How to Make Skateboarding Ramps

Skateboarders are great at do-it-yourself projects because skaters often have to take ordinary household items and create their own mini skateparks in their driveways and in empty parking lots. One of the first big projects a skater usually undertakes is building his own skate ramp. There are a number of different ways you can do this depending on the type of ramp you want to build. You'll need some basic tools, some wood, and some creativity.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Plywood
• drill
• nails
• hammer
• saw
• building plans
• pencil
• measuring tape

1. Search the Internet for free skate ramp--building plans. The Internet is full of free plans skaters have designed to build their own ramps that you can use to build your own ramp with as well. You can find plans on how to build a mini pipe, a quarter pipe, and a jump ramp. Check the resource section of the article for links to a few sites that have plans.

2. Pick a place that you can store your ramp when not in use. If the ramp is small you should be able to store it in a garage. If the ramp is larger you will need to purchase a tarp to keep it dry as you'll have to store it outside.

3. Figure out the base size of the ramp. The base is the bottom of the ramp. You'll need to measure out long, how wide, and how tall to make the base. This will vary depending on the type of ramp you're building. After you have calculated the dimensions of your ramp add a few inches to the top of the base for extra depth.

4. Take the pieces of plywood you bought and sketch the overall curve you want your ramp to have on the wood. This will help you know how much you will need the wood to curve.

5. Take your saw and cut out three panels from the plywood you just sketched on. After you have these panels cut you will be able to decide where to place the 2 x 4 braces to give you maximum support when you're using your ramp.

6. Use the saw to cut a notches into the plywood panels. These notches will be where you fit the 2 x 4 braces and nail them in place. Make sure to keep the slim side of the 2 x 4 to face the curve of the plywood. Nail the 2 x 4 braces in place.

7. Add 2 x 4 braces to the outside of the ramp to make it sturdy. These pieces will have to be longer than the pieces used to support the curve of the ramp. Nail these braces to the shorter middle braces.

8. Take a thin piece of plywood and nail it to the support braces in the center to complete the curve of the ramp.

9. Add one final piece of plywood to the ramp to complete its surface. Your ramp is ready to skate.

Resources

• Free Skate Ramp Plans
• More Skate Ramp Plans

Who Can Help Sponsored

• Tired of Being Tired? Fight Fatigue and Try FRS for FREE!