Things You'll Need

Instructions

Frame the Panel

1

Design your climbing wall and determine the types of holds you will require. This project constructs a single-panel freestanding wall.
2

Lay one 2-by-4 stud on the sawhorses. Measure and cut in half to two 4-foot lengths.
3

Place each 4-foot stud under the top and bottom edges of the plywood panel. The studs should align vertically, lengthwise, with a 2-inch side resting against the plywood's underside.
4

Drill decking screws (6 to 8 inches apart) through the plywood into the 4-foot studs. Apply textured paint, if using.
5

Flip the plywood over and measure the inside distance between both studs. This measurement should be approximately 7 feet 9 inches -- 8 feet minus the thickness of each stud.
6

Lay three 2-by-4 studs onto the sawhorses. Measure and cut to the previous length (7 feet 9 inches).
7

Flip the plywood back over and place one 7-foot 9-inch stud under each side edge. Drill decking screws (again, 6 to 8 inches apart) through the plywood into the 7-foot 9-inch studs.

Finish the Panel

1

Flip the panel face-up. Measure the positions of 248 bolt-holes: 31 staggered vertical rows of eight holes across. The distances between holes and rows does not need to be exact, but try for a row every 3 inches and holes that are 6 inches apart. Use the 7/16-inch bit to drill the bolt-holes.
2

Drill decking screws through the front panel into the last 7-foot 9-inch stud. Try to block as few holes as possible when centering the stud between the two sides.
3

Lay two 2-by-4 studs on the sawhorses. Mark the left ends "A" and "C," and "B" and "D" on the right. Drill one hole three inches in from end A; drill 16 holes three inches apart from the other three ends. (The additional holes allow you to adjust the panel's angle.) Repeat with the remaining two studs.
4

Drill two holes in each side stud of the climbing panel: one 5 inches from the bottom and another at 6 feet.
5

Use a bolt, two nuts and two washers to secure the D ends of two studs to the 5-inch hole in the panel frame. Repeat with the B end of the last two studs. It helps to have a friend hold the panel as you complete this step. Note that your choice of hole in the B studs will determine the forward lean of the climbing wall. Place a cinder block under each D stud to prevent the panel from tipping over backwards.
6

Screw in climbing holds using supplied T-nuts.