There are various solutions to make a gymnastics stability beam for household use. They can run the gamut from the most basic picket beam to one particular covered with carpet. Or you can make a extra elaborate harmony beam padded and wrapped in artificial suede. Nevertheless you decide, this job is not too tricky and can conserve you income. Most provides you require can be identified at a nearby home enhancement keep.
Initially a minimal background. All competitive gymnasts are needed to execute on the stability beam apparatus. Beams utilised in international gymnastics competitions must conform to the stringent rules and requirements established forth by the Global Gymnastics Federation Apparatus Norms. Originally, the harmony beam area was polished wood. Since the 1980s, beams have been protected in synthetic suede. Modern levels of competition beams are also sprung to accommodate the strain of substantial-trouble tumbling and dance techniques. This is why gymnasts who are competing can be incredibly unique about the apparatus they use at the health club vs the equipment you could make at residence. As a result, it is always a good notion to consider the amount of the gymnast when deciding to start out this project
The regulation length for a opposition balance beam is 16 ft 5 inches. Quite a few property owners can not accommodate an equipment of this dimensions in the dwelling, as a result make a decision to make a shorter one. Quite a few property-designed balance beams vary from 8 to 12 feet in size, having said that, all are a typical 4 inches in width. The height of the beam will count on in which it is utilised. We do not recommend applying stability beams outdoors as it can be complicated to get a secure floor to avoid wobbling. Your equipment should always be utilized on a flat surface.
For newbies age 3-6 a primary wood beam will present a great introduction to the sport. As the gymnast receives older this same equipment can be wrapped in carpet to give a bit of padding or you can pick to wrap it in synthetic suede to give it the sensible glimpse and sense of a conventional harmony beam.
Supplies
(6) 1 x 6 lumber 8 ft. extended (or any desired length)
(2) 2 x 4 lumber 20″ lengthy for the legs
Wooden Glue (these kinds of as Elmer’s Carpenters wood Glue)
3M Spray Adhesive
3″ wooden screws
Wood Stain
Industrial Carpet
Suede Topper for carpet beam (selection for carpet beam)
4 inch adhesive loop strip (option for padding)
Synthetic Suede Fabric (deal with possibility)
Iron leg brace option
C Clamps
Sandpaper
Step 1
Glue the 6 8-foot items of 1-by-6 inch pine lumber together so that their sides are entirely speaking to one a further. This will produce a block of wooden that is 8 toes extended with a facet of about 4.5 inches.
Glue liberally amongst the boards and use clamps to make confident that the glue fastens alone to the wooden. Allow dry overnight. Working with a Belt Sander go over whole beam and sand to smooth end. If staining your beam you can use finer quality sandpaper with an Orbital Sander to create a clean end. If covering the beam with carpet or Suede this move may well be omitted.
Step 2
For a stained wood beam. Following sanding to smooth finish, apply stain to your beam.
To make a carpet protected beam you will use significant-responsibility staples and wrap the beam with the carpet. Start out by stapling carpet to bottom aspect of the stability beam and tightly wrap carpet close to beam and staple underside of beam only. You may also use spray adhesive to further safe the carpet to the beam.
For a synthetic suede protected beam you will want to pad the beam very first working with a neoprene strip. It can be challenging to obtain 4 inch wide neoprene which is applied on specialist beams thus a lot of household-created beams use yoga mats to pad the beam. You do not want the beam to be also soft so nominal padding is wanted. Do not staple padding. Use glue only as staples will bring about dimples. You can also use 4 inch vast adhesive peel and stick loop to produce padding as properly. Proceed attaching the suede to the beam by making use of spray adhesive to the top rated and sides of the equilibrium beam. Doing work from the base of the beam, staple the Suede together the base. This is a 2 particular person job as one demands to tightly pull the Suede all around the beam evenly while it is becoming secured with the adhesive. Make certain your balance beam is completely dry right before use.
Step 3
For a simple beam you will screw the (2) 20 inch 2 x 4 wood braces to each conclude. Position every single brace at a 90 diploma angle to the beam 12 inches from each conclusion.
Alternatively, you can buy iron produced equilibrium beam braces you merely screw into the base of your beam. These braces appear in a selection of heights and can even make your beam adjustable. It is achievable to change your simple beam to steel braces later on on. One particular gain to metallic braces is they are tall adequate to allow a mat to slide beneath the harmony beam even though the gymnast is using it.
Warning
Use property-produced stability beams at your individual discretion. As your beam is not a professionally manufactured piece of devices it is only as powerful as your craftsmanship. Use with supervision as gymnastics is a sport with inherent hazard of probable injuries.