Tunnel Braces

PVC Tunnel Braces

Difficulty: Easy
Price: $6.00-$10.00 (Per Brace)
Supplies: 3/4" or 1" PVC Elbow Joint (8 Per Brace), 3/4" or 1" PVC Pipe (Appox. 7' Per Brace)
Tools: Pipe Cutter or Saw, Tape Measure

What you need

How To: Measure and cut your PVC pipe two inches shorter than the diameter of your tunnel. Since my tunnel is 24" in diameter I cut the 3/4" PVC pipe to 22". You will need 6 pieces of this length. Next cut two pieces 7" in length, this will be how wide your braces will be, pieces can be cut to your preference.

Now that all your pieces are cut lets put the elbows on. Place an elbow on the end of a 22" piece of pipe, doesn't matter which way it is facing. The direction of the second elbow on this piece does matter. You are going to put it on with the second opening facing 90 degrees to the right. Take another 22" piece and place an elbow on one end. The second elbow goes on facing 90 degrees to the left. This completes the right side of the brace. Now make another identical set for the left side.

Both sides will look like this.

Now taking another 22" piece you will connect one piece from the right side to it's opposite piece from the left side. This gives you a three sided box. The open end of the elbows should be facing in the same direction. Do the same with the remaining 22" piece.

Take the 7" pieces and connect the two halves together. Check to make sure it is square when you stand it up. No glue is required to keep the brace together.

Done

A 6' tunnel will only need two braces and tunnels 10' to 18' will need three braces.

Next up, sandbags to hold it down on breezy days and for those enthusiastic tunnelers!