Rock Climbing Wall » Climbing Rock

Putting The Finishing Touches To A Climbing Wall

admin — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:01:02 +0000

So, you have finished construction of your climbing wall. Once the woodwork is complete, it is very important to go on to the final phase of your climbing wall, i.e. painting and final finishing. Your wall should look like a mountain face and should be safe to practice on.
You can sand the surface, which you want to be painted. Remove any sharp edges in your ply joints and also around your drill holes by sanding them with a sanding machine or manually. Then apply a coat of primer to the wood. You can also apply latex primer if you want the wood to have a genuine sand or rock like finish. Primer helps the paint to stick well with the wood and hence prevents chipping and bubbling. If your wood is wet, then you will have to dry it first before you can start applying anything on it.
Mildew can also be removed from wood by applying bleach mixed with water at a 1:4 ratio. You can use any exterior paint for your climbing wall and since most of them have a fungicidal agent added to the paint, it should prevent further mildew attacks from taking place. To protect any non-painted surface or the floor, cover them with old newspapers or cloth or apply tape on it.
If you are planning to provide a sand like finish to your climbing wall then you can add sand to your paint in the ratio of 1:10. Since sand settles down very fast in your paint pan or container, you will have to constantly keep on stirring your paint mixture before every application. You can also change the sand to paint ratio to achieve a different finish. Also, you can use golf tees to plug in your T nut holes so that the primer and paint does not go into the threading of your T nut.
If it does, you will have a hard time fitting your holds. The final touch is bolting on your holds and jugs to your wall. You can use different footholds at the bottom of your wall, but as you progress higher, you will require very few and none at the top. As per your climbing skills and the construction of your wall you will require some jugs at the bottom and some at the top of your wall. You can buy an entire ready made set of plastic or wooden holds which just need to be bolted on to your wall. Buy one according to the size of your wall and the number of holds required.
You will also require a good mattress, which breaks your fall without breaking your bones in case you slip and fall. The mattress should be around 10 to 12 inches thick and should not only cover the entire base of the wall but should also extend away so as to cushion your fall if you slip while swinging from one hold to another. Your final finished wall should look like a genuine rock wall for you to get into the real mood of rock climbing.
So, once your climbing wall is ready, go in for a test climb. Then call your friends and neighbors over for a rock climbing competition and have fun. Arrange rock climbing related theme parties. Happy climbing.

How To Design A Climbing Wall

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 14:03:55 +0000

The three-dimensional model you made of poster board or construction paper is now ready to be transitioned to design drawing. Begin with a simple sketch to define the dimensions. CAD or computer aided design software may be used or you can draw it by hand. CAD is not required, if you can define the entire dimension mathematically.
Each joint or edge should be labeled for the exact distance from the last joint. The distance from existing structure such as wall, floor, ceiling is to be referred. Establish distances, angles and dimensions of the entire structure. Take into consideration the thickness of the plywood sheathing, and the wall studs also, considering the width of the anchoring structure and keep sufficient margins.
Lumber: Actual size and Nominal size
In the US, the size of the unfinished wood is called as nominal size, after the wood is plainer and sanded to the actual size. Usually plaining and sanding will scrape off a quarter or half inch from the nominal size. However, plywood has the same nominal and actual size.
In over hanging sections, spacing and size of the joist will dictate the joist span length. Greater span lengths require larger joists.
An engineer is the right person to determine the design specifications for an overhanging wall, as many factors such as strength of the wood, reinforcement of the joists, and the type of anchor has to be considered.
Climbing walls being heavy need really strong support. The support should not only be able to bear the live load of the climbers, but also bear dead load of the wall itself. Live load of the climbers varies with every move the climber makes and at times can be many times the weight of the climber. The stress the wall undergoes requires it to be supported strongly, if the climbing wall is going to be supported by an existing structure. Then you have to make sure that the existing structure is strong enough to support the climbing wall.
Vertical walls transfer all the weight to the floor, but also exert angular force on the joints away from the wall. In steep overhang sections, three forces are acting on the wall; the weight of the wall itself, the climbers weight, and the forces caused by the climber’s movement. It is advised to seek expert’s and specialist’s opinion before proceeding.
The load the wall is likely to be subjected to will determine the type and size of the joists, anchors, and the thickness of wall studs. Existing structure should be strong enough to take the load of the climbers and should hold itself after being subjected to enormous stress exerted by the climbers. In vertical walls the plywood will offer a lot of vertical strength, but the support should be strong enough to take the live load stress, torque, and resist shearing.
Taking expert advice from structural engineers will ensure that all engineering considerations are taken into account and specifications for the material required finalized. Once this is done, you will be better placed to budget for the material required to build the climbing wall.

