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Wooden Slide materials?

apiersma's picture

Wooden Slide materials? (post #187301)

apiersma on Wed, 04/07/2010 - 13:31
in

I'm soon to embark a wooden playset for the kids. The plastic slides cost a small fortune, so I am toying with the idea of making a wooden slide.  I figure I could set 2 2x8s like stair stingers with some bracing perpendicular every foot or so. Then use MDO, PVC trim, or some other plastic/ wood compostie trim to make the slide surface. Thoughts?  What material is the slipperiest and can withstand the outdoors.?

-A +A

What about sheet metal (post #187301, reply #1 of 6)

by davidmeiland in reply to apiersma [original] on Wed, 04/07/2010 - 16:08

Go buy yourself a ~24" x 8' piece of galv sheet metal and laminate it to a piece of plywood. Screw on some 2x for the side rails. Those side rails definitely need to be splinter free, and I would wax the metal surface.

How much is a slide if you just go buy one?

Yeah, when I was a kid we had (post #187301, reply #2 of 6)

by DanH in reply to apiersma [original] on Wed, 04/07/2010 - 16:31

Yeah, when I was a kid we had a slide my dad made.  Had wooden sides (no idea what material, but roughly 2x6 dimension) and a sheet-metal bottom.  Got rusty every winter but was quickly polished off come spring, since every kid in the neighborhood used it.

Do, of course, be aware of safety -- use wood that won't easily splinter and give it a good coating of some sort (eg, several layers of oil paint or spar varnish).  Make sure the exposed edges of the metal are rolled.


Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.  --Herman Melville

I'm avoiding metal. It gets (post #187301, reply #3 of 6)

by apiersma in reply to apiersma [original] on Wed, 04/07/2010 - 18:03

I'm avoiding metal. It gets too hot in the summer around here. 

That's part of the charm. (post #187301, reply #4 of 6)

by DanH in reply to apiersma [original] on Wed, 04/07/2010 - 19:28

That's part of the charm.


Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.  --Herman Melville

Agreed (post #187301, reply #5 of 6)

by apiersma in reply to apiersma [original] on Thu, 04/08/2010 - 06:38

It was part of the charm, but kids were so much tougher back then. My kids are wimps.


The orange box sells a plastic/wood trim boards called Tuff Boards.  I can get a 12 footer by 7 1/2.  If I pocket screw and glue two side by side, I 'd think that woud make a good slide surface. That have no structural value so they have to be on top of ext plywood or something.  Then a couple coats of sparthane to ensure slickness.

Except that that seam is a (post #187301, reply #6 of 6)

by DanH in reply to apiersma [original] on Thu, 04/08/2010 - 17:40

Except that that seam is a major potential problem area.  If it has any potential at all to catch clothing it will.


Of all the preposterous assumptions of humanity over humanity, nothing exceeds most of the criticisms made on the habits of the poor by the well-housed, well-warmed, and well-fed.  --Herman Melville