Making a BIG BOARD

[Collegefootballfan]

I am having ideas of making a big board. I have two questions if someone can help. What guage of metal should I use and what is a good width for a 48" in lentgh board? Thanks !!!



Jeff

A 2:1 ratio is perfect for football, so 48" x 24" is what we use in Chicago. Also, 24 - 28 gauge is prolly best for that size. Good Luck.

[Michigan Joe]

Just got a 24x48" board with 1/2" pan bend. I got 24 guage and it is very FLAT with no bounce. The thickness of 24 guage is bigger than 28 guage so it will probably require 2 motors, not sure I will need to experiment. The thicker guage should be nice so that players don't go flying forward with any accidental bumps to the playing surface, nothing worde than setting up and then bumping a thin board and the guys go flying. Or like Jimbo at the Miggle tournament when he went to pass to a guy in the endzone and he bumped the board and the players went flying.

For the playing field size you may want to make sure you can get a field cover to fit it if you prefer the field cover to having to paint it. Jimbo will hook me up with my 24x48" field cover which I will adhere down with the spray adhesive. Oh, and also check with the guy who is making your steel how the size of the board will affect cost. If you choose a size that is beyond his standard stock then it will get costly.
Joe

[Collegefootballfan]

I am in the construction biz and got a lead on the metal. I am handy with wood, so the frame should be a piece of cake. Once I finish those two things. I will be looking for a good motor. Does anyone have any advice on what motor I should use with a 24 gauge metal board?






Jeff

[Michigan Joe]

Jeff,
Its probably easiest to just use a rotary motor with a counterweight added(see Pit's post on fields and motors). He also appears to be selling the motors if thats something you don't want to bother with. You could try taking off the electromagnetic motors off of old Tudor boards too. Not sure the best technique to attach the motor, but I think for the permanant location I would use an epoxy or something. Lets stay tuned on Pit's "how-to" make a board thread.
Joe

[pit couture]

With a 24 gauge you will be find. If you need motors I can show you how to build them or I can make them for you. it is up to you.

I have experimented with this some and came up with something I think works well...

3M makes a "dual lock" type of velcro (it's not really velcro but works ths same way). Both sides are hard plastic, with adhesive tape used to mount the pieces. With this type of set-up, you can put a piece on the motor and then as many as you want on the board...if you want to try running the motors in different spots.

It definitely works a lot better than velcro (where one side of the attachment is softer and the motor tends to vibrate out of a tight lock).

I bought mine at K-mart...but this ebay auction is actually cheaper because you get more for your money.

http://cgi.ebay.com/3M-BLACK-DUAL-LO...photohost ing