Would plywood be a godd surface for a half pipe on a low budget?

Question

If i were to build a halfpipe with playwood surfacing not masonite would it have a down side or be bad?

Answer 1

Plywood is an excellent building material because it is lightweight and very strong. There are multiple grades of plywood, though, and not all of them are equivalent. Most importantly, however, the type of glue used in a plywood laminate designates it for indoor only or indoor/outdoor use. The latter is what you'd want to use for a ramp's structure.

Surfacing the ramp is another story though...

The last thing you want is splinters when you're sliding on your knees. For this reason, plywood makes a LOUSY surface material. When I was a kid, we always used masonite for the smooth layer. It's also relatively cheap. However, you have to be very careful about nailing masonite. It's soft, and the flexing of your ramp will probably cause the nails to back up a bit. If you think wood splinters would do a number on you at high speed, just try to imagine what a loose nail will do!

The bottom line is that you'll regret it if you don't make a first quality construction. If you can't afford to do it correctly right now, then wait long enough that you can.

Answer 2

Before I moved I lived two doors from a family that did just that. It was three years old and still getting used regularly when I moved. I thought it was nice that they built it for their children. Kids from all over the neighborhood came over. They were a nice group of kids.

Answer 3

yes ply wood works...I built one for my son out of 1 inch square steel tube & covered it with 5/16 ply works fine... to stop splinters coat with marine varnish.....