Build a Climbing Wall- The Planning Phase

admin — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:17:17 +0000

Before preparing the plan of the climbing wall, clear and concise training objectives have to be defined. The wall could be built to increase your muscular strength or increase endurance. Different types of configurations are responsible for imparting the type of training desired.
Once the objective is finalized, identifying the location is the next important step to be taken. Climbing walls can be built to fit any size; even if the space is limited an awesome wall can still be built to be effective in your training. Different rock shape, curves, turns, and angles can be achieved by being a little creative.
Climbing walls are generally used for training purposes, hence there is much importance attached to the defining of training needs. When the objective is to increase the endurance then the walls have to be built vertical and if the training objective is to increase strength then the use of overhangs is required. After defining your training objective the next step is to visualize the basic shape and form of the climbing wall. Different sizes, shapes and angles will make the wall more interesting and appealing.
When training objectives, area available, and funds and material required are taken into account, a realistic mental plan of the wall is formed. The creative planning process includes preparing a scale model of the mental plan. The design phase, which is more analytical and deals with the quantifiable aspects of wall constructions, comes next.
After taking into consideration the height and width, a scale model can be built using heavy poster board or construction paper. An ideal scale would be 1 inch equivalent to 1 foot. The scale model built should be easy to work with and easy to replicate. When using poster board do not try and bend the board to fit the angles, as the plywood during the actual construction is less flexible.
Climbing walls are three-dimensional and two dimensional paper drawings do not help in conceptualizing the building plan. The three-dimensional model will help in ironing out any flaws at the conceptual stage itself. Establishing the shape, height, and width is possible with the model. You can also have a ballpark cost estimate worked out with the three-dimensional model.
If the wall is going to be installed on an existing structure then the structural strength of that structure assumes importance, as it should be able to take the additional stress of the wall being installed.
Freestanding walls offer many advantages that walls fixed on existing structures don’t. Freestanding walls are portable and can be transported to a new location; they do not damage existing structures, and are suitable for renters. However, freestanding walls are difficult to design and are certainly more expensive than the fixed walls. The freestanding wall structure has to support its own weight and have a perfect balance so as not tip over in case of all climbers are on the same side.
Modular plans can be assembled and reassembled in different shapes and angles according to the training needs of the climbers. Plans with adjustable angles offer more flexibility in creating shapes that challenge the climber’s physical abilities and also help in overcoming space constraints.

