I am planning to make a fitness jump platform/board for a friend. Basically,
it's a height platform to jump onto. The platform will be 20" x 24" with a
height of 30" perhaps 1/2 or 3/4 thick wood. I was thinking of making the
base just a bit wider to establish that tapered look. It'll be a simple box
with an extra board in the center for strength then cutting a hole on each
side for handles. With this type of construction, I didn't want to use heavy
wood, yet I don't want to use cheap stuff which may break over time, if not
soon. Any recommendations to what type of wood to use. Any other
recommendations also appreciated.
Thank you
In article <[email protected]>, SBH
<[email protected]> wrote:
> I am planning to make a fitness jump platform/board for a friend. Basically,
> it's a height platform to jump onto. The platform will be 20" x 24" with a
> height of 30" perhaps 1/2 or 3/4 thick wood. I was thinking of making the
> base just a bit wider to establish that tapered look. It'll be a simple box
> with an extra board in the center for strength then cutting a hole on each
> side for handles. With this type of construction, I didn't want to use heavy
> wood, yet I don't want to use cheap stuff which may break over time, if not
> soon. Any recommendations to what type of wood to use. Any other
> recommendations also appreciated.
Plywood.
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"Leuf" commented
> On Sun, 9 Mar 2008 20:03:36 -0400, "SBH" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>
>>Here is a link which provides the same thing made of metal.
>>
>>http://www.jumpusa.com/jumpboxes.html#1
>
> I need a stretch and a nap just watching that video.
>
Exactly!!
I just kept thinking, easy chair, recliner, cold drink, the game, etc...
30" seems high for one of these. You may need to check the dimensions. 8-10
inches in height is about what they normally are. The commercial ones are
designed so you can stack and interlock several if more height is needed.
If I were making one of these I would use 3/4 inch 11 ply birch plywood,
slope the sides about 15 degrees for better stability and round all external
edges with a router. Then after sanding, several coats of polyurethane
followed with a piece of non slip tread surface for the top and some rubber
feet to keep it from slipping. Handle holes, also rounded with the router,
is a good idea.
Look carefully at some of the commercial ones and take measurements before
you build. The interlocking feature
can be incorporated in wooden ones with a little planing, but then you may
get to build several :-).
Charley
"SBH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I am planning to make a fitness jump platform/board for a friend.
Basically,
> it's a height platform to jump onto. The platform will be 20" x 24" with a
> height of 30" perhaps 1/2 or 3/4 thick wood. I was thinking of making the
> base just a bit wider to establish that tapered look. It'll be a simple
box
> with an extra board in the center for strength then cutting a hole on each
> side for handles. With this type of construction, I didn't want to use
heavy
> wood, yet I don't want to use cheap stuff which may break over time, if
not
> soon. Any recommendations to what type of wood to use. Any other
> recommendations also appreciated.
>
> Thank you
>
>
On Sun, 9 Mar 2008 20:03:36 -0400, "SBH" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>Here is a link which provides the same thing made of metal.
>
>http://www.jumpusa.com/jumpboxes.html#1
I need a stretch and a nap just watching that video.
-Leuf
Please double check your numbers, if I understand what you are
making. You said 30" tall, making it taller than its own base.
This thing will fall over at the drop of a hat. Most of these
I've seen are more like 4 to 6" with really tall ones about 12"
tall. Here are some:
http://www.sportsunlimitedinc.com/steps.html. Many are designed
to stack when the exercisee (is this a word?) needs more
challenge.
Baltic birch multi ply has good resiliency.
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[email protected]
"SBH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am planning to make a fitness jump platform/board for a friend.
>Basically, it's a height platform to jump onto. The platform will
>be 20" x 24" with a height of 30" perhaps 1/2 or 3/4 thick wood.
>I was thinking of making the base just a bit wider to establish
>that tapered look. It'll be a simple box with an extra board in
>the center for strength then cutting a hole on each side for
>handles. With this type of construction, I didn't want to use
>heavy wood, yet I don't want to use cheap stuff which may break
>over time, if not soon. Any recommendations to what type of wood
>to use. Any other recommendations also appreciated.
>
> Thank you
>
"Charley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> 30" seems high for one of these. You may need to check the dimensions.
> 8-10
> inches in height is about what they normally are. The commercial ones are
> designed so you can stack and interlock several if more height is needed.
>
> If I were making one of these I would use 3/4 inch 11 ply birch plywood,
> slope the sides about 15 degrees for better stability and round all
> external
> edges with a router. Then after sanding, several coats of polyurethane
> followed with a piece of non slip tread surface for the top and some
> rubber
> feet to keep it from slipping. Handle holes, also rounded with the router,
> is a good idea.
>
> Look carefully at some of the commercial ones and take measurements before
> you build. The interlocking feature
> can be incorporated in wooden ones with a little planing, but then you may
> get to build several :-).
>
> Charley
Thank you Charley. Your advice will mostly be used.
"SBH" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>I am planning to make a fitness jump platform/board for a friend.
>Basically, it's a height platform to jump onto. The platform will be 20" x
>24" with a height of 30" perhaps 1/2 or 3/4 thick wood. I was thinking of
>making the base just a bit wider to establish that tapered look. It'll be a
>simple box with an extra board in the center for strength then cutting a
>hole on each side for handles. With this type of construction, I didn't
>want to use heavy wood, yet I don't want to use cheap stuff which may break
>over time, if not soon. Any recommendations to what type of wood to use.
>Any other recommendations also appreciated.
Plywood. Any wood can split and splinter, plywood can take more stress and
it less likely to have catastrophic failure. Use the most plies you can
get.
Thanks for the replies. I'll clarify on the height issue which two of you
were concerned about.
The box will not be used as a "step" aerobic type box. It'll be used as a
platform to land on for strength/jump training. In simply terms, you stand
next to it, squat and jump straight up on to the platform. This is the
height he wants it. I would assume with the base being larger than the
platform, I won't have to worry about tipping. My concern is board strength,
yet fairly light enough the move.