DIY CLIMBING WALL INSTRUCTIONS
Building a climbing wall at home is a fairly simple task with the right tools and guidance. In this post we give you the instructions to install wooden panels to a brick or concrete wall or surface.
1. Building a climbing wall at home with a wooden panel (2.4m x 1.2m)
These instructions show you how to install a vertical climbing wall using a plywood panel (2.4m x 1.2m)
- Average grip coverage is 7 – 12 grips per square metre depending on who will be using the wall and the difficulty of the route set.
- For younger children more grips per square metre will make the grips closer together and easier to climb.
- For older children and adults less grips per square metre will make the grips further apart and more challenging to climb.
materials & tools required
Materials:
- Climbing Grips
- Plywood Panels: 18mm to 21mm thick plywood. (2.4m x 1.2m)
- Timber planks – 38mm x 76mm x 2400mm (one for each long edge of the panel)
- 6 x anchor shields (3 per plank)
- 100mm Set Screws x 6 (3 per plank)
- 6 x Washers
- 16 x Wood screws – 55mm x 5mm (eight for each panel/plank)
- 70 – 100 x T-nuts
- Primer (water based)
- Paint (textured acrylic) or Varnish (for a natural wood finish)
Fittings:
- Cap Screws (1per grip)
Tools:
- Allan Key
- Impact Drill, 10mm wood bit masonry bit.
- Screw driver for screws.
METHOD:
To prepare the panel:
- Paint/ Varnish the panel.
- Either chalk line or mark the spots for drilling (there are different grid patterns depending on the amount of holes you would like to use)
- Drill 10mm holes from the front of the panel to the back for the T-nuts.
- Turn the panel over so that the face is down and hammer the T-nuts to the backside (be sure to hammer in straight so that grips lie flush when fitted)
Fitting the panel to the wall:
- Measure and mark the wall for positioning.
- Drill 3 x 10mm holes in the planks of wood. (20cm from top / bottom, and one in the middle)
- Place the planks against the wall and mark the 3 holes using the drill. Move the plank, and drill the wall 8-9cm deep with the masonry bit (include recess for bolt heads so the panel lies flush against the planks)
- Remove the sheaths from the anchor shield bolts, put the set screws though the holes in the plank and attach the sheaths at the back.
- Put the planks against the wall, anchor shields/screws in the holes, and tighten.
- Place the panel against the planks, and screw through both with the wood screws (roughly 30cm apart). Touch up paint over the screw holes for cosmetics.
- Attach the grips by inserting the cap screw through the grip, and slowly turn the cap screw as you insert it into the hole with the allan key. Don’t push, as you may push the T-nut out the back ( some thread will protrude from the back of the t nut)
- Tighten the grips ensuring not to overtighten thinner/smaller grips.
2.building a climbing wall at home with a wooden panel (1.2m x 400mm)
These instructions show you how to install a vertical climbing wall using a plywood panel (2.4m x 400mm or 200mm)
- Average grip coverage is 7 – 12 grips per square metre depending on who will be using the wall and the difficulty of the route set.
- For younger children more grips per square metre will make the grips closer together and easier to climb.
- For older children and adults less grips per square metre will make the grips further apart and more challenging to climb.
- These panels can be installed vertically, horizontally or they can be staggered diagonally.
MATERIALS & TOOLS REQUIRED
Materials:
- Climbing Grips
- Plywood Panels: 18mm to 21mm thick plywood. (2.4m x 400 or 200mm)
- 3 x Rawl Bolts (3 per panel)
- 10 x T-nuts
- Primer (water based)
- Paint (textured acrylic) or Varnish (for a natural wood finish)
Fittings:
- Cap Screws (1per grip)
Tools:
- Allan Key
- Impact Drill
METHOD:
To prepare the panel:
- Paint/ Varnish the panel.
- Either chalk line or mark the spots for drilling (there are different grid patterns depending on the amount of holes you would like to use)
- Drill holes from the front of the panel to the back for the T-nuts.
- Turn the panel over so that the face is down and hammer the T-nuts to the backside (be sure to hammer in straight so that grips lie flush when fitted)
Fitting the panel to the wall:
- Measure and mark the wall for positioning.
- Drill 3 x holes in the panel(two on the upper part of the panel and one on the bottom)
- Place the panel against the wall and mark the 3 holes using the drill. Move the panel, and drill the wall 8-9cm deep with the masonry bit
- Remove the sheaths from the anchor shield boltsand place in the holes made gainst the walls.
- Put the panel against the wall, put cap screws in the holes and anchor shields, and tighten.
- Attach the grips by inserting the cap screw through the grip, and slowly turn the cap screw as you insert it into the hole with the allan key. Don’t push, as you may push the T-nut out the back ( some thread will protrude from the back of the t nut)
- Tighten the grips ensuring not to overtighten thinner/smaller gr
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