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Re: c'mon baby, let's do the twist...
By:Russ
Date: 9/11/2001, 10:58 am

The problem with using dimension lumber as a strongback is that there is a better than even chance that it will warp as moisture content varies. I bit the bullet and built a 2" x 6" box beam from 1/2" MDF (RangerBoard, I believe the trade name was). It has been extremely dimensionally stable. It's the same stuff that the forms were cut from. It is a bit heavy, but it's rock solid. No warping.

: Your idea was valid. What you have to look for in that case would be a fairly
: straight grain, either flat or verticle. You want to avoid the pith or
: center of the tree, which is what most of the deminsion lumber ( for
: building ) is. If you DO end up with the boards with the center in them,
: then on each side of the ladder beam, put the curved grain in opposite
: directions. That way, as they dry, they will pull against each other and
: cancel most or all of the movement. Don't know how you were putting them
: together, but instead of nails, you might use lag screws with fairly big
: washers. They will pull it together and hold about as tight as can be
: expected. FWIW

: Rehd

Messages In This Thread

Is a little twist Ok?
Brian Ramoly -- 9/10/2001, 9:18 pm
Re: Is a little twist Ok?
Carl -- 9/11/2001, 12:38 pm
Re: Is a little twist Ok?
Paul G. Jacobson -- 9/11/2001, 12:18 am
c'mon baby, let's do the twist...
Dean Trexel -- 9/10/2001, 11:20 pm
Re: c'mon baby, let's do the twist...
Brian Ramoly -- 9/10/2001, 11:31 pm
Re: c'mon baby, let's do the twist...
Rehd -- 9/11/2001, 12:23 am
Re: c'mon baby, let's do the twist...
Russ -- 9/11/2001, 10:58 am
Re: c'mon baby, let's do the twist...
Dean Trexel -- 9/11/2001, 12:11 am
Re: Is a little twist Ok?
Rehd -- 9/10/2001, 10:44 pm
Re: Is a little twist Ok?
Malcolm Schweizer -- 9/10/2001, 10:37 pm