DIY: Climbing Dome
Climbing domes have been a staple in many park playgrounds for decades. Children of all ages enjoy climbing these domes. If you want to enjoy a dome in your own backyard you can purchase a prefabricated model, or with a few materials and tools you can save a little money and build one yourself. If you decide to build your own climbing dome, you have the flexibility to built it any size you like. Does this Spark an idea?
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Online dome calculator
- 3/4-inch steel conduit
- Tape measure
- Metal saw
- Metal sander
- Vice
- Drill press
- Drill bits
- Shop protractor
- 2-by-3/8-inch bolts with nuts
- Spray paint
Instructions
-
Fabricating the Conduit Struts
-
1
Decide the size of your dome structure. You will need to know how much metal conduit to purchase. Use the dome calculator at desertdomes.com to ensure you have enough conduit for all the struts you will need.
-
2
Cut the conduit struts to desired length. Regardless of the size of your dome, you will have 30 struts of one length and 35 of a slightly shorter length. Use a metal saw to cut the struts. Depending on what type of saw you use, the ends may be rough. Use a metal grinder or sander to smooth the tips.
-
-
3
Flatten both ends of each conduit strut. This can be done most effectively with a heavy-duty vice. Use a hammer if no vice is available, just keep in mind this will add plenty of time and effort to the flattening process. Flatten two inches of each side of the strut.
-
4
Drill a hole at each end of the strut. The holes must be exactly the same distance from each other and parallel to each other. For example, if your dome calls for 5-foot studs, ensure all holes, measured center of hole to center of hole, are exactly five feet apart.
-
5
Bend the ends of the struts. The struts should be 18 degrees for the longer and 16 degrees for the shorter. Because the 3/4-inch steel conduit is somewhat pliable, 17-degree bends for all struts will work. The steel will align itself during assembly.
To bend, insert the entire flattened portion on either side of the strut into the large vice. The bend should be at the spot where the flat part and round part of the strut meet. Pull gently on the strut until the desired angle is achieved. Use a large shop protractor to check your angle. Once complete, bend the other side of the strut in the same fashion, ensuring the bends are in the same direction.
Assembling the Structure
-
6
Paint the different size conduit struts different colors. If you're climbing dome structure will be moved regularly and disassembled this will make it easier to identify the different size struts while adding color to your dome.
-
7
Assemble the base. Bolt, but do not use the nuts yet, 10 of the shorter struts in a decagon shape.
-
8
Attach the first layer of struts to the base struts. At each connecting bolt on the base, attach a shorter strut and larger strut. Repeat this until you have attached all struts on the first layer. Once the struts are connected, fasten the bolt with a nut. You will use 20 struts in this step -- 10 shorter and 10 longer.
-
9
Attach the second layer of the dome. Start by attaching the longer struts that are parallel to the base to the alternating longer and shorter struts assembled in the previous step. After assembling the second layer attach alternating longer and shorter struts. Once the struts are attached, attach alternating long and short struts to create a third layer base. Attach the nuts to the bolts after all struts are assembled.
The longer struts on first layer should be lined up with a shorter strut on the second level.
-
10
Put the top on the dome. You will have five struts left, all longer pieces.) The five struts should start at each side of the third layer base and meet at the top in a star shape.
-
11
Tighten all nuts and bolts to secure the dome structure.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Climbing domes can be dangerous for very small children. Make sure the dome is being used safely and with proper supervision.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Creatas/Getty Images