All You Need To Know About A Rock Climbing Wall

admin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 14:01:13 +0000

A rock climbing wall is a manufactured wall that can be found in gyms and amusement/theme parks. This wall provides a safe alternative to beginners interested in climbing. Instead of starting to learn the tricks and intricacies of rock climbing on a natural mountain, that can be extremely dangerous, the learner can hone his skills under the guidance of experienced trainers and gradually progress towards climbing natural cliffs and rock faces. Even non-serious climbers can have fun climbing these walls during their leisure time.
Rock climbing is an excellent sport that not only offers fun, but also provides a full body workout. It is a superb way to get into a great shape. However, it may not be everyone’s cup of tea. Apart from the physical stress and strain involved, special equipment used for rock climbing needs to be hired for testing and improving your skills on a climbing wall. The gym or park lets you hire this equipment on payment of charges on a ‘by the hour’ basis. Some times other charges like entry or membership fees etc also need to be paid. This makes it an expensive hobby to indulge in. Even if you buy your own equipment, it will cost you a tidy sum, as climbing equipment is fairly expensive. If you are a serious climber, you might save a bit in the long run.
Rock climbing walls are specially built structures that have adequate hand and footholds that allow a climber to scale the wall. Without exposure to such holds that simulate those offered by natural rocks and crevices, it would be impossible for any climber to learn advancing up a mountain face. Different rock climbing walls are manufactured to offer varying degrees of difficulties in climbing. A small wall in a theme park may not be all that grand and a gym would be a much better option.
You can start by training to overcome easy obstacles in climbing during the initial stages of learning and as you gain experience, you can gradually learn to tackle progressively higher and varied difficulties. A gym has the facilities to let you learn the basics at your own pace and progress towards learning new styles and techniques of rock climbing, using the climbing wall.
Rock climbing walls are artificially constructed using brick or wood. More modern constructions use manufactured steel and aluminum. Other types of climbing walls are of premade fiberglass panels, granite slabs and concrete sprayed on wire mesh. One of the most popular materials used to manufacture climbing walls are thick multiplex boards with drilled holes. Every hole houses a special arrangement allowing modular hand holds to be fixed on the wall.
The whole face of the climbing surface of the multiplex board is covered with textured products. Concrete, paint and polyurethane loaded with sand are also used. Apart from the textured surface, the wall can have many surface structures that can be in the form of overhangs, underhangs, indentations, cracks, and protrusion. Grips to resemble outdoor rock face are also formed on the walls. Some oversized grips may have smaller grips bolted on to them.

Rock Climbing Walls- A Good Training Aid

admin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 08:58:31 +0000

While outdoor rock climbing is an excellent sport, it is also fraught with risks. You could lose a foothold or you could get caught up in a blizzard or a snowstorm and get frostbitten. Rock climbing also requires proper time and planning. The time spent on planning and reaching your mountain could be more than the time you actually spend on rock climbing. Enter indoor wall rock climbing.
This type of rock climbing where you can climb a wall fitted with footholds and even finger holds can be installed inside your house or even in your backyard. This arrangement offers you almost the same joys of rock climbing without the associated risks. Since you can indulge in rock climbing on a regular basis, you could plan your schedule so that you can train regularly on it. In the long run rock climbing can help you increase your strength in your arms, legs and even fingers and regular training can also build up your stamina.
Once you have built a rock-climbing wall or if you have installed one professionally, then you and your family can slowly start practicing climbing it. You can start with the easy sections first, and if you have a wall with an overhang, then that section should be attempted last, since it places a lot of stress on your hands and fingers. The holds on the wall should also be interchangeable and movable. This will enable you to keep changing their positions to keep your climb interesting and you could also increase your level of difficulty in future by fixing fewer holds.
By adhering to a routine, you can take in all the advantages which rock climbing walls can offer. If it is kept indoors, you can even practice when it is raining or snowing. For city dwellers, a rock-climbing wall is a very practical investment in keeping fit, as it is not possible for them to go outside the city regularly to do rock climbing. You can attach a harness with an auto-belay to help you train alone if your rock-climbing wall has an overhang or if the difficulty level is high. For a simple wall, this might not be required, but a thick soft mat should be spread at the foot of the wall to prevent any injuries in case you slip and fall.
In case it is not possible to install a climbing wall in or out of your house, then you could join a gym, which has one. This makes for an interesting change in workout, when you go to the gym and they would also have trained instructors to correct you in case you make any mistakes. You can increase your stamina by climbing as per different difficulty levels and also different time levels. So slowly and steadily, as you increase your difficulty level and shorten the time required to do it, you will notice your fitness levels rising. For young children too, wall climbing is a very important training aid as it teaches them to think, plan and then execute their moves.
So, any way you look at it you will still have to look up to wall climbing since the benefits associated with it will stay with you in the long run and therefore rock-climbing walls is truly a very important training aid in the quest for a long and fit life.

