How to Build a Gymnastics Balance Beam
Exercise and gymnastics are popular in today's society and equipment can be quite expensive. If you are into gymnastics and are interested in building your own balance beam, the process is fairly simple. This article walks you through building a sturdy five-foot long wood balance beam using a few simple tools and lumber.
Things You'll Need
- 4 5-foot pieces of 2 by 4 lumber
- 1 8-foot piece of 4 by 4 lumber
- Measuring tape
- Circular saw
- Sander
- Industrial-strength glue
- 25 to 30 2 1/2-inch wood screws
- Screwdriver
Instructions
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Cutting the Pieces for the Balance Beam
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1
Cut three 5-foot pieces of 2 by 4 board with the circular saw.
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2
Cut two 1 1/2-foot pieces from the 2 by 4.
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3
Cut four 2-foot pieces from the 8-foot 4-by-4.
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4
Sand all rough edges off the nine cut pieces. Apply wood stain or paint and allow to dry.
Constructing the Balance Beam
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5
Start by assembling the two supports that hold the beam up. Lay one 1 1/2-foot 2 by 4 on edge and put a 2-foot 4 by 4 perpendicular to it under each edge forming three sides of a rectangle. Drive four screws through each end of the 2 by 4 into the two 4 by 4s.
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6
Repeat Step 1 and build the second support.
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7
Form the balance beam with the three 5-foot 2 by 4s. Glue the wide sides of the 2 by 4s together and allow to dry.
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8
Stand the two supports up on the legs and parallel to each other four feet apart. Lay the 5-foot beam across the supports perpendicular to them with the 4 1/2-inch edge of the beam face down. Make adjustments so six inches of each end of the beam extend past the supports. Drive four screws through the bottom center of each support into the beam.
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1
Tips & Warnings
You may want to add thin carpet around the beam.
Be cautious when using power tools.
