So, I’ve been itching to dance again, you know? My old dance pad is just dead—all cracked and slippery. Saw some folks online using portable wooden floors, and thought, why not make my own? Especially since soft maple wood sounds fancy but feels smooth. Wanted something I could drag around, not stuck in one spot.

Grabbing Stuff

First off, I hit up the local hardware store. Found a soft maple plank—real light wood, felt good in my hands. Grabbed some wood glue, sandpaper, and those little rubber feet to stop it from sliding. Total cost? Eh, around $50. Bargain hunt paid off.

Cutting and Shaping

Got my tools out: a basic hand saw and an old sander. Measured the pad area roughly; just eyeballed it ’cause I ain’t pro. Cut the wood into four pieces—like puzzle squares. Messed up once, sawed too short, and almost cussed out loud. Sanded it all smooth; took forever, had to stop ’cause my arms ached. Used wood glue to stick ’em together edge-to-edge, clamped it down overnight. Woke up to find it kinda warped—darn humidity—so redid the gluing with more clamps.

Adding Non-Slip Bits

Next, stuck those rubber feet on the bottom. Simple, just peeled and pressed. Made sure it gripped the floor well; didn’t wanna bust my butt dancing. Tested it barefoot—felt solid under my toes. Oh, almost forgot: I slapped on a clear sealant coat for extra shine. Smelled awful, had to air it out in the garage for a day.

First Dance Test

Finally dragged it out, plugged in my pad, and stepped on. Boom! Danced my heart out to some old tunes—no slipping, no creaking. Felt like heaven; soft maple’s forgiving on the joints. Stored it folded up; easy to stash in my closet. Just gotta watch out for moisture, ’cause wood ain’t perfect.