Method of forming a deck assembly for an exercise treadmill

A method of making an exercise equipment treadmill deck having a low friction surface against which a treadmill belt bears, the method for which comprises:

• providing wood fines each having a size of generally about 1/160-inch by 1/160-inch by 1/80-inch;
• adding resin to the fines;
• adjusting the moisture content of the fines;
• adding wax to the fines in an amount of at least 20 grams of wax per about 0.75 pounds of the combination of resin and fines;
• and
• after adding wax to the fines, pressing the fines together under high temperature to form the treadmill deck.

A method of making exercise equipment hardboard, the hardboard having a thickness and a low friction contact surface usable for interfacing with a sliding member adapted to slide over the contact surface, the method for which comprises:

• providing wood fines that are similar in size to wood sawdust;
• mixing wax with the wood fines in an amount of about 5.9% or more of the hardboard by weight wherein the wax is sufficiently embedded throughout the thickness of the hardboard to create a relatively low friction interface between the contact surface of the hardboard and the sliding member that continues even as the hardboard is worn down by the sliding member;
• and
• after mixing the wax with the wood particles, pressing the wood particles together under high temperature and high pressure to form the hardboard.

A method of making hardboard comprising the steps of:

• providing wood particles;
• adding a first wax to the wood particles;
• adding resin to the wood particles;
• drying the wood particles after adding the first wax and the resin to the wood particles;
• adding a second wax to the wood particles after drying the wood particles;
• and
• after adding the second wax to the wood particles, pressing the wood particles together under high temperature to form the hardboard.