John Maxwell // Olathe, KS
When did you build your wall?
I built the Moonboard in early 2016. It is the fourth homewall I have completed since 1998.
How long did it take you to build?
It took me two full days to build and probably another two days of planning beforehand. I have worked with my hands my whole life and have access to any tools I need. It is pretty simple following the Moon instructions though.
Not including holds and padding, how much did it cost you to build?
I would say less than $400 for lumber. I bought some more T-nuts and went with a higher quality 3/4 inch plywood. I could have used a cheaper plywood but I liked the looks of this because I wasn’t going to paint and texture it.
Did anything in particular inspire your wall design?
I was mostly inspired by the space available. The Moonboard has a pretty small footprint so it doesn’t take up too much of the garage.
What was the most difficult aspect of the design and build?
I had to reconfigure the kicker to be a little shorter in order to maximize the climbing surface. The ceiling was finished with a popcorn texture so it was a little difficult to figure out where the studs were and I had to relocate a light fixture. The electrical work was the most difficult part for me.
What would you do differently?
I would add more climbing space with a couple more walls and transitions. It is a difficult wall to climb on when I only have it set with Moonholds, I have sets A, B, and the Original holds.
What is your favorite aspect?
I have really enjoyed making volumes during the lock down to change the wall up a bit. The texture is really good and it opens up a lot of the Pusher slopers I have to be usable on the wall. My kids and I enjoy setting problems for each other.
Any words of wisdom to aspiring homewallers?
I would highly recommend building simple angles like a 40 degree wall and some lesser angled walls like 15 or 20 degrees with a smooth transition. I would also recommend buying or building some simple volumes. There are plenty of videos about making them and they add a lot of options for route setting.
