The Shop > Wood & Stuff
Need suggestions for making strongback
S. Heslop:
--- Quote from: mattinker on April 07, 2015, 09:44:27 PM ---You could build the 2 x4 section using4 pieces of 2 x1. We do this in set building when we need larger sections, by gluing (I would screw them from underneath as well) small sections together, the movement is considerably reduced, the centre of your "strong-back" being made of two 2x1s vertically, caped top and bottom by horizontally placed 2x1s. Four reasonably straight pieces can be persuaded to be very straight this way and they remain so even after drying.
Regards, Matthew
--- End quote ---
That reminds me of a thing i've seen guitar builders do, where they cut a board in half and glue it back together with one side flipped so any warping will hopefully get counteracted by the other half.
t=5m
vtsteam:
2 by 2 x square section steel tube with a couple of 1 by 2 firring strips screwed to it, top and bottom. They'll take your fasteners from wood additions, and the rig will be lighter and cheaper (by far) than 2x4 rectangular tube. Since you said "under" 2, you could also do that with 1-3/4" tube if available locally. That would actually fit 2" firring strips better, unless you ripped out true 2" strips yourself.
What are you making Sparky? A kayak?
sparky961:
Thanks to all for your suggestions. I think what I really needed though was a swift kick in the arse to get me off my chair and into the shop.
My worries over how accurate I could build it using tools and materials on hand were, alas, rather silly. I ended up using some leftover plywood pieces to build a box beam. Being already cut down to about 20 x 60" they were easier to manage than a full sheet. Still a handful on the saw, and if they needed to be perfect this wouldn't have been the way. I discovered that my wood glue was all dried up, so I skipped the gluing. In hindsight, I do think this would have added appreciable rigidity to the assembly, but again - I'm calling it adequate. I'm pretty sure that any change in moisture content of the plywood won't cause significant enough stresses to cause warping, bowing, etc.
Future project posting to follow..... sometime.
sparky961:
--- Quote from: vtsteam on April 07, 2015, 11:18:50 PM ---2 by 2 x square section steel tube with a couple of 1 by 2 firring strips screwed to it, top and bottom. They'll take your fasteners from wood additions, and the rig will be lighter and cheaper (by far) than 2x4 rectangular tube. Since you said "under" 2, you could also do that with 1-3/4" tube if available locally. That would actually fit 2" firring strips better, unless you ripped out true 2" strips yourself.
What are you making Sparky? A kayak?
--- End quote ---
I like your idea about using a piece of steel with furring strips on it. It would be much more rigid than what I have now, but what I've put together seems to be alright for now.
You got your post in just as I was typing mine up, but the last picture was hinting at the application for the strongback. :)
Slow and steady....
Joe d:
Do we see a kayak coming to life?
Keep posting!
Joe
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