This video is FANTASTIC! I have almost no woodworking skills but my 19 month old loves climbing and I really want to do a small climbing wall for her second birthday! This is perfect ☺️ thank you so much for all of the helpful information!
Wow thank you so much Ben for breaking down this build step by step. I have very little DIY / carpentry skills & because of you I have been able to build my kids a climbing wall they love!
I just installed a climbing wall and my biggest frustration was installing the hand holds because the holes I drilled were not perpendicular to the wood base and my screws kept cross threading into the t-nuts. My advice for anyone installing a wall is to make a drill guide by using a drill press to drill a hole into a block of wood (maybe 2" cube) so that all your holes are perpendicular to the surface of the wood. I would also install the hand holds to the base before screwing the base wood to the wall to prevent the t-nuts from popping out the back while installing. The holds don't add that much weight to the wall and once the base wood is screwed in place you can't replace the T-nuts if they pop out without unscrewing the wood base.
Hello, This is really helpful, Thank you. I am not able to find 3/4" x 4' x 8' ACX plywood sheets (2, ACX = "nice on one side"), do you remember where do you buy.. Home depot is out of it. I am not able to find any stores. Do you know whats the replacement for this plywood we can use?
The tee nuts stick out of the back of the plywood a bit, if you do that you're going to wind up with a grid of tee nut imprints on your drywall. If you never plan on removing the wall I guess that isn't an issue, but I was trying to go for minimal damage to the drywall in case I ever want to remove the climbing wall when the kids have outgrown it.
According to one of the manufacturer's websites (Atomik), the holds are fine to use outdoors but the colors will eventually fade due to UV exposure. You'd also want to use pressure treated or composite lumber so it's water resistant. But if you search online it looks like plenty of people have built these outdoors.
Material list is in the Instructable linked in the video description. This was a couple years ago and I didn't save receipts so unfortunately I don't have a cost breakdown but I think it came out to around $500 total.
An adult can climb on this wall no problem. The bolt diameter is the same regardless of the hold size. "Child size" holds are just small, difficult holds for adults :-).
I wanted to make sure this was extra sturdy and adults could also climb on it, so wanted the 2x4s resting on the floor. So do you HAVE to...probably not, but do so at your own risk :-). If you don't want to remove the molding, you could also use a jigsaw to cut out part of the ends of the 2x4s so they fit over the molding. That way much of the load would still be transferred to the floor.
@@BenFinioI’m so happy I read this comment because I plan on climbing on the wall as well (115-125 lbs). I will remove the molding! What should the weight limit be?
@@lisawillis1832 Honestly as long as you use long enough screws to screw into the studs on the wall, it is probably fine without removing the molding. But for what it's worth, I am 180lbs and it holds me just fine.
If you have the space for it, I'd definitely recommend an overhang. My daughter is 7 1/2 now and has a pretty easy time getting to the top of this. I don't have room for the overhang because of the furniture layout in the basement (there's a risk if you fell off that you'd hit your head/neck on the back of the couch).
I wound up going with these two sets, but it looks like they are both currently out of stock. They have worked great for my daughter, with two caveats. 1) They use the M10 bolts and tee nuts, which are much harder to find in the US. If you click the link to the Instructable that I added in the video description, there's a link to the ones I bought. 2) These are definitely kid-sized holds, made for tiny hands. So if there will be an adult or a teenager also using the wall, they probably won't be that comfortable (at least if you're a beginner like me and prefer the bigger/easier holds - I guess for advanced people it would be fine). smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08L5YKWJS smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08J6K868B
What's the point of the furring 2x4. Just use the existing wall framing to fasten the plywood directly to the wall, and cut to height from the top of baseboards. Moreover, unless your kids are having too much juicy drink, then there is not enough load to consider over building, and lets be real due to he size of the climbing area they'll use it a few times and get then bored of it. Keep it simple
The T nuts are not completely flush with the back of the plywood, they stick out a little bit - so if you screw the plywood directly into the studs behind the drywall, you're going to leave a grid of T-nut-shaped imprints in the drywall. My thought with the furring was that in theory I could take this down when the kids are older and only have minimal holes to patch in the wall. (for the record I built this 2 years ago and the kids still use it all the time - my 8 year old is close to outgrowing it but will still get a lot of mileage out of it with the now-3-year-old who was a baby when I made this)
Don't be so hard on yourself this was a really thoughtful DIY. Thank you
What a great video! Thank you. I love all the commentary too 😂😂
This video is FANTASTIC! I have almost no woodworking skills but my 19 month old loves climbing and I really want to do a small climbing wall for her second birthday! This is perfect ☺️ thank you so much for all of the helpful information!
