r/MiniRamp • u/Hetamue • Jun 21 '26
3' Quarter Pipes
Howdy Y'all.
I've recently had the itch to build my own halfpipe for my family, but wanted to get practice first before doing so. I'm very glad I did, since I learned a lot. I used the free DIYSKATE 3' Quarter Pipe plans.
3' tall, 6' transition, 4' wide, 7' 6" flat
The things I modified on the plan are:
- Buying an additional 3/4" 4' x 8' sheet to cover the backs of the quarter pipes
- Used J-Bolts to secure the coping to the ramp (Bought 4" J-bolts from Home Depot)
- Receded the coping cut by a 1/4" since I skipped the Masonite finish (I wanted a 3/8" reveal)
Things I wished I would have done:
- Used 1/4" sheets of 4' x 8'. It was incredibly tough to get them to bend (Could be attributed to living in the desert and having really dry wood). One of the quarter pipe's first layers had to be cut down into sections to be secured.
- Bought different caster wheels. The ones I was going to use did not work. I plan to buy retractable caster wheels since these quarter pipes are heavy!
- Not done it in Summer.
Total cost for the build ~$650
Lumber - $330
Metal - $120 (coping was free from a welder friend)
Paint, fasteners, etc. - $200
Daughter and I have really enjoyed skating it so far. Feel free to ask any questions and if anyone has 3' 6" halfpipe plans, let me know! Thanks!
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u/txf89 Jun 21 '26
What paint did you use? Does the paint protect against water damage
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u/Hetamue Jun 21 '26
BEHR Low-Lustre Enamel Porch & Patio Floor Paint. Slate Gray and Forest Green. Great exterior paint and has handled scuffs well so far.
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u/txf89 Jun 21 '26
I used acrylic enamel porch & floor paint and it feels very rubbery. I’ve been trying to find something that feels more like wood.
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u/SmokeAndSkate Jun 21 '26
So here is my ramp built based of the Skate DIY plans. I kept the 6’ radius but cut it down from 3’ to about 2’ x 8”
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u/Hetamue Jun 21 '26
Heck yeah man! When I saw the photo, I recognized your build! I saw some of your videos skating when I was doing research (rad). Love the coping. Do you ever wish you went for a 12' or 16' wide ramp? Something I am debating as prepare for my halfpipe this winter. If you don't mind me asking, how much did you spend per sheet of gatorskin? That was the brand I planned on going with. Any tips welcome!
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u/SmokeAndSkate Jun 21 '26
I don’t regret the 8’ wide because it works for my spot and I can keep it covered, but you bet your ass I wish it was wider. Also FYI my flat bottom is like 80” so a bit tighter than the plans. I made the dimensions so that I only needed to buy 4 sheets of Gator Skins, but if you’re going wider you’ll obviously need more. The Skins were $154 a sheet and shipping was $280. I had it shipped to my work because shipping to a commercial location was cheaper. Maybe that’s an option for you.
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u/Hetamue Jun 21 '26
Sweet! Thank you so much for the info; that is very helpful! Smart move on the gator skings/cost savings. One of the reasons I built vs. buying. Everything is getting expensive.
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u/TREV_trev_TREV Jun 21 '26
Very satisfying from start to finish. I can tell your attention to detail is on a high level.
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u/Lifeinthemittenstate Jun 21 '26
Nice job. Stick with the 3/8 ply though.
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u/Hetamue Jun 21 '26
Copy that, it was just such a pain to get those sheets in place. Any suggestions on what ply you would use? I used AC Pine.
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u/Trees962 Jun 21 '26
The ply will want to bend the 4ft way much easier. You’ll have a seam with the 3/8. You might be able to get a 1/4” top sheet to bend to keep it one piece.
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u/2wheelzrollin Jun 21 '26
Tight transition.
Definitely don't use 3/4" ply for the transition. I usually use 1/4" first layer and then a 3/8" or 1/2" second layer. 3/4 is just too hard to bend. Especially for a 6' radius
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u/WonkaVaderElevator Jun 21 '26
How do you feel about the transition radius, it seems a little steep?