Bouvier - building a teeter base w pvc

How to Build a PVC Agility Teeter Base
Text & photos generously provided by Holly Ackerman

**click thumbnail for larger image**

base [3/4 view]	wooden bottom	teeter extension	base [side view]	dimensions
Adjustable PVC teeter base: Materials list for primary base (approx. 7 1/2" tall) only 1 1/2" PVC sections needed - Base (PVC that lies along floor) 8.5" -> 4 (side bottom) 6" -> 2 (front/rear bottom) 11" -> 2 (front/rear bottom) Upper portion 3.5" -> 2 (uprights) 9.5" -> 2 (diagonals) 3" -> 1 (crossbar center) 6" -> 2 (crossbar sides) 1 1/2" PVC connectors needed - Tee -> 8 Ell -> 4 Materials list for additions 1 1/2" PVC sections needed - 2 1/4" -> 2 (uprights) 3 1/4" -> 2 (uprights) 4 1/4" -> 2 (uprights) 19" -> 3 (crossbars) -> may need to be adjusted for actual width 1 1/2" PVC connectors needed Tee -> 6 **Other materials 1/2" pan head stainless steel screws General plan: assemble the entire teeter base, using a mallet to set the PVC, and then screw the joints. IMHO, this is much better than PVC glue since the alignment can be fixed before anything is permanent. It can be disassembled and portions replaced if they break. I suggest pan head screws since flat head can leave a metal ridge exposed. I would suggest first building the base (pieces that run along the floor), then the upper portion, which can then be inserted whole into the base. The entire base is wide. I plan to use it, along with my Pet Step(R) dog ramp (sprayed with non-slip paint) as a practice A-frame. The 11" and 6" pieces could be shortened to make a narrower base. I attached four 2" sections of 2X2 to the bottom of the board to keep it in place. Remember the tip point needs to be slightly off-center so that the board returns to the correct position. Now, for the adjustable part (a mallet is needed to “adjust”). Make 3 H-shaped assemblies consisting of a crossbar, 2 PVC Tees, and short PVC pieces to insert into the main base. Screw these together, same as the main base. One or more of these assemblies could be used to achieve multiple heights. The smallest height change possible, because of the PVC Tee, is 4 1/2". My plan is to make additions of 4 1/2", 5 1/2", and 6 1/2". Included with the pictures is how the main base would look with one addition (mock up only). When all 3 additions are on the base at once, the top of the teeter pivot point should be at 24". At any height, additional PVC pieces could be inserted into the top of the base to make the pivot point more visible (aids in discrimination between the dogwalk and the teeter).