| Project by Robban | posted 211 days ago | 597 views | 1 time favorited | 8 comments |  |
 |
Here is a small climbing board with grips for climbing training that I just finished (a little late for getting into shape for this year’s season…)
Commercial climbing boards usually are VERY plastic and quite unwieldy. There are a couple of wood ones available, but they are big and expensive. I wanted a small, compact one that would not look right out of a gym shop, and also with a little (wood-)aesthetic to it.
The board is from 4 cm thick cherry wood and measures approximately 50 by 30 cm. All grips are different, either in shape, depth and/or “grip-friendliness”. The edges are differently profiled as well to provide different grip combinations. The celtic triquetra in the middle is just for fun, that space looked a little bland. The finish is tung oil.
One hour ago, I discovered (before drilling, I am happy to say) that the planned place for the board above a door would not be able to hold the screws. So it will require some more thinking before I can start working out…
8 comments so far
scrappy
home | projects | blog
1609 posts in 325 days
posted 210 days ago
Nice design. Haven’t used one of those in years…. (god i’m getting old)
Great work. Especially with the different types of grip. I’ve seen others that the edge was the same on all holes. Mother nature never did that!
Wonce mounted solidly, it should give you a good workout.
Again, Nice work.
Scrappy
-- Scrap Wood's the best...the projects are smaller, and so is the mess!
Betsy
home | projects | blog
2386 posts in 790 days
posted 210 days ago
Looks nice – but I give – a climbing board? Not sure how this works. How do you get a workout with this? You’ve got my curiosity going now.
-- You can't get a hug from Facebook.
Geologist
home | projects | blog
30 posts in 231 days
posted 210 days ago
Great job! I need one of those as well, particularly since I”m moving out to New Mexico and am looking to do some rock climbing while I’m out there. How did you carve out the grips?
Thanks,
TreVor
a1Jim
home | projects | blog
16776 posts in 471 days
posted 210 days ago
first one I’ve ever seen looks good.
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Robban
home | projects | blog
3 posts in 729 days
posted 210 days ago
Betsy- It is mainly a tool for training your finger strength. You usually have it over a door, and practice pull-ups using different combinations of grips, or pull yourself up and move around between differnt grips using different angles to build finger and underarm strength.
Geologist- Most of the job is done using a hand router, followed by using rasp, dremel and sanding. The more 3D structure you can make between the grips too, the better the board looks, even if you cannot use them for practice. You have to resist the temptation to make the finish inside the grips too smooth, or the friction will become very low.
The next project at home is a small climbing wall using only grips made from different types of wood. I am in the process of collecting pieces of different woods for that…
mzmac
home | projects | blog
76 posts in 561 days
posted 209 days ago
Very nice I need to use the finger board more often. I always wanted to make one of these.
Griffindork
home | projects | blog
43 posts in 203 days
posted 203 days ago
I should make one of these for my Step-Dad, he’d enjoy it. Don’t know the first thing about climbing tho. Looks good, either way.
Duplenty
home | projects | blog
11 posts in 277 days
posted 199 days ago
Niiiice! I work at the biggest climbing gym in Norway, I’ll send a link to this this to my bosses right away!
-- Carpent! And thou shalt be saved....