Building a practice grind rail

Tools Required

• A length of scaffolding pole (steel is better, but harder to nick and more difficult to drill).
• A drill with a range of bits for drilling steel.
• A Black & Decker workmate or similar to hold the pole while drilling.
• One of those drill bits for drilling 1" wide holes in wood.
• A pencil and ruler.
• Wood screws, washers, and a good screwdriver. Number and type described below.
• A length of wood, 1" by 12" as long as your rail.
• Sections of wood, 1" by 12" and as long as you want your rail high (max 12")

  The number of screws, washers and wood sections depends on the length of rail you want to build. For each support, you will want 4 screws, 2 washers and 1 wood section.

  The screws should have a head no larger than the biggest metal drill bit you have (no more than 10mm) but a narrower thread (5mm is good) and be about 1.5" in length.

  The washers need to be fairly big. The outside diameter of about 20mm, the inside diameters bigger than the screw thread, but smaller than the screw head.

  You will need to have one support at each end, then one every 3-4ft. So if you have a 10ft rail, you put a 1ft support at each end, leaving an 8ft gap. You then only need on more support in the middle. So work out how many supports you are going to need, and collect all of your tools.

Procedure to follow

1. Measure out and place your supports on the base.
2. Mark the positions of the supports and remove. Do the same on the other side.
3. Within the area marked out for each support, use the wood drill bit to cut 2 holes half way through the base from the under side, as in Figure 1 below.
   
   Figure 1 - recessing screws in base

4. Place the base upside down on the supports, put a washer in each hole, and screw the base onto the supports. Turn the whole thing back up the right way so it site on the base.
5. Lay the pole on the supports as it will be fixed, then mark two points to drill the pole for each support as in figure 2 below.
   
   Figure 2 - Side view of the whole rail

6. Secure the rail and using a drill bit the same diameter as the screw thread (or slightly larger of necessary) drill vertically down through both sides of the pole where marked.
7. Swap the drill bit for one slightly bigger than the screw head, and enlarge the holes on the upper side of the pole.
8. You should now be able to drop a screw through the top hole, so the thread goes through the bottom hole. Put the pole on the supports, and screw it down by inserting the screwdriver through the top hole, as in Figure 3
   
   Figure 3 - cross section through completed rail.

Your rail should now be complete. Before jumping on it in your skates, try pulling and twisting it to ensure it is safe. If it feels safe, put your skates on and give it a go.