Buy or Build Metal Rail?

teflon66

teflon66

Member
I've been using PVC rails in my backyard for some time now, but I feel like PVC feels so much different than metal rails at mountains. I saved up some money, and wanna buy a metal rail. Anyone know where to buy some metal rails that aren't super expensive or if I can build one?
 
Unfortunately, nobody's really selling metal rails on ebay, and they are expensive as fuck to buy new so yeah, if you know how to weld then make one yourself.
 
13606741:Mr.Haverkamp said:
If you cant weld I would recommend going to a local welding shop with some plans and seeing what they can do
Click to expand...

Unless you know someone at the shop this is a very expensive option.

Find a friend of a friend who welds as a hobby and maybe for a case of beer you can get it done.
 
The best would be to build one. The reason is simple like said, you can have what you really want you don't have to choose what's is disponible. But, I recommend you to find a friend of yours that have welding experience. It is also sometimes not always easy to find the metal you need. My friend built two rails right here and I am also used to ride pvc in backyards but I honestly enjoy the metal feeling right beside the house. Here is a picture.
 
13606926:SammyDubz said:
Aluminum. Hardest metal out there, you'll never catch an edge.
Click to expand...

Lol. You might want to sharpen your edges before hitting an aluminum rail to make sure it slides nice.

OP. it's up to you. Depends on where you live. Check craigslist.I've actually seen some decent rails on there before.

As far as buying new stuff, there's nothing really that great for a good price on the market right now IMO. Actually planning on building and selling some rails for backyard use. Was going to do them this summer but I traveled a bunch and in the winter I'm busy building at ski areas.

If you have a friend, friends dad, uncle, whatever who welds that's a good way to go. You can order the steel right from a company. Can look up online or ask around for places in your area. If you're on the way, local, or order enough steel sometimes delivery is free. If not it could be $100 ish or you could pick it up there. Just make sure you have the means of securing it. Rope or ratchet straps is probably your best bet.

Honestly with a cheap sawzall and piece of shit welder you could build something good enough for your backyard. At the same time even the cheapest most garbage welder will run you close to $100. But then you still have the welder at the end of the day. If you go that route though you'd also need to buy an angle grinder. You can get a shitty cheap one from harbor freight for $14 but they suck and you might get 2 months, or 2 hours out of it. You never really know. On the plus, home depot just started selling a ryobi grinder for $29. It's not awesome, but it's pretty decent, and for the price it's hard to beat. I just grabbed one for work. Didn't want to be into it ore than that in case it breaks or gets stolen.

For under $200 you could get enough stuff to build some rails not including cost of steel.If you were going minimal as fuck you could do it for under $150.

Steel depends on what you want. You can look at an online metal shop to get an idea of the pricing. You might be paying a little more from your local place but it'll give you a pretty good idea.

If you can, scrounge up some scrap steel for legs and feet. Then you only need to purchase the actual top part of the rail that you'll be sliding.

As far as sizing, 8th inch is really all you need. I wouldn't go thinner than that, but you don't need to go any thicker either. Make sure your legs are spaces decently. If you're running 8th inch and have 10 feet at the end of the rail after the leg, it will bounce a bit.

Another option is to build a 2x4 frame and bolt steel to that similar to pvc. I would bolt that shit on proper though, and get it nice and snug. Instead of the lose feeling like some peoples pvc rails, it will be rock solid, and it won't ride any different than a proper metal rail.

Idk, if you like to build shit, have a few bucks, and like skiing rails enough to be using them for a few years, getting a cheap welding setup isn't a horrible idea. You can build stuff for yourself, and learn how to weld in the process. Not a bad skill to have. Also the nice thing with buying tools is, if you need it you have it. It'd nice to pick up a new tool once in a while. Then eventually you have a bit of everything, and if you need something you have a drill, some saws, grinder, welder, etc and can get things done.

I'll shut the fuck up but hope there was something helpful in there
 
Tbh I'm not sure how much a metal rail cost to make but I'd just stick with some well made pvc rails and save some money.
 
So I think I'm gonna get some long pieces of metal and secure them to some wooden legs, it would be cool to learn how to weld, but I don't wanna buy a welder and shit. So is steel the best bet? What do mountains use? I just wanna make sure it won't rust.
 
