Building a carpet mill. Looking for feedback.

I'm planning on using 2x4s for the frame, and perhaps melamine plywood for the smooth part. As for the rollers, I have some 4" PVC piping, and some scooter wheels that spin real good. I've seen similar setups where you have a scooter or roller blade wheel inside the pipe.

I'm just not sure how to properly set up the rollers. Do I leave the pipe empty aside from the wheels and hardware? Or will it be too light.

Any advice about the rollers at all would be helpful.

Thanks guys.

 

I can't answer your question about what rollers to use but I can maybe offer some advice from my experience in building a slat mill years ago.
A friend and I welded up the frame, mounted scooter rims cut in half on ball bearing for the belt and then cut two lengths of human treadmill belt to mount the slats on. We cut all of the slats to length and mounted them to the belt with carriage bolts and the rails we lined with inline skate wheels.

The thing worked great but it took forever to build and cost not much less than we could have just bought one for and no doubt not as nice. Point being, you may want to consider just buying one, unless your just looking for something to do like we were.

Another thing you may want to consider is that dogs seem to prefer a slat mill although they are quite a bit more expensive. Would like to see pics if you end up building it though. Good luck either way.

 

If you look on Youtube you can find some videos

 

Just a quick update guys. I have been tinkering with an old electric treadmill we had lying around. I tore out all the guts, so that just the frame, rollers, and carpet were left. I've been trying to adjust the tension, but it seems like no matter what, the operation is too stiff. I took the rollers out and lubed them, and they spin really good, but when I put it back together, like I said, it seems stiff.

Has anyone got experience with this? Are the rollers too small? Is the E, treadmill carpet the wrong texture? He can run on it, but it doesn't spin very freely.

 

I know this isn't what you're asking but I think you, and your dog would be much, much happier, and better off with a slatmill.

 

Or just use the e-mill. Much more enjoyable for both parties. Hopefully after all your work the dog uses the mill or that would be a lot of time wasted.

 

I had him on the e-mill yesterday (without the motor) and he ran like a demon. It was his first time on it, and I baited him with a tug.

I think if I can figure out how to get it running less stiff, it'll be good.

I'd love a slat mill, but I can't afford to ship one in from the US.

 

If I were in Your situation I would put the motor back in the e mill use that and find another way to strength train like flirt pole or playing fetch.
Carpet mills in my opinion is not the greatest tool. That's just my opinion tho and your ideas may work better for your intentions.

 

He won't use an e-treadmill. I do however use a homemade flirt pole quite a bit, he loves it. That's actually whati used to bait him on the mill.

I'm going to keep experimenting with the carpet mill. We get a lot of snow here, and on days it's not fit to be outside working him, I'd like the option of a carpet mill in the garage.

 

sounds good brother.. good to see your thinking ahead and making sure he's well occupied during the off season.