Steps to Build a Rock Climbing Wall

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:03:04 +0000

Wall climbing is gaining in popularity and both the versions such as indoor and outdoor wall climbing have become popular because of this. Wall climbing is both fun and challenging, testing your body’s strength and endurance. It is often referred as the perfect mix of gymnastics and ballet dancing. Wall climbing is also preferred by rock climbers to train during winter and the monsoon months.
Wall climbing essentially mimics the thrill, fun, excitement and the physical effort required while steep rock climbing, but in a more controlled environment. Skills required for climbing steep cliffs can be honed in the wall climbing gym itself. The popularity of the sport has resulted in the creation of special indoor climbing gyms.
The most common climbing walls are made of wooden boards of varying heights and steepness. It may have horizontal roofs or vertical slabs with different sizes of holds attached. From simple concrete walls with unmovable holds to easily transportable walls with interchangeable handholds, climbing walls have come a long way since they were first introduced in the early sixties.
Building a climbing wall is not really difficult and once built, the wall will vastly improve your climbing skills along with your strength and cardio vascular capacity. All the basic steps that are required for successful completion of a building project include a plan, design, construction, and finishing.
Clear and concise training goals and objectives need to be defined before building your climbing wall, as different types of walls are required for strength and endurance training. For strength training, a wall with steeper angles is required, this type of wall does not require too much of space and can be accommodated in a smaller area. For endurance training the wall would be slightly vertical and longer.
Once the training goals are defined the following steps will have to be taken to build a rock-climbing wall.
Plan:
Planning is the first phase in which a mental picture of the desired wall is created. Location, budget, construction material required to maintain the structural integrity, and the expertise required to build the wall will help in constructing a model and you need some basic drawings. The estimated time required and the cost involved will help finalizing whether you proceed with building the climbing wall or abandon the project.
Design:
While designing a climbing wall, a lot of factors will have to be considered such as material specifications, material costs, stress, load, basic structure, and the number and type of joints. All technical hitches have to be cleared before the next step.
Construction:
If the first two stages have been attended to in detail the third phase is relatively easy and enjoyable at the same time. However, it could also be frustrating if the plan and design have inherent faults.
Finishing:
This is the phase when all the construction is over according to the design and the plan. This step will include the preparation of the surface for painting, fixing holds on, texture of the surface, installing the foam matting in the fall zone, and designating various climbing routes.

