Marinegeekswife
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The project took approximately 6 hours of work (split over 2 days) and $150 in supplies. The wall is very close to trial regulations but is slightly narrower than regulation because plywood boards come in 4 foot wide pieces and regulation is 59 inches wide.
Here is what supplies you'll need:
2 Plywood boards 7/16th in x 4 ft x 8 ft OSB (will be cut to 75 in long)
3 1x2 boards 96 in long (will be cut in half) *Edited to correct size of boards*
6 2x3 boards 96 in long (will be cut to 75 in long)
2 rolls of 4 ft x 8 ft astro turf
2 5 ft lengths of chain (look for dog tie-out chain or a chain with a high load limit)
4 threaded eye hooks (make sure the clips will fit the hooks)
4 double sided clips
3 heavy duty hinges
52 3 in wood screws
Staples
Tools you'll need:
Power saw
Power drill
Dremel with sanding head and with reinforced metal cutting head
Sand paper (we used a power sander but not necessary)
Staple gun
Sharp knife/scissors
Measuring tape
Pencil for marking
Spock helping us shop
Setting up (quit laughing we don't have saw horses and had to improvise)
The supplies
Marking and cutting boards. The plywood is trimmed to 4 ft by 75 inches, 6 of the 2x3s are trimmed to 75 inches (save the excess for the horizontal framing pieces, those have to be custom cut to each space), the 6 1x3s are cut in half (approx 48 in long).
Spock helping
The vertical supports for the under frame are in place. Held in place with a screw on either end and in the center.
The horizontal frame pieces are now in place, too. Held in place with a screw on either end of each section.
We couldn't trim the screw tips off at first so we tried duct tape pads, lol. It would have worked but we ended up going back and grinding the tips off the next day for safety. But here is the astro turf in place on side one. The astro turf is held in place with the staples from the staple gun.
Trying it out
Placing the "cleats". Held in place by a screw on either end and one in the center. The cleats are placed at 10 inches, 22 inches, and 34 inches from the top edge of the plywood to the top edge of the cleat.
River carrying around a wooden block
The completed first half and Spock with his own wooden block.
Pat made me pose with it
Grinding the screw tips off with the Dremel. Be sure to grind as close to the wood as possible so there isn't any excess sticking up that a dog could get cut by.
Cutting the astro turf to fit the board. We did it after stapling it in place (pulling tightly while stapling to be sure it is nice and tight).
Sanding the cleats. Be sure to sand all edges and round all corners and sharp edges so no one gets a splinter or cut. You should be able to run your hands all over them in every direction when they are done.
About to join the two pieces! Turn them over so they are face down and put the two top edges together. (The ends with the cleats are the tops.)
River wasn't a huge fan of the noisy power tools
Placing the hinges, first on one half and then join the two pieces. Place the hinges on either end and one in the middle.
Now that both sides are joined we folded the two piece onto each other for storage and carrying.
Added bonus! The double clips for the chains can clip into the eye hooks on either side to hold it closed.
Setting it up for the first use! Take a section of the extra astro turf and cut it to the width of the wall. Place this over the top of the wall to protect the dogs from the edges of the wood and the hinges. Clip the chains in place at equal lengths to help hold it up, especially at lower heights.
River peeking out the dog door. We put her inside so Spock could try the wall without her underfoot. She'll get to try it tomorrow.
Trying out the new wall! Up and over! Looks like a success!
For the record, the thing is VERY heavy. I had trouble lifting my end. Tomorrow we're going back to Home Depot to find wheels. We're going to put them on one side of it so we can wheel it in and out of the garage. We're also considering handles for easier carrying but not sure about that one, yet. I'll get photos of the new pieces and us working on it tomorrow.
Here is what supplies you'll need:
2 Plywood boards 7/16th in x 4 ft x 8 ft OSB (will be cut to 75 in long)
3 1x2 boards 96 in long (will be cut in half) *Edited to correct size of boards*
6 2x3 boards 96 in long (will be cut to 75 in long)
2 rolls of 4 ft x 8 ft astro turf
2 5 ft lengths of chain (look for dog tie-out chain or a chain with a high load limit)
4 threaded eye hooks (make sure the clips will fit the hooks)
4 double sided clips
3 heavy duty hinges
52 3 in wood screws
Staples
Tools you'll need:
Power saw
Power drill
Dremel with sanding head and with reinforced metal cutting head
Sand paper (we used a power sander but not necessary)
Staple gun
Sharp knife/scissors
Measuring tape
Pencil for marking
Spock helping us shop
Setting up (quit laughing we don't have saw horses and had to improvise)
The supplies
Marking and cutting boards. The plywood is trimmed to 4 ft by 75 inches, 6 of the 2x3s are trimmed to 75 inches (save the excess for the horizontal framing pieces, those have to be custom cut to each space), the 6 1x3s are cut in half (approx 48 in long).
Spock helping
The vertical supports for the under frame are in place. Held in place with a screw on either end and in the center.
The horizontal frame pieces are now in place, too. Held in place with a screw on either end of each section.
We couldn't trim the screw tips off at first so we tried duct tape pads, lol. It would have worked but we ended up going back and grinding the tips off the next day for safety. But here is the astro turf in place on side one. The astro turf is held in place with the staples from the staple gun.
Trying it out
Placing the "cleats". Held in place by a screw on either end and one in the center. The cleats are placed at 10 inches, 22 inches, and 34 inches from the top edge of the plywood to the top edge of the cleat.
River carrying around a wooden block
The completed first half and Spock with his own wooden block.
Pat made me pose with it
Grinding the screw tips off with the Dremel. Be sure to grind as close to the wood as possible so there isn't any excess sticking up that a dog could get cut by.
Cutting the astro turf to fit the board. We did it after stapling it in place (pulling tightly while stapling to be sure it is nice and tight).
Sanding the cleats. Be sure to sand all edges and round all corners and sharp edges so no one gets a splinter or cut. You should be able to run your hands all over them in every direction when they are done.
About to join the two pieces! Turn them over so they are face down and put the two top edges together. (The ends with the cleats are the tops.)
River wasn't a huge fan of the noisy power tools
Placing the hinges, first on one half and then join the two pieces. Place the hinges on either end and one in the middle.
Now that both sides are joined we folded the two piece onto each other for storage and carrying.
Added bonus! The double clips for the chains can clip into the eye hooks on either side to hold it closed.
Setting it up for the first use! Take a section of the extra astro turf and cut it to the width of the wall. Place this over the top of the wall to protect the dogs from the edges of the wood and the hinges. Clip the chains in place at equal lengths to help hold it up, especially at lower heights.
River peeking out the dog door. We put her inside so Spock could try the wall without her underfoot. She'll get to try it tomorrow.
Trying out the new wall! Up and over! Looks like a success!
For the record, the thing is VERY heavy. I had trouble lifting my end. Tomorrow we're going back to Home Depot to find wheels. We're going to put them on one side of it so we can wheel it in and out of the garage. We're also considering handles for easier carrying but not sure about that one, yet. I'll get photos of the new pieces and us working on it tomorrow.