How to Make a Quarter Pipe

What you will need:

Wood: I had spare wood lying around so I just used that but if you are going to go out and buy some wood, get 2 by 4 treated pine as this is the best wood for the frame. For the curves at the side you are going to need 5 layer plywood. You will also need some 3 layer plywood.

Metal Tube: You will need some metal tube for the coping. Get the size that feels right. Make sure that you get galvanized iron as this is the best and strongest metal for the job.

Other Things: Jigsaw or a band saw, drill, drill bits, bolts, nuts, screws, tape measure, spanner, countersink

How to make it:

Note: Always countersink your pilot hole for your screws so they sit flat.

The Frame: Start by deciding how wide you want it, in my case it was 2 metres and how high you want it. For every foot high it is there should be that number plus 2 foot of transition.  Use you tape measure to measure your chosen length on the 2 by 4 treated pine wood and mark it with a pencil. Mark one 2 by 4 for every 1 foot of transition you are going to have plus 5 extra. So after you have done this cut them out with the jigsaw or band saw where you marked them with a pencil.

Once this is done get your 5 layer plywood and mark out your curve on it. The easiest way to do this is to get some string and cut it so it is 8 foot long and tie a pencil onto the end of it. Then anchor the end of the string directly above where the bottom of your curve is going to be. The move the pencil around and the string should enable you to get a nice curve. Once you have marked two of these cut them out with your jigsaw or band saw.

Now get your pencil and measuring tape and make markings every one foot up the curve make sure it is the exact same on both curves. These markings should be about 2cm from the edge. Using your drill, drill a hole through each of the markings. Now line up your cut 2 by 4’s with the hole so that they are flush with the top of the curve. Do one at a time and drill a hole through the hole into the curve into the 2 by 4’s. Now use your drill to put screws into the holes. Now place one sideward’s at the bottom using the same method and two at the top as well to reinforce it.

To build the top you will need to make a box shape. Cut 4 2 by 4’s however high your quarter pipe is. Use your last 2 pre cut 2 by 4’s to join the ones you just cut together by drilling and using screws. You should have 2 n shapes. Now cut more 2 by 4’s to however wide you want it to be and screw them onto the n frames on the inside so you get a table without the top on. Now however long it is, cut one 2 by 4 for every one foot to the same width as the frame. Screw these in using a drill and screws. Now screw this frame to your finished curves at the back. Your Finished product should look something like thins minus the coping.

Now cut you coping using a hacksaw if it already isn’t the right length. Once this is done drill one hole at either end all of the way through. Make sure the long bit of the bolt can fit through this hole. Now re drill the top part of the hole so the top of the bolt is able to fit through it. Now drill a hole the same size as the smaller hole through the top piece of the wood directly at the lip of the curve. Put a nut on the end of the bolts where they are under the wood and tighter them with a spanner until the coping is firmly on. Your quarter pipe should now look like the picture above.

Now get your 3 layer plywood and cut it with a jigsaw or band saw to length to fit on the curves. Drill and screw it onto the frame. Don’t forget to also screw it onto the 2 by 4’s that hold the curves together. Repeat this with another piece of 3 layer plywood over the top to reinforce it. This time it doesn’t matter where the screws go but make it look neat. To finish the top get a piece of 5 layer plywood and cut it to size using a jigsaw or a band saw and screw it onto the top.

There is only one more thing to do now. Get a plane (a tool for shaping wood) and shave the plywood right at the bottom of the curve so it sits flat on the ground.

Congratulations! You now have a fully functioning quarter pipe.