Introduction: Snow Sled Made From a TV Satellite Dish

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About: Alex is the product engineering manager at Instructables and loves the combination of technical, business, and UX/design problem-solving that comes along with it. He is a former software engineer and likes tin…

I recently got a new roof and that meant we had to remove the old TV satellite dish the previous owners had installed. It dawned on me that this could make a perfect snow sled given that it's entirely made of metal and roughly the shape of a saucer-style sled.

Supplies

You will need:

  • Large Satellite Dish
  • Adjustable Wrench
  • Rope
  • Scissors
  • Drill
  • Pliers and/or vice
  • Cleaning supplies
  • Heavy Duty Tape (e.g. duct tape)

Step 1: Remove Satellite Dish From Roof

Carefully remove the satellite dish from your roof. I recommend detaching the mounting plate and leaving it in place so you don't cause issues with water leaking through the mounting holes. I removed mine entirely though as I was already in the process of getting a new roof.

Step 2: Remove Dish From Mounting Bracket

Remove the four bolts holding the dish to the mounting bracket using an adjustable crescent wrench.

Step 3: Drill Holes and Add Handle

You may want to flatten the edges (the next step) before you drill holes but I drilled the holes first. Mark your holes about 18 inches apart towards the front of the dish to create enough space for the handle. I mounted the dish in a vice and drilled 3/8-inch holes big enough for rope I had on hand. I then threaded the rope through the holes and tied knots on each end to keep it in place.

Step 4: Flatten Edges

This is probably the hardest step. You'll need to carefully flatten out the edges of the dish to make it a nice clean and flat surface for sledding. I used pliers and a vice and slowly worked my way around the dish, bending the edge so it was was mostly flat. Be careful not to bend the edges too much or the metal may break apart.

Step 5: Clean and Assemble

Clean the dish with a sponge and soapy water and then dry it.

Step 6: Tape Around Edges

The metal edges of the satellite dish are sharp and could be dangerous for sledding so it's a good idea to address this. I wrapped the sled in a thick layer of tape to cover the sharp edges. I used some leather repair tape I had on hand but duct tape or any other of heavy duty tape should work fine.

Step 7: Go Sledding!

Now take it out on the slopes! Check out a video of it in action here. You'll feel like Clark Griswold from National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. You could even spray some PAM on the bottom for an extra speed boost. Make sure to be careful and steer clear from others when riding. Have fun!