Materials used for slides
The toy slides are made from materials ranging from hardened wood to light weight plastics. The outdoor slides are mostly made from wood, metal or plastic. Water slides or pool slides are mostly created from light weight and durable plastic or fibre glass.
The influence of modern technology is more visible in the construction of slides. The olden day heavy and bulky slides have now given way to light weight and portable fibre slides that are easy to carry, dismantle and assemble. Now you can have small foldable slides that can be carried with you during your trips. Light weight inflatable slides can be deflated, folded and carried in a carry bags.
- Wooden slides and frames
- Metal slides and frames
- Plastic slides and frames
- Inflatable slides
Wooden slides are made from tough and processed timbers. Normally timbers are pressure treated and polished to give a smooth surface and rugged structure. Wood is populary used in constructing toy slides as they have their inherent insulating property and are also cheaper and easily available. The insulating propery of wood means that wooden slides will not become too cold in winter nor too hot in summer. As an outdoor play equipment, wooden slides blend well with the sorroundings. Moreover, wooden slides are ecofriendly and make it the green choice for eco conscious people.
Metal slides are another more popular form of toys slide. Metal slides are more durable than wooden slides. They can withstand the rough handling that slides are normally exposed to. The drawback of metal slides are that they are not suited for moist or coastal areas as the metal slides can rust easily.
Plastic slides and frames have become popular during the recent days. The latest developments in plastic technology means that slides and frames are now more affordable and more durable. The injection moulded polyethylene and ultra violet stabilisers in the modern day slides make them tough and durable. The plastic slides do not rust and are more suitable for most climates. Most of the portable light weight slides are made from plastic.
Inflatable slides comes in variety of shapes and sizes. They are usually made from strong and stretchable vinyl or nylon materials. Pieces are glued or moulded together to ceate giant inflatables. The inflatables are normally coated with polyurethane.
The most popular slides are still wooden slides and metal slides as they are cheap and available locally.