Our toddler (who was a baby when I made this video) now loves it - totally worth it and minimal woodworking skills required!
hey how do you know if your wall can handle the horizontal load from pulling force?
Wow thank you so much Ben for breaking down this build step by step. I have very little DIY / carpentry skills & because of you I have been able to build my kids a climbing wall they love!
Super helpful! I want to make one for my kids for Christmas and am definitely a beginner builder!!
Thanks for the insight. Very helpful. Plus, I loved your self deprecating sense of humor. It made the video funny. Well done!
Really appreciate you explaining things about the wall and need for a frame at the beginning. That’s exactly what I was looking for 🙌
Awesome video. Great detail too. Looking to build something like this in my daughter’s bedroom and found this very helpful.
This looks so great! I really want to do this for my son.
I just installed a climbing wall and my biggest frustration was installing the hand holds because the holes I drilled were not perpendicular to the wood base and my screws kept cross threading into the t-nuts. My advice for anyone installing a wall is to make a drill guide by using a drill press to drill a hole into a block of wood (maybe 2" cube) so that all your holes are perpendicular to the surface of the wood. I would also install the hand holds to the base before screwing the base wood to the wall to prevent the t-nuts from popping out the back while installing. The holds don't add that much weight to the wall and once the base wood is screwed in place you can't replace the T-nuts if they pop out without unscrewing the wood base.
Thankyou!!!!! Amazing tutorial, so appreciated!! Just sent it to hubby, hoping we can get it done for our son's birthday 🤞🤞🤞🤞
This is sooooo helpful!!! thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge!
You're welcome!
Congrats for the video and family! It is really helpful!
Thanks! This is great and absolutely LOVE the diagrams and help on what to buy & watch for!
Excellent video and explanations throughout.
perfect video! I’m going to do this for our kids, thanks!
I think you’re too hard on yourself, this was not only an awesome project, it was a great video too! Your woodworking skills are solid.
great job man! my fav part was the pijama story haha :D
Great video. Thank you!
this was the most wholesome thing to watch thank you
Thanks!
that is so cool man. Really inspired here.
Excellent project... and looks awesome
Thanks!
Hello,
This is really helpful, Thank you.
I am not able to find 3/4" x 4' x 8' ACX plywood sheets (2, ACX = "nice on one side"), do you remember where do you buy.. Home depot is out of it.
I am not able to find any stores. Do you know whats the replacement for this plywood we can use?
Depends on where you live, there is a smaller independent lumber store near me, you can also look for other chain lumber stores like 84 Lumber.
Building plan in PowerPoint, I’m also a PowerPoint enthousiast and love this 👏🏽
I figure a lot more people already know how to use Powerpoint than CAD programs, so it makes sense!
epic! love to see it, why did my parents never build me an at home climbing wall
Yes, why did your parents not do that?
Saw this comment and took me a minute to realize this was THE Kevin Bond. Back in the 90's they just sent us out into the woods to play with sticks...
Would I be able to do this in brick
Awesome climbing wall! I wish I added extra t-nuts to ours. Next time 😀
This may have been asked already but why attach the3/4” plywood top to 2x4s versus screwing down to the studs that the drywall is attached too?
The tee nuts stick out of the back of the plywood a bit, if you do that you're going to wind up with a grid of tee nut imprints on your drywall. If you never plan on removing the wall I guess that isn't an issue, but I was trying to go for minimal damage to the drywall in case I ever want to remove the climbing wall when the kids have outgrown it.
You’ve inspired me to build one.
Can I do this in an apartment? 🤔 My kid would love this lol
Yes, just be mindful you are hitting studs and not just hanging it on plasterboard.
Badass. Thanks for the ideas. I’d like to build one of these outside, but I’m not sure if it would fade or last with the weather.
According to one of the manufacturer's websites (Atomik), the holds are fine to use outdoors but the colors will eventually fade due to UV exposure. You'd also want to use pressure treated or composite lumber so it's water resistant. But if you search online it looks like plenty of people have built these outdoors.
