How to Make a Rainbow Rail

Rainbow rails are arched railings used for performing tricks in a variety of sports, including skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing and rollerblading. Commercial rails are usually under 2 feet high, because they do not have a built-in support system and can tip under the weight of a rider. But you can build a much higher rail for your personal use if you supply adequate ground support, such as concrete or steel pilings. The rainbow rail described here will be 2 1/2 feet high when complete. For a taller arch, use a 5-foot by 10-foot sheet instead of a 4-foot by 8-foot sheet.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 sheets marine plywood, 1 inch by 4 feet by 8 feet
  • Tape measure
  • Scissors
  • String
  • Tape
  • Marker
  • Saw
  • Saw horse
  • Table saw
  • Marine wood glue
  • Brush
  • Clamps
  • Screw
  • Drill
  • Sandbags or other weight
  • Shovel
  • Gravel
  • Tamper
  • 2 four-by-fours, 8 feet long
  • Pencil
  • Protractor
  • Concrete
  • Trowel
  • Tack cloth
  • Edging
  • Pin nails
  • Nail gun
  • Hammer
  • Wood filler
  • Sanding block
  • Electric sander
  • Marine varnish
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Instructions

    • 1

      Lay the plywood sheet so that the 8-foot side is horizontal. Measure the sheet from the lower-left corner to the right. Mark the center of the sheet at 4 feet.

    • 2

      Cut a 4-foot length of string. Tape one end of the string to a marker. Secure the other end of the string to the mark on the lower edge.

    • 3

      Place the tip of the marker in the lower left-hand corner. Keeping the string taut, move the marker in an upward arc, pivoting on the string. Continue until you reach the lower right corner.

    • 4

      Remove the portion of the plywood sheet above these lines, the upper left and right corners. Cut the sheet using a table saw or hand saw. If you are using a hand saw, place the sheet on a sawhorse.

    • 5

      Repeat steps 1 to 4 for the second sheet of plywood.

    • 6

      Apply glue to the face of one of the sheets and lay the second sheet on top. Align the sheets so that the cut arches match up.

    • 7

      Clamp the sheets together along the edges, placing one clamp every foot.

    • 8

      Drive a single screw into the center of the sheet. Screw additional fasteners in place, in a spiral or in concentric circles. Space screws 4 to 6 inches from the previous row, and 2 to 3 inches from the screws on each side. Do not place screws within 1 inch of the edge of the sheet.

    • 9

      Place a heavy weight, such as a sandbag, on the center of the plywood. Leave the sheets to dry overnight.

    • 10

      Dig a trench 10 feet long, 2 feet deep and 8 inches wide.

    • 11

      Fill the base of the trench with gravel. Tamp the gravel down. You can let the gravel bed rest for a week to allow it to settle.

    • 12

      Lay the four-by-four on its side. Draw a straight diagonal line from the upper left corner at a 45-degree angle. Cut along this angle to form a slanted end. Repeat for the second four-by-four.

    • 13

      Place the plywood in the trench so that the arch is above ground. Center the sheet in the trench.

    • 14

      Place the slanted end of one of the four-by-fours against the face of the plywood, near the center. The uncut end of the four-by-four should rest just under 1 1/2 feet from the trench. Fasten the support leg to the plywood using two or three screws; select screws that are 4 or 6 inches long. Repeat to screw the second four-by-four to the opposite side of the plywood.

    • 15

      Pour a thick concrete mixture into the trench. When the trench is halfway full, repeatedly drive a trowel or shovel into the trench of concrete to help shift the mixture and remove air pockets. Fill the rest of the trench.

    • 16

      Wait for the concrete to set up; drying can take anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days, depending on the concrete. You can find a suggested curing timetable in the instructions provided by your concrete manufacturer; this chart will explain how long your foundation will take to dry before it can be built on. Keep in mind that full curing of concrete can take several weeks, but the surface will be hard-set and safe to build on long before this.

    • 17

      Remove the support legs.

    • 18

      Wipe off the edge of the plywood with a tack cloth to remove dust that may have settled there. Apply glue to the arched edge of the plywood sheet.

    • 19

      Lay a strip of wood edging over the glue. Tack the edging down with two pin nails every 2 to 3 inches. Place the nails side by side, so that each nail enters the end grain of one of the plywood sheets.

    • 20

      Saw off the excess edging material from the ends of the arch.

    • 21

      Fill the nail and screw holes with wood filler.

    • 22

      Sand the entire piece.

    • 23

      Dust the rainbow rail with a tack cloth.

    • 24

      Apply two to three coats of marine varnish. If you wish, apply paint as well.