Have you ever wondered how much money do we spend on gym memberships and professional workout equipment per year, just so we can achieve a healthy and robust body? Well, the number surely surpasses $500 dollars, especially for those who live in remote places, where the cost of transportation is simply unavoidable.
People have forgotten the art of building things from scratch. If we are capable of making delicious lasagna why can’t we build our own salmon ladder? If you are looking forward to turning your backyard into a miniature obstacle course, where you can sculpt your body without excessive cost, you are in the right place.
What You Will Need to Build a Salmon Ladder
Salmon ladders can be built out of different materials with the help of various construction techniques. Here, in this article, you will find two easiest and most reliable methods of them all. To follow this tutorial you will need the following tools and materials.
| All-Wood Salmon Ladder | Metal-Wood Salmon Ladder |
|---|---|
| Two 12 ft long 4’’ x 4’’ wooden poles | Two 12 ft long 4’’ x 4’’ wooden poles |
| One 12 ft long 2’’ x 4’’ wooden board | One 12 ft long 2’’ x 4’’ wooden board |
| One 10 ft long 1’’ x 4’’ wooden board | 14 x 7 inch nails |
| 5 ft 1 inch galvanized pipe | 5 ft 1 inch galvanized pipe |
| 28 to 32 screws | Screws |
| Drill | Hammer |
| Water-resistant wood coat | Water-resistant wood coat |
| Shovel | Shovel |
| Circular saw or hand saw | Circular saw or hand saw |
From these listed materials you can see that the only major difference between the all-wood and metal-wood style is the actual material of the hooks your salmon ladder will be made of.
Which version is better for you truly depends on the environment you live in. If you live in a humid place where rain is constant, the wood-metal version would seem more appropriate, because the chances of the ladder hooks getting loose, due to the rot, are much smaller.
The great news is that the building of both variations is exact; therefore you can always consider the alternative if the fist choice doesn’t turn out as planned.
1. Dig the Holes in the Ground
The first step may seem unusual, but it plays a crucial part in the stability of your salmon ladder. With the shovel dig two holes 1 ft deep in the ground and 3 to 4 feet apart from each other. The poles will be secured in each whole therefore the spacing between them should be tailored to your body according to the distance between your hands when doing the pull ups.
2. Cut the Boards
The all-wood and metal-wood salmon ladders both require one 12 ft 2’’ x 4’’ wooden board. This board should be cut into 4 x 3 ft sections with a circular saw or a hand saw. Cut the boards at 45° angle so when they are attached to the main poles as the support beams, they will create an exact 90° peak.
If you are making the all-wood version, cut the 10 ft and 1’’ x 4’’ wooden board into 14 planks at the 45° angle as well. These parts will be screwed to the main poles as the hooks.
3. Measurements on the Poles
This step on how to build a salmon ladder is about measuring and dividing both 12 ft 4’’ x 4’’ wooden poles. Firstly, mark where each hook should be attached and make sure the measurements are perfectly aligned on both poles.
This construction plan is made for a salmon ladder with 7 levels, where the distance between each hook measures 1 foot. You can make the partitioning denser, but remember, you will need more wood or nails to make your level stops.
We recommend you start marking the poles from the top to bottom because the bottom part will be partly berried in the ground.
4. Attaching the Hooks
To attach the hooks on the all-wood salmon ladder all you have to do is take your 14 planks that you cut out of the 10 ft long 1’’ x 4’’ wooden board and secure each piece, with at least 2 screws, to the sides of the poles according to the measurements. For a better perspective, take a look at this picture.
If you are building a metal-wood salmon ladder all you have to do is install the fourteen 7-inch nails on the front part of the poles. For smoother installment drill 14 holes with your portable drill at 30° angle into the wood.
If you struggle with the angle coordination, cut a scrap piece of wood at 30° angle, lean it against the pole and use it as guidance. At the end, simply secure the nails into the wood with the hammer.
5. Protect the Wood
Before installing your salmon ladder into the ground make sure the wood is well protected. The natural outdoors element can damage the surface and make the construction weaker. To avoid the wobbly structure coat every inch of the wood with the water-resistant coating such as polyurethane. You can apply the formula with the brush or a piece of cloth.
Let the coat dry for a couple of hours.
6. Installing Salmon Ladder Into the Ground
To securely install your salmon ladder into the ground place each wooden pole in the 1-foot deep holes you dug out beforehand. Make sure the rods are at the same height, so the hooks align just perfectly.
Fill in the holes with the dirt and make sure everything is stable. To add even more security attach those 4 planks you cut out the 12 ft 2’’ x 4’’ wooden board on the bottom of the each pole. Additional material on each pole will create a triangular support system.
If you feel like your salmon ladder needs even more stability, feel free to increase it with few more wood pieces.
Conclusion
With the mass production at our hands, people tend to forget the art of building things from scratch. Seeing how separate pieces can become one purposeful unity brings happiness and joy to every inventor’s face. By building your very own salmon ladder you will not only improve your manual skills but also build the motivation for exercising within yourself.
Did you enjoy this step-by-step plan on how to build a salmon ladder? If so, leave your thoughts and advice in the comment section or share these written words on social media and encourage the world to embrace a self-sustaining life once again.
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