Hey everyone! I'm planning to make a hangboard for climbing training at home, but I'm stuck on what type of wood to choose. I need something that won't split, lasts a long time (since it's going to take a lot of weight indoors), and ideally works well for CNC cutting. I've narrowed it down to two options from my research: hard maple (2ft x 6in x 3in for $45) and birch plywood (4' x 4' with 1/8" thickness for $30). I'm also on a bit of a budget, so if there are any cheaper suggestions, I'd love to hear them! Also, is it a bad idea to get just the right amount of wood for my first project? Thanks!
1 Answer
You've got two very different choices here! The hard maple is solid for creating holds since it offers a sturdy chunk to work with. You could CNC it to shape the holds pretty easily. However, the size of 2 feet might feel a bit limiting, so if you've got space, consider making it longer. On the other hand, the birch plywood is thinner and would require more work—like stacking layers to get a decent thickness. I'd recommend aiming for at least 1/2 inch thickness if you go with plywood, but honestly, it might end up being more hassle than it's worth for the savings. Check out some hangboard designs to see what resonates with you!
I was thinking of making something like the Beastmaker 1000, just tweaking the dimensions a bit. If I choose the plywood, I'd stack it to make it thicker. Do you think saving that $15 is worth all the effort?