Step 2: It’s worth mentioning, we’ll need a bit more than materials. This task will require a few tools as well. Lets see... Scissors (always good to have scissors), a tape measure, some duct tape (ice and snow duct tape is dark blue, for reference) and a staple gun (don’t forget the staples). First step, cut your padding to twice the size of your board (this will require a bit of math and measure and all). Since I went with a 2X3’ board, I cut the foam to 4X6’ (which we’ll discover is not adequate).

Step 4: I decided to double over the padding for my little project here. I’m a bit of a pansy as it were, all princess and the pea and what not. Let me reassure you that carpet padding isn’t as magical as it seems under carpet, the carpet really helps. Not to mention, you can’t drive a staple into carpet. It adds a bit to the overall weight, but that is not really a concern in the realm of exercise equipment.

Step 6: So, after a good number of hours of struggle and toil we come forward with two exercise mats in very raw form. They’re not much to look at and they’ve got an awful habit of shedding tiny pieces of horridly synthetic itchy padding all over my damned floors but they’re getting there.

Step x(2): Oddly enough, even though I don’t own a staple gun I found some staples in the house. So, this space will be used to educate the general public about staple sizing. The measurement presented on the box makes reference to the depth of the staple. The actual size of the staple, the width of the staple (the measure that’ll determine whether or not it’ll fit in the staple gun) is the “model” of the staple. So, I went and bought some staples... and some duct tape.

Step 8: Thankfully, we’re still not all that far removed from the Christmas season so I still had my gift wrapping skills pretty well honed. Oddly enough, my shortcomings in measuring happened to help with stapling. Even with a half inch staples, I don’t know that they would’ve made it deep enough into the wooden base to hold. But, in the trench we found a sweet soft spot to drive into. After that, add a bit of tape to cover the seam (remember, even though I alluded to myself as a princess i’ve never earned the seamstress title).

Introduction: As i’d mentioned previously, I put on some weight over the holidays. Such is the way accordingly as you get older. Basically, I went to buy an exercise mat, and they’re ridiculously expensive (especially for what they’re made of) so I elected to construct my own.

Step 1: Acquire the materials necessary. Basically, I went with plywood, carpet padding and a roll of blue vinyl (classic gym class blue).

Step 3: Here is where things get interesting. Accordingly, i’m not great with a tape measurer. Or, for that matter I lack the foresight to understand the board has three dimensions. I’d appropriately accounted for the width and height, but ignored the depth. If you don’t account for the depth, you’re going to end up a bit short... As pictured to the left there.

Step 5: So, heres the thing about stapling through foam... it’s foam. Carpet padding does come with a mesh/netting backing. It’s difficult to make out in the photos, but it does help with holding the monstrosity together. In addition, I added some tape over the top and bottom of the staples for some support at the point of the highest stress.

Step X(1): This is about where we ran into trouble. It’s first important to note that the staple gun is on loan. The last thing Davie Boy said when he allowed me to borrow it, was that I should take some more staples. That would’ve been wise to heed, but it was cold and dark in his garage...

Step 7: So, with a fresh batch of staples we were back at it again. I was a bit worried at first, when I tried to lay out the board on the vinyl it didn’t appear I had nearly enough. The woman at the Upholstery store seemed a little too interested in selling me the vinyl (i don’t know that vinyl, especially blue vinyl, sells all that well). I thought she burned me, but it worked out.

Step 9: Add another nice long strip of duct tape to cover the evidence of the staples and you’re pretty much good to go. A quick note about vinyl, it has an awful habit of smelling like vinyl. Spray some general cleaner over the beasts, rub them down, and you’d good to go.

Estimated Cost of Project:
Plywood: Free (traded Davie Boy)
Carpet Padding (6lbs padding, 8x12’): $20 +/-
A roll of blue vinyl (find an upholstery store): $10
A box of staples (cause you’re not wise enough to heed your friends advice: $3
Not too shabby when they’re asking $60 for something not nearly as homely looking.