfa guys seemed to have at least two hanging around. since the gully gore crews haven't been the same.

The video was dark and from the front so hard to tell but was this the green rail? That was the one I knew about and how they got it. If there were others idk.

I wonder what they did with it. I just saw tyler and geoff last year when they came up to oak for a rail jam. Didn't seem like any of them were really riding together anymore. Tyler was saying that they went out hungover and tried to film like once in the couple years before that. I think they have real jobs and shit now.

I'm determined to get to gore on a weekend next season and see what's happening with the new crew. Maybe drink some beers and cause a ruckus. I kind of hate that place but because of the gully it will always feel like home, even though that part is dead. Had a real local skatepark vibe with all of us being stuck in that little area away from the rest of the mountain. I miss it. And I didn't mean what I said about tbatty, I just miss him and errbody else.

I'm still waiting for the reunion that will never happen.

mt jore life rip

Well first of all learn how to weld grab a small peace of scrap steal and practice, watch some youtube videos whatever, cause if u have a bad weld it will literally fall apart the first hit, if u have a good weld it will last forever, as for design super basic some legs 3 or 4 with feet for support and to make a kink, again super basic just cut the desired angle with an angle grinder, weld, then grind down the welded area for a smooth finish and finish off with a file to ensure there's no sharp edges that will destroy your skis!!
Good Luck!!!

Dr.Prof.JiberSo basically I'm gonna weld a rail for a summer setup but I don't really know what the best way to do it would be, what kind of rail should I do, and if possible how would I kink it up? Skiing

Ohh, That will be tough! You're planning to start a project that's totally new to you. I should recommend to do a full research bout it first before starting.

perryhunterOhh, That will be tough! You're planning to start a project that's totally new to you. I should recommend to do a full research bout it first before starting.

I mean a flat rail is one long piece cut to the desired length on top, cutting how ever many legs you want the same size. Welding them all on vertical. Then welding on some feet wide enough to keep you stable without snow in the summer.

Honestly other than cutting and welding it's probably easier to build solid than a good pvc rail.

Dr.Prof.JiberSo basically I'm gonna weld a rail for a summer setup but I don't really know what the best way to do it would be, what kind of rail should I do, and if possible how would I kink it up? Skiing

go to craigslist and search for a welder. They will work with you and offer professional advice because that's what they do for a living. Easier on your wallet because you won't have to purchase/rent a welder from the hardware store and you will get professional quality welds. This means your rail won't fall apart on you in the middle of a high stress session.

CrapBanditgo to craigslist and search for a welder. They will work with you and offer professional advice because that's what they do for a living. Easier on your wallet because you won't have to purchase/rent a welder from the hardware store and you will get professional quality welds. This means your rail won't fall apart on you in the middle of a high stress session.

Honestly you probably wouldn't find one that cheap. Better off finding somebody you know that's decent at it to do it up.

I still think it's more fun to build it yourself. The welds don't have to be the prettiest as long as it's solid. Also doesn't have to be able to withstand a nuclear missile.

Worst case if OP breaks it he can figure out what went wrong and try and do it better when he fixes it. If you break a leg off, clean everything up and weld it back on. It's not like your whole rail is going to turn to dust if it's not professionally welded.

don't weld use small peice of PVC and glue p