Alright, let me dump my whole messy process building that shock-absorb dance pad from scrap wood. Started ’cause my kid’s plastic store-bought pad snapped mid-game last week – total junk. Grabbed my dusty plywood pieces stacked in the garage since 2019. Sized ’em up rough – eyeballed two rectangles about 3 feet by 4 feet. Didn’t even measure properly.
The “Shock Absorb” Disaster Part
Took four busted car floor mats from the junkyard. Big mistake. Tried stuffing rubber chunks between plywood layers. Glued ’em haphazardly – looked like a crumbling sandwich. Stepped on it: CLUNK… mats shot sideways. Whole contraption nearly folded in half. My neighbor yelled “EARTHQUAKE?” through the fence.
- Ripped out the mats
- Smashed old yoga blocks with a hammer instead
- Cut the foam bits into janky squares
- Superglued ’em to the bottom board in panic
Put weight on one corner – immediate wobble. Screamed at my drill: bolted through the foam pads to anchor ’em. Foam chunks split everywhere. Looked like a hamster cage exploded.
Sensor Chaos & Final Assembly
Had these sketchy metal strips bought online. Taped ’em under plywood arrows with duct tape. Wired USB sensors crookedly. Took forever to solder with shaky hands – burned holes in the wood. Mounted sensors with crooked screws that stuck out on top. Kid stepped on an arrow: SQUEAKED like stepped-on duck.
Final step? Slapped flooring laminate scraps on top. Forgot to sand splintery edges. Three cuts on my palm later… bloodstains on the “start” button. Powered it up. Pad registered LEFT even when we jumped RIGHT. Spent two hours remapping controls yelling at the screen.
Kid dances on it now – creaks like a haunted pirate ship. Shocks sorta work if you stomp dead center. Still better than throwing cash at another flimsy toy.
