What to do with extra materials??

[Iansaws]

I am coordinating a project in South Georgia to build a 40 ft, three sided climbing tower to be used by blind clildren at the Georgia Lion's Camp for the Blind. The entire project is being funded by private donations as the Camp budget is on a shoestring due in part to the fires that were perilously close to it this past spring. We are still in the fund raising stage, but hope to go into the final construction phase this fall.

Last December Lowes in Waycross, Ga generously donated most of the wood that we will be using for construction. They delivered over 160 pressure treated 2 x 10 x 10's... which was great, but we only needed 2 x 10 x 8's. So we will have to trim 2 ft off each board. Thats a lot of trim and I was hoping to come up with something brillant and easy to build with all these left over 2 x 10 x 2's. I thought maybe some kind of bench seating around the tower or brail signage. Anyone got any great ideas?? Please help.

[TheRic]

How about steps in the side of a hill, would not have to be solid wood, could be packed dirt, and the wood to hold it in place.

Steps and/or platforms to doors to various buildings, maybe even make a design out of them. Probally would have to joint some together to make longer pieces (or buy a couple of longer pieces).

Landscaping edging around trees, gardens, etc.

Come up with an joint to make longer pieces then use as you needed.

Platforms under showers around a beach?

Remember you can work them into a patern that could be huge. Might just need to get longer pieces for the edge.

Just a few random thoughts. Try sitting back with a couple of friends and a few drinks, might be surprised what you come up with.

[gwyneth]

Walkways.

Human chess/checkers board but instead of dark and light, difference indicated by ribs or direction of wood.

Large sign/list in braille to record the name of each successful climber.

[Iansaws]

I knew you guys would come to the rescue

These are the kind of ideas I was hoping for. Perfect. The chess board idea is very interesting and i like the idea of steps, but around the inside of the tower maybe.

By the way Ric, sitting around with a few friends and some beer is how this whole idea got started.

Cheers!!

[gwyneth]

As always, the problem with projects to use extra materials is that if they're any good, you'll probably need more materials.

[ksum]

You will need steps of some sort up the inside of the tower to gainaccess to the top. Could you use them for the tread?

Dont overlook reinforcing the belay points a little more than your plans may call for, since you will have the scrap to do it with. You will probably be able to use some of them up for any tempoirary bracing you will need too.

What is the outside surface going to be? The area where the t-nuts will be going in for the handholds to attach to? If it is ply, you may want to reinforce the back of it to keep it from pushing in as people try to climb the wall.

A storage box for mechanical belay devices if htey are the types that do not have moving parts (If you are using figure 8's or stitch plates) as well as some other things that will be useful to keep at the site, like a few hex's to tighten the bolts on the t-nuts, and screw drivers to tighten screw-on holds. Also additional t-nus, bolts and screws. I volunteer to guide for Gallaudet University. They have a climbing tower there and could really use these things. Put it inside the tower to deter break-ins.

One thing they woul dlike to have at Gallaudet is a platform that folds up over the climbing holds at the bottom of the tower to allow them to keep the holds on, but keep people from climbing. The platform woud then fold down for people to walk on when they are getting ready to climb. There would also be large eye bolts in it to anchor the belayer. S omething that most places don't seem to do, but probably should.

Before asked, Ihave been guiding for the university for 15 years, climbing for 24. Dong, has it been that long? I don't feel that old...

Karl

[Iansaws]

Thanks for all the great ideas.

Thanks for the suggestions Karl. The Tower is being built on four 50 ft power poles that have already been donated, set and guyed down. They are placed to form a 10 x 10 square and are about 7-8 ft in the ground. Next there will be 4 x 6's placed between the poles at 4 ft spacing all the way up. To these horizontal members the face will be attached. This is where the 2 x 10 x 10's will be placed vertically. The spaceing on the 4 x 6's could be set to 5 ft and the whole 2 x 10 x 10 could be used but it isn't recommended and not as sturdy I guess. That call will be made when construction starts.