Rock climbing wall grip

Question

I am making a rock climbing wall out of plywood, but I would like to coat it with something or do something to it to give the actual wall a good amount of grip. Please don't recommend sanding it.

Answer 1

yes

Answer 2

It sounds like you're looking for climbing wall paint.

Example: http://www.metoliusclimbing.com/hardware...

Structural integrity is, of course, the #1 priority when building any wall.  Just sayin'.

Answer 3

There are several reasons I would say to NOT texturize your rock wall:

1) Cost: The metolus brand paint is one of THE best rock wall paint on the market, however, it is kind of spendy, more than regular latex paint. Save the money and use it to buy good holds. But if you still decide to paint after the rest of my answer then go with y2kees' suggestion and Metolius, you likely wont be disappointed.

2) Technique: I remember an old saying back in college,"If you can smear on plywood, you can smear on anything". Meaning, the lack of texture can be to your benefit to improve technique. If you train to face the worst, you wont be in over your head.

3) Dismantling: There are 2 situations here: Modification & Moving: In both situations you have a need to deconstruct a part or all of your wall to either move it to a new house or get board with the current configuration and want to change it up. Painting wont allow you to do that.

Answer 4

Giving your wall texture isn't an easy thing to do, if you do it wrong, it will come off and can be incredibly annoying.

One of the more amateurish things to do is to just paint it with a sand based paint. All it does it give it a bit of grip. Some of the climbing hold companies sell texturing paint.

However, the largest bouldering gym in Dallas does not have texture, they went old school with plywood and a bit of varnish. It's not really a necessity.

Good luck!

Oh! Also! If you do get a texturizing paint, make sure you don't clog your T-bolt holds, you'll have a helluva time getting your holds screwed in. Also, the first couple of times you do put holds on your wall, the texture might come off around the holes.

If you give me a couple of days, I'm going to talk to my brother tomorrow. He helped built a lot of the walls around here, when I built mine, I did not put texture on it.

Answer 5

I won't, sanding will make it smoother!

The simplest thing would be to add sand to paint, there are several products on the market and found in paint or hardware stores that are designed to be used to add friction to outdoor steps after they have a coat of paint on them.

You could mix it in the paint and then roll it on the wall, or broadcast it over a freshly painted wall. It won't be as tractionable as real rock, but it will give a better feel then just plain or painted plywood.

deffinately listen to the advice of those that have done it. I very much like Isu point that smearing on plywood encreases your over all ability to smear!

In other words, I agree in that you really aren't accomplishing anything more then esthetics.