Project: Mini Quarter - Part 2: Got Wood

 [It's a bit bigger than I imagined in my head...]

Note this blog post is the second in a series documenting the ongoing build of a mini quarter.  Please see Part 1, here.  For those that have already viewed Part 1, please note that Part 1 has now been updated with sexy photos so if that's not an incentive, I don't know what is.

Also just thought that not everyone will be happy dealing with feet and inches.  In which case, ask a grown-up ;-D

Right then.  Since last time, I've chopped 2"x4" timber to length 3'10'' 1/2.  I guess the sides make up the extra 1''1/2 to make it 4' wide overall.  Did this by hand initially before realising that a lot of cutting was going to be necessary so borrowed Dads hand jigsaw.  This made work much easier -  Happy fathers day, Dad!

[Using one side as a template for the other]

Chopped side pieces out of my precut 2'x8' lengths.  I couldn't follow the method used on the website I had got the plans for, but used two lengths of 5'6'' pieces of string to find the centre point before tracing the line three times. (got it wrong first couple of times).  Rather than measure everything a second time, I used the first side as a template for the second side.  Compared the two side by side, and apart from minor imperfections they seem to be close enough.

Chopped a section of Ply 2'x4' for the top.  Easy job!

Back to Derby Timber Supplies for a 4'x8' sheet of 3/8'' Ply.  This I will use to cover the ramp and to fit in the car, got them to cut me the sheet into two: a larger 4'x4'1'' and the smaller 4'x3'11''.  This I'll need to cut down to 3'9'', but that's easy enough.  The sheet of ply cost £12 and whilst I was in there, bought a large box of 60mm screws for £5.  The cost of materials so far is on the rise, but I do have some good off-cuts that'll be useful elsewhere.

So, a couple of bits I can work on, and I now know that by Masonite, they mean hardboard!  Still need to source me some steel tubing though.  I need a length minimum 4' of 2"OD, Schedule 80 steel pipe (~60mm steel pipe).  If you know where I can get some, or can suggest an equivalent, please get in touch!

Project: Mini Quarter - Part 1

I've got the garage, I've got the tools, I've almost got the materials - time to build!

I didn't want to build a jump as a) it's pretty flat at home and b) I didn't want to shift it very far.  I used to have a small, plastic ramp and it still took up lots of space and was cumbersome to carry.

So, why not a mini quarter?

Whilst I could work out an optimal size and shape for the space that I have, I reckoned that first time round I just find some plans on-line and build like-for-like.  On completion, I'd ether have the optimal mini quarter, or have one to sell or destroy.  Either way, I'd have the experience for the next time that I wanted to do something similar.

Never done anything like this before, so follow my progress and see how far we get before it all goes terribly wrong.

So, first things first: find some plans!

DIY Skate have some good ones here: http://www.diyskate.com/quarter_01.html
There may be better ramps around, but the instructions seem intuitive enough and they rate this project 'Medium' difficulty, so hopefully slightly challenging without being a total pain.
They list the approximate cost to be $80, so around £50.  I'll keep a note of costings as I go along and try not to go over this figure.

Next up, materials!

Whilst trying to keep I could pinch stuff off building sites and keep costs to a bear minimum, for a variety of reasons, I wont be doing this, this time round.  We don't do badly though locally for timber yards, and if that fails, there's always the possibility of trying B&Q/Homebase/Focus etc.  Also, to keep costs down, I'm buying untreated wood as it shouldn't get damp in the garage and probably won't be used outside right away if ever.

I've run into problems in the past trying to get sheets of timber into the car of 4 foot width or greater.  Length is not a problem and the 8 foot lengths of 2"x4" slid nicely down the passenger side of my Ford C-max.  I've purchased 6 lengths of 8 foot 2"x4" for £3.20 a length from Fletchers Timber (Derby).  Unfortunately, when it came to large sheets of 3/4" ply, they only had large 4'x8' sheets that they were unwilling to cut down for me, or smaller, rougher sheets, that dimension wise, didn't fit with the plans that I had.  Time to explore to DIY superstores.....

Ok, forget the DIY superstores.  Although many of them had a 'cutting service', the cost of timber is astronomical - I could have blown the budget just on wood for the top and sides of the frame.

Next stop, Derby Timber Supplies.  Once I'd returned during office hours (7.30am to 4pm), they were more than happy to sell me a 4'x8' sheet of 3/4" ply and cut it lengthways down the middle, all for £20.40.  I was going to have to cut it this way at some point anyway so so far, so good!

Next up, Part 2 where I envision having to source the ramp surface material and coping.  The ramp material will be tricky as it'll have to be 4'x4'1'' and won't fit in the car, and I've absolutely no idea where I'll get the coping from unless for now I use plastic piping.  Now that I've got some materials, I could always make a start so watch this space.

I really haven't done any more than this yet, so any build tips or suggestions appreciated!!!!

Things I broke this weekend......

....in no particular order.....

1: Brake Cable

[Old pic, but you get the idea]

Yep, mearly a couple of weeks after getting the brake repaired and it's broken again in exactly the same place.  Strangely, I don't recall snagging it on anything; nor had it been used much in the run up to this point.  Either I try and get the local bike shop to bodge something again, send it back to ABS (who kindly offered to sort it last time, which I didn't do as I was thinking about postal costs), or try and do something myself....hmmmm...

2: Axle Hanger

 [Bent noSno Axle Hanger]

Well, bent rather than broken, but it does look to be a bit more bent than it was a week ago and looks quite different to the rear hanger which is around about the 27 degree mark.  One to keep an eye on and replace if necessary.  Question is, do I go for the standard hanger or pro version....???

3: Big Toe

I would have loved to have done this in an extreme way.  Unfortunately, all I did was fall off a bouncy castle in an awkward way at the weekend.  Few more beers kept the pain at bay and it's alright at the moment when sat down.  Broken, or just very, very bruised, I'm not sure.   Hopefully a bit of TLC and it'll be fine.  Hopefully.....