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Box Rail

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Grantito
Posts: 60 - Karma: 263
Does anyone have experience making box rails at home? Not worrying about elevation of the box rn but what's the best material to slap on top of a long 2x10 for good sliding. I was thinking maybe just some slick aluminum but Idk if that would screw up my skis.
Oct 31 2021 4:22PM
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Young_patty
Posts: 3260 - Karma: 37,359
Your edges will catch on the aluminum cause it’s such a soft metal. UHMW is what most resorts use (I believe) but it can be expensive for a backyard park.

my suggestion is buy a bunch of 1/2-1 inch pvc tubes and drill them onto a box side by side- they’re like $1.50 out here in Bozeman for a 10-15 foot long piece so you could realistically cover your box for less than $20
Oct 31 2021 4:46PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51489 - Karma: 160,590
Ski areas use HDPE mostly or UHMW, some lexan or something still. All are pricey.

You can get sheets of pvc but as mentioned it's better to just buy some small tubes and put them all the way across the features. Then you have a round edge for coping and a smooth slidy surface. Also having the tubes instead of a flat piece of pvc can make it slide faster.

Can be done pretty damn cheap. Or if you really want to might be able to find a mtn getting rid of their old topsheets in the fall and snag some. But then you'll want steel coping and it's kind of a lot to get if your frame is still going to just be a wood frame with everything slapped on there.

Sometimes easy and cheap is a good option.
Oct 31 2021 5:34PM
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Grantito
Posts: 60 - Karma: 263
I think I understand what people are saying with idea about multiple tubes of PVC but Im not sure. If anyone could share a picture that would be great. Also would the PVC tubes just be drilled on starting from the bottom of the board. Also anyone know a way to anchor the rail in the ground? Thanks
Oct 31 2021 5:50PM
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theabortionator
Posts: 51489 - Karma: 160,590
GrantitoI think I understand what people are saying with idea about multiple tubes of PVC but Im not sure. If anyone could share a picture that would be great. Also would the PVC tubes just be drilled on starting from the bottom of the board. Also anyone know a way to anchor the rail in the ground? Thanks






Something loosely like this. Can run 1" ones too if you want smaller gaps.


*fixed the image fail

**This post was edited on Oct 31st 2021 at 6:08:47pm
Oct 31 2021 5:56PM
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TRVP_ANGEL
Posts: 12464 - Karma: 115,384
steal a hockey rink wall
Oct 31 2021 6:06PM
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weastcoat
Posts: 6311 - Karma: 72,587
TRVP_ANGELsteal a hockey rink wall


He knows too much
Oct 31 2021 11:20PM
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Grantito
Posts: 60 - Karma: 263
Making a tube rail now. Few more questions. 1 how high should it be above the ground for basic sliding. No swaps or anything. 2 How long should it be. Basic sliding, same as before. 3 how do I keep it anchored and not tipping over? Also my two possible board subjects are attached.



Nov 1 2021 4:34PM
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