How to Make a Balance Beam

Purchase the required wood from local suppliers. To build a balance beam, you'll need six pieces of wood measuring 2.44 meters in length and 1 cm x 6 cm in size, four pieces of 61 cm wood planks measuring 2 cm x 4 cm, and four pieces of 30.5 cm wood planks also measuring 2 cm x 4 cm.

• You will also need other essential items listed under the “Items You’ll Need” section at the end of this article. All of these materials are commonly available and can be found at most grocery or home goods stores.

Clean all surfaces of each wooden piece thoroughly. Use detergent, water, and a cleaning cloth, sponge, or brush to completely scrub the wooden pieces. This step is crucial because dust or wood splinters can affect the effectiveness of the adhesive. Allow the wood to dry naturally before applying glue.

Glue six 2.44-meter-long wooden pieces together. Place the wooden pieces at a right angle to each other. Apply industrial-strength glue (preferably waterproof) to the widest faces (the largest flat surfaces) of the pieces and press them together. Use a generous amount of glue to ensure a strong bond. Let the glue dry completely before proceeding to the next step!

• Once the glue is dry, both the front and back of the wooden block should be completely flat, forming a 2.44-meter-long block with a width of approximately 10.2 cm.
• The side with a width of 10.2 cm will serve as the top of the balance beam.

Clamp the wooden pieces together while the glue dries. The best method for keeping the pieces together is to use wood clamps. If clamps are unavailable, you can lay the block flat with the largest surface face facing down and place a heavy object on top to apply pressure.

• Let the block dry for at least 24 hours.

Smooth the wooden block. Once the glue has dried, remove the clamps or the heavy object, and smooth the entire wooden block.

• Use a planer or sandpaper to ensure that the wooden surface is perfectly smooth and flat.

Attach the L-shaped metal support to the wooden block. Use screws (included with the support) to fasten the metal support to the underside of the wooden block, placing them about 30.5 cm apart from each end.

Attach the legs to the wooden block. Secure four 30.5 cm long wooden pieces (2 cm x 4 cm in size) to the remaining part of the support beam to create legs for the block, using 4 screws per leg, totaling 16 screws.

• There should be 4 empty spots left on the steel beam, each for one leg.

Create support bases for each leg. Attach a 61 cm long wooden piece (2 cm x 4 cm in size) under each leg, totaling 4 wooden pieces, and secure each base with 4 screws.

• These support bases will enhance the stability and balance of the balance beam.

Cover the surface of the balance beam with synthetic suede. Cut a piece of suede to match the length and width of the beam. Stick the suede onto the surface so it covers the entire beam.

• Allow the suede and glue to dry completely before using the balance beam.

• If you are building a balance beam for indoor use, add some suede pads to the feet of the base to prevent scratches on the floor.
• Before purchasing wood for the balance beam, make sure to measure carefully as the wooden planks vary in length. Also, all the planks of the same type need to be identical in size for the balance beam to function properly.
• When gluing the wooden planks together, ensure the glue is evenly spread from one end to the other. The glued wood structure is crucial for the balance beam's strength, so it must be strong enough to support athletes during intense exercises.
• A typical balance beam is 5.02 meters long, 10.2 cm wide, and positioned 1.2 meters above the ground. If you want to create a balance beam with these dimensions, simply adjust the sizes of the wooden planks and follow the aforementioned steps.
• Besides synthetic suede, you can wrap the balance beam with other materials like non-woven fabric, old clothes, bedding, or comforter covers, etc.
• You can also customize the height of the balance beam to suit your preference, so you no longer need to worry about the height of the beam.
• If you're aiming to learn new skills and refine existing ones, use adjustable feet for the balance beam. This allows you to lower the height while learning new skills and increase it as you master them.

• Make sure to carefully check the balance beam you've built before attempting any strenuous exercises. This beam is a handcrafted product, so to avoid serious injuries, take precise measurements to ensure your product is sturdy and can support weight properly.

• Soap and water
• Six wooden planks, each 2.44 meters long and 1 cm x 6 cm in size.
• Waterproof glue
• Planing tool or sandpaper
• Wood clamps or a heavy object
• L-shaped support beams and screws
• Four wooden panels, each 61 cm long and 2 cm x 4 cm in size.
• Four wooden panels, each 30.5 cm long and 2 cm x 4 cm in size.
• Screwdriver
• 32 wood screws
• Synthetic suede (or other materials)