How to Make a Skateboarding Handrail

Building your own handrail (or grind rail, as it's commonly known) isn't so much a great expenditure of money as it is of time and effort. The most common and trusted grind rails are welded together, and if you don't have a welder or know someone who does, or have one but don't know how to use it, this project can become a learning experience on many fronts. You will also be using a circular saw or hacksaw, so in addition to being technically demanding, building your own handrail can be somewhat dangerous, too.

Things You'll Need

  • Measuring tape
  • Pencil
  • Level
  • Jigsaw, circular saw, or hacksaw
  • Welder
  • Welding gloves and mask
  • Protective eyewear and gloves
  • 2-inch OD Schedule 80 black steel pipe, 8 feet long
  • 3/16-by-4-inch-by-1-inch plate steel
  • Grinder
  • Primer
  • Paintbrush (optional)
Show More

Instructions

  1. Square Rail

    • 1

      Don safety gloves and glasses. Saw your steel tubing down to 6 inches and, with the remainder, saw two 6 3/4-inch legs. Discard scrap.

    • 2

      Measure and mark the center of the plate steel feet. Put on your welding gear and weld the legs onto the center of the feet such that the legs stand at a right angle to the feet. Let the joint between the legs and feet cool. Check with a level to make sure legs are plumb.

    • 3

      Position the grind rail evenly atop the legs such that the they're in 9 inches from the ends of the rail. Check it with the level to make sure it's not resting at an angle. Weld the grind rail into place when you are satisfied that it's level. Let the welded joints cool.

    Round Rail

    • 4

      Put on your safety gear. Saw a 6-inch section of tube to make the grind rail and two 10 3/4-inch sections to make the legs.

    • 5

      Grind a semicircular notch into the tops of the legs to accommodate the rail.

    • 6

      Measure and mark the center of the plate steel feet. Put on your welding gear and weld the legs onto the center of the feet such that the legs stand at a right angle to the feet. Let the joint between the legs and feet cool. Check with a level to make sure legs are plumb.

    • 7

      Position the grind rail evenly into the notches atop the legs such that the they're in 9 inches from the ends of the rail. Check it with the level to make sure it's not resting at an angle. Weld the grind rail into place when you are satisfied that it's level. Let the welded joints cool.