Hello,
Great video,
What if my studs are already exposed?
Can I go directly from the original studs to plywood?
I don't see why that wouldn't work.
Thank you! I'm going to do this!
Do you have a supply list of what you used and cost breakdown ?
Material list is in the Instructable linked in the video description. This was a couple years ago and I didn't save receipts so unfortunately I don't have a cost breakdown but I think it came out to around $500 total.
Thank you. Didnt realize it was there @@BenFinio
You are the expert in the best councils, thank you very much.!!!
Bunch of information! Thank you so much!!!
Extremely helpful!!! Thank you🙌🙌🙌
I might have missed it. How thick is the plywood? thank you
3/4"
Bravo! So glad I discovered this. Recognizing that you used child-sized holds, if you used adult holds, could it support an adult's weight?
An adult can climb on this wall no problem. The bolt diameter is the same regardless of the hold size. "Child size" holds are just small, difficult holds for adults :-).
What was the spacing for your grid? Thanks!
Honestly I don't remember but I think I put dimensions in the Instructable: www.instructables.com/Indoor-Kids-Climbing-Wall/
@@BenFinio Thanks!!
Which 2" screw size and brand did you use to attach the 3/4 board to 2x4's?
Don't remember the brand, but I think they were pretty thick which was overkill - maybe #10?
Helpfull, Thanks👍
How did you know about my poor impulse control???
thanks. great detailed explanation. we will learn from your mistake.
Nice work! Curious.. Do you have to remove the molding? Could the climbing wall just sit a few inches off the ground and above the molding?
I wanted to make sure this was extra sturdy and adults could also climb on it, so wanted the 2x4s resting on the floor. So do you HAVE to...probably not, but do so at your own risk :-). If you don't want to remove the molding, you could also use a jigsaw to cut out part of the ends of the 2x4s so they fit over the molding. That way much of the load would still be transferred to the floor.
@@BenFinioI’m so happy I read this comment because I plan on climbing on the wall as well (115-125 lbs). I will remove the molding! What should the weight limit be?
@@lisawillis1832 Honestly as long as you use long enough screws to screw into the studs on the wall, it is probably fine without removing the molding. But for what it's worth, I am 180lbs and it holds me just fine.
Do you wish you made the wall with a overhang? I want to do a similar thing for my boys, but don't want them to outgrow the wall too soon
If you have the space for it, I'd definitely recommend an overhang. My daughter is 7 1/2 now and has a pretty easy time getting to the top of this. I don't have room for the overhang because of the furniture layout in the basement (there's a risk if you fell off that you'd hit your head/neck on the back of the couch).
Excellent!!!
This is wonderful!! Thank you!
Thanks!
Whoops, replied from the wrong account. Thank you!
Great video! Looking to do this for my son's birthday. Which holds did you end up purchasing?
I wound up going with these two sets, but it looks like they are both currently out of stock. They have worked great for my daughter, with two caveats. 1) They use the M10 bolts and tee nuts, which are much harder to find in the US. If you click the link to the Instructable that I added in the video description, there's a link to the ones I bought. 2) These are definitely kid-sized holds, made for tiny hands. So if there will be an adult or a teenager also using the wall, they probably won't be that comfortable (at least if you're a beginner like me and prefer the bigger/easier holds - I guess for advanced people it would be fine). smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08L5YKWJS smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08J6K868B
Very useful
i like the child chelping her father
What's the point of the furring 2x4. Just use the existing wall framing to fasten the plywood directly to the wall, and cut to height from the top of baseboards. Moreover, unless your kids are having too much juicy drink, then there is not enough load to consider over building, and lets be real due to he size of the climbing area they'll use it a few times and get then bored of it. Keep it simple
The T nuts are not completely flush with the back of the plywood, they stick out a little bit - so if you screw the plywood directly into the studs behind the drywall, you're going to leave a grid of T-nut-shaped imprints in the drywall. My thought with the furring was that in theory I could take this down when the kids are older and only have minimal holes to patch in the wall. (for the record I built this 2 years ago and the kids still use it all the time - my 8 year old is close to outgrowing it but will still get a lot of mileage out of it with the now-3-year-old who was a baby when I made this)
Very cool. Why almost no coments here?\
“Mediocre?” Hardly!