Angle Bar???

[ginty]

So i already have a few PVC rails but i really want to make a metal rail, i know some have used angle bar as coping for boxes but just wanted to know if anyone had taken angle bar and just put it on a 2x4 to make a rail, im really considering doing this.

 

[Jwenz]

It can really depend on the angle bar i belive. If there is screw holes on the top I cant imagine it working all that well. I mean if its smooth on the top you may want to do 2, one on each side. It should work. I honestly think that if you can't weld, stick with PVC. PVC is great for backyard and inexpensive as you probably already know. I like to leave the metal to the mountains

 

[ginty]

yea i know some people have used it in the past for coping on boxes i just wanted to get some tips on how they did it

 

[Mead]

The holes actually don't matter at all...my buddy jacked a stop sign and we made a rail out of it. Slides great

 

[ginty]

^ good to know i didnt think they would since boxes have counter sunk screw holes where the plastic was attached

 

[jmason]

Above was mentioned that a stop sign was used as a rail. That will work. However, If you just take one piece of angle bar, that won't work as well because it's too sharp. There's too little surface area for your ski to slide on, and it'll likely be too sticky - not to mention hard as hell to slide on.

Wait, are you just talking about putting it on a 2x4 as if you were coping a really mini box? or are you talking about putting it on the 2x4 like this ^ ?

 

[ginty]

yea i meant putting it on each side of a 2x4 like coping a mini box

 

[jmason]

oh ok that should work... I could see a problem though, if the 2x4 is slightly warped (as they often are). The advantage of using angle bar to cope a large box is that your skis can accommodate any warp-age because the surface is so wide. When the surface is narrow, the skis might naturally tend to slide off to one side or the other. Imagine if a flat-bar twisted as you slid down it... it would be almost impossible to slide. Just make sure your piece is completely free of any torsion. Also, make sure you support the 2x4 properly, because if it bends with your weight, it may end up bending the angle bar as well - leading to a permanently bent rail.

 

[scott-skis]

ya iv done it it works but make sure u countersink yur screws

 

[SledHead600]

It works real good as box coping and should work just as well on a 2by4. I have the type with the holes and they dont affect it at all. Good luck with your rail build