Topic for this edition: How to Build a Barre for Home Use
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How to Build a Barre for Home Use
By
Shahab Nahvi
In professional studios nowadays, barres are made of a combination of wood and metal. Most often than not, they are installed on the wall and occasionally use a support that extends to the floor. But for home use where there might be a requirement of disassembling the barre in order to make room for other activities, a freestanding barre is more appropriate. If you do not have the patience to build one yourself, you can use a site such as the following to purchase one:
http://www.en-pointe.com/balletbarre.html
If you want to build one yourself, I recommend the following:
Freestanding barres are not stable, but they can become more stable by using sandbags where the barre comes in contact with the floor. If you have decided that you want to build one directly on the wall (which I do not recommend for home use), then you must contact a carpenter. The reason for that is, new houses are basically using 2 x 4’s and sheetrock with some amount of fiberglass in-between, and the walls are not meant to take that much pressure. For making a freestanding barre, go to a plumber or a hardware store where they have the ability to cut and thread metal poles. Try different size pipes. If you are building it for a child, obviously the pipe cannot be too thick. There has to be a size that she can grab the barre with comfort and yet strong enough for use. And that goes for the adult as well.
For thickness, 2 inch (Or before purchasing, try different pipe sizes. When you hold the pipe, it should feel comfortable to hold.)
In regards to height, 36 to 38 inches should be fine but for a personal barre stand upright, put your arms to the side, bend your elbow and bring your forearm to a 90 degree angle to your humerus (upper arm). Have someone measure the distance between your elbow all the way to the floor. This is the height that you want for your barre.
In regards to length, depending on availability of space choose a length that is most suitable for you: 4 feet, 6 feet, or 8 feet.
Once you have decided on the size and the type of metal you
want to use, you will need the following:
a) 2- 90 degree ‘elbows’
b) 2- T fittings
c) 4- end caps (you can also use 4- 90 degree ‘elbows’) These
are used for support and minimizing scratches on the ground
d) 4 pieces of 1 foot pipe (these are supports which hold the
barre and that connect to c)
e) pipe length: 1)either 4 feet, 6 feet, or 8 feet
f) 2 pipes-the length that you have decided for the height
minus the potential height that T fitting and 90 degree elbow
will add.
Remember that these items have to be threaded and only the individual that has the equipment to do so can do this. Secondly, both sides of all pipes have to be threaded. And third, the 90 degree elbows, the T fittings, and the end caps (and/or 90 degrees elbows) will add to the overall height of the barre-so do take that into consideration and notify the individual who is cutting pipe for you.
Assembling:
1)Take (a) and connect one to each side of (e)
2)Take (f) and connect to the other side of (a)
3)Take (b) and connect it to the other side of (f)
4)Take (d) and connect one to each side of (b)
5)Take (c ) and connect one to each side of (d)
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