How to Make a Quarter Pipe That Is Skateable?

A quarter pipe can be put together in the better part of a day and requires only minimal carpentry skills. Everything you need to put one together can be found at a local hardware store and can cost less that $200, at the time of publication. Considering a prefabricated piece costs twice this (not including shipping), a DIY quarter pipe is one way to stretch your skating budget a little further. It's also the only way to get a customizable addition that matches everything else in your park.

Things You'll Need

  • String
  • Pencil
  • Jigsaw
  • Hammer
  • Drill with philips head driver
  • 2 3/4-inch plywood sheets, 4-by-8
  • 4 3/8-inch plywood sheets, 4-by-8
  • 2 1/3-inch Masonite boards, 4-by-8
  • 8-foot, 2 3/8-inch steel coping
  • 10 8-foot 2-by-4 boards
  • 2 1/2 boxes of 16 D nails
  • 2 boxes of 1 1/2-inch wood screws
  • Belt sander
  • 120-grit sandpaper
  • Spray paint
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Instructions

    • 1

      Tie a 5-foot string to a pencil. Place the pencil at the corner of a 3/4-inch plywood sheet. Extend the string across the board, parallel to the edge of the sheet, so it extends 1 foot past the edge of the board. Have a friend hold the string end there. Draw an arc on the plywood using this homemade compass.

    • 2

      Cut the board along the pencil mark with a jigsaw. Use this piece of plywood as a template to cut the other 3/4-inch board. Use the jigsaw to cut the second piece so it looks like the first.

    • 3

      Cut one 2-by-4 into four equal sections. Create a rectangle with two full length (8-foot) 2-by-4s, and two 2-foot 2-by-4s. Nail these together with 16 D nails. The 2-foot pieces should be inside the edges of the 8-foot pieces. Add the other two 2-foot pieces to the interior of the rectangle, 3 feet from each end, to provide more decking support.

    • 4

      Attach the two 3/4-inch plywood pieces to the outside of the completed decking, with 16 D nails.

    • 5

      Place 8-foot 2-by-4s every 12 inches along the curve of the 3/4-inch plywood. Secure these with 16 D nails. These joists are where you attach the plywood base of the ramp.

    • 6

      Soak the 3/8-inch plywood in cold water for an hour. Place a full 3/8-inch plywood sheet flush with the bottom of the ramp. Secure it to the 2-by-4 joists with wood screws. Four screws per joist is sufficient.

    • 7

      Cut another piece of a 3/8-inch plywood sheet to fill the gap between the top of the ramp and the first sheet. Leave a small lip to attach the steel pipe coping.

    • 8

      Place the coping on the lip and set a full sheet of plywood on top of it to lock it in place. Have your friend hold the pipe in place as you secure the second piece of plywood over the first.

    • 9

      Cut and secure another piece of plywood flush to the overlapped piece, so the entire curved ramp is smooth.

    • 10

      Cover the top decking with the remaining piece of 3/8-inch plywood, and attach it with wood screws.

    • 11

      Sand the bottom of the ramp with a belt sander with 120-grit paper, so the lip becomes flush with the ground.

    • 12

      Cover all the exposed plywood with 1/4-inch Masonite. Secure the Masonite every four inches along the joists. This creates a smooth, skateable surface.

    • 13

      Paint the sides of the ramp to match the rest of your park.