A Few Facts About Indoor Rock Climbing Walls

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:02:32 +0000

Indoor rock climbing walls usually have wooden walls for its basic structure. Plywood sheets of adequate thickness with anchors are placed and used in building climbing walls. Varying degrees of difficult positions can be setup in segments. The possibility of setting up segments with different difficult levels is limitless.
Handholds and fasteners are essential parts you need, when shopping for an indoor rock-climbing wall. The standard requirement is one handhold per three square feet of wall. However for optimum performance, you may opt for one handhold per two square feet. Handholds need to be of the highest quality and need to last for at least a year. Make sure that handholds are purchased from manufacturers, who are highly regarded by expert climbers. Handholds should be guaranteed against breakage for at least a year. Fasteners with adequate length are recommended for correct threading and should be compatible with the handholds purchased.
Climbing ropes are not needed, if you are an indoor climber. However, it is recommended to have climbing ropes. There are two options available, when selecting a rope: dynamic and static. Static ropes are not elastic and the climber with the equipment will feel the jerk in case of a fall. Whereas a dynamic rope is elastic and will reduce the force in case of a fall and the climber with equipment will experience much lesser jerk. Dry-treated ropes do not absorb water and will also last longer.
Non-dry ropes are inexpensive compared to dry ropes and can be used in dry conditions. Dynamic ropes are recommended for lead-climbing and top-roping. One rope for every belay bar is recommended. Manufacturers sticking to the U.I.A.A. guidelines are the best place to buy ropes.
Comfortable and lightweight harness is recommended. Climbing ropes are attached to the harness, which is worn around the waist. Harness that can also be worn around the chest and the full body version are also available. Usually beginners and kids use the chest and full body versions. Expert climbers prefer harnesses that have a lot of padding, as they carry a lot of equipment.
Helmet is another important equipment needed to save climbers from serious injury to the skull. It is recommended to always wear helmets, when climbing. Other equipments required are webbing, carabiners, quickdraws, chalk and chalk bag, belay devices, rappel device, climbing tape etc.
Perhaps the most important thing to consider in indoor rock climbing wall is the protective flooring. The flooring should ideally extend at least six feet around the entire climbing area. Good flooring will protect the climbers from serious head and body injuries, in case of a fall. There are various options in choosing the carpeted impact absorbing flooring, dust resistant flooring, pea gravel or chopped rubber.
Ladders are required to define the climbing routes efficiently. Ladders that extend up to six feet and more are available to reach higher areas.
Installing an indoor rock-climbing wall will be great for your family and friends. Practicing techniques and attempting different moves will give you a complete aerobic and anaerobic workout. Indoor rock-climbing is both thrilling and rewarding.

The Advantages Of A Portable Rock Climbing Wall

admin — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 02:02:03 +0000

In this real world and in real time, it is just not possible to sidetrack rock climbing, every time you have the urge. Rock climbing is not only fun, but also a good way to keep fit. But, the time taken in packing all your stuff and reaching your favorite mountain could take sometime. The preparation time could far exceed the actual time you spend climbing. The simple answer now to satisfy your climbing urges is to get a portable rock climbing wall.
There are various types of portable rock climbing walls available in today’s market. You can search for them in various magazines or even on the Internet. You can get outdoor walls, which can be fixed in your backyard or you could get indoor walls, which come in different heights starting from 12 feet upwards. If you are permanently fixing the outdoor wall, then you might require a concrete base to attach it. But in a fully portable walls, even that may not be required. The portable walls can be installed in minutes and if you have some experience in climbing, then you can start climbing immediately.
You can also get these portable walls on rent. If you do not want permanent portable walls, you could still hire them on weekends or during a child’s party or any other fun function. The advantage in renting one is that many a times, along with the rentals, they also provide a staff who teaches you or your guests, the basics of rock climbing. The advantage of any rock climbing at home is that you do not have to worry about the weather such as blizzards or lightning storms, when you are up on the wall. You also save the time and fuel spent on traveling.
The portable rock climbing wall can also keep you fit, if you use it on a regular basis. You and your family can set different levels of difficulty, which can slowly be increased as you gain confidence and experience. You will definitely become more popular in your neighborhood, once you get one in your backyard. Your neighbors and their children can also be invited over to enjoy the fun of climbing. Another advantage is that, in case of any injury while climbing, medical help can be given immediately, unlike on a real mountain climbing where you could be stuck for days waiting for help and that could even become life threatening. If you are an expert in rock climbing, you could even make this hobby into a part-time or full-time career by teaching the neighborhood children and families for a fee. You could even rent out your portable wall to your neighbors for their parties or when they require.
Now, with the advent of newer safety equipments, like the ‘auto-belay’ you will not even require another person to hold the safety rope in case you fall. This ‘auto-belay’ will take care of the slack, in case you lose your grip on the wall. This means that you do not have to wait for anyone and can pursue rock climbing on your own.
So, the portable rock climbing wall offers many advantages such as an increased level of fun and fitness, increased safety, increased popularity and you also get to spend more time with your friends and family. So, get one today and just start climbing and have fun.