I have seen a how-to article in, I think, Tips and Techniques, describing building what I would describe as a home-made walk board. It involved