13607429:teflon66 said:
So I think I'm gonna get some long pieces of metal and secure them to some wooden legs, it would be cool to learn how to weld, but I don't wanna buy a welder and shit. So is steel the best bet? What do mountains use? I just wanna make sure it won't rust.
Click to expand...

Yeah get steel. It will rust but that's why you paint it. At the end of the season you can clean it up with a wire brush if you have a grinder, or use sandpaper/ a file if you don't.

I wouldn't just try to attach it to wooden legs. Build an actual frame out of 2x4. so that you have a piece on top the length of your steel. Drill through the ends of the steel and 2x4 and but a bolt in each end, tighten it down nice and snug. A little bit of cross bracing goes a long way on the 2x4 frame. Also sometimes if you don't, but make it as a rectangle. Put the ends on first, and cut the center legs the tiniest bit over, so that you you have to beat them into place a bit. Then when you screw them in it will be rock solid versus having a gap but still screwing it. If you can measure out a few 45's to cross brace, cut them a little bit long, and cut both angles so it sits right in the corner on each end. Pound it into place with a hammer, and then screw it in. That rail might outlast your house if done right.

Just saying might be worthwhile to make the frame rock solid if you're putting more money into this. 2x4s are cheap., so you might as well go all out.

I guess if not, and your frame implodes, you can always rebuild and re attach the steel to it.

Good luck.
 
Throw some primer and a decent paint on the frame as well. If you put some effort and make it nice, you don't want it to rot after a few years.
 
My friend made an arc welder out of a microwave. He ended up making a go cart out of it... Pretty powerful and didn't take long to make.
This guy makes some cool stuff.
 
I tried making a metal rail with a galvanized pipe I got at Home Depot mounted on a wooden frame and it slid horribly
 
I personally would just buy one because I wouldn't want to risk messing up the welds and ending up breaking it. There are many options out there for cheap metal rails, I just think I would want it professionally made.
 
13607974:schjf said:
I tried making a metal rail with a galvanized pipe I got at Home Depot mounted on a wooden frame and it slid horribly
Click to expand...

yeah the coating isnt smooth and would need to be cleaned up with a grinder which defeats the purpose honestly.

13608003:Austiin said:
I personally would just buy one because I wouldn't want to risk messing up the welds and ending up breaking it. There are many options out there for cheap metal rails, I just think I would want it professionally made.
Click to expand...

true. unless you find a welder who will hook you up, most of the features on the market arent cheap.
 
Check craigs list. I have found some amazing rails on there. Look up like "ski rail', "snowboard rail", "skateboard rail", "rail"
 
13608120:Austiin said:
Here is a cool site I found...they are selling a rail kit so all you have to do is assemble it.
http://backyardboxrails.com/buynow.php
Click to expand...

Personally I would avoid that. You end up without coping. On skis it's especially important when you're gripping the edge of the box. Otherwise if it get's chewed up over time you can hook in and snag in spots.

Also for that price I can tell you where to get a full 4'x8' sheet of 1/4" hdpe. Well 10 bucks more than the cheapest option there, and honestly that stuff is probably under 1/4" anyway.

Idk. I feel like if you're going to spend money trying to make it legit, you should go a little more legit or you're better off just saving $ and going with pvc. Running 1" ish tubes as wide as you want your "box". The upside is your edge piece on each side will obviously be round already.

13608261:mike759 said:
never tried this myself, but maybe try a skateboard rail:
http://borntoskateboard.net/ramps-and-rails/airwalk-56-grind-rail.html
http://borntoskateboard.net/ramps-a...r-x-skateboard-grind-rail-2-piece-design.html

there are a bunch on this website
Click to expand...

56" is WAYYYYYYYYYY to short to be useful in anyway honestly. For the most part the smallest features in the beginner parks are 8 feet long which is 96". And sometimes, MAYBE you'll find a 6' footer.

76" is still super short, just over 6' long. Also a lot of times those smaller skateboard rails have a seam. This one mentions two pieces so I'm going to get it does. It makes it easier to package, ship, put in the store, etc. You wouldn't really notice it much skating but you'd have the option of hooking an edge into it on your skis.

13608372:MichelJusten said:
Check craigs list. I have found some amazing rails on there. Look up like "ski rail', "snowboard rail", "skateboard rail", "rail"
Click to expand...

^ Do this

Obviously depends where you live and when you look but I've searched around NE years ago and found several metal rails 2 or 3 of them pretty nice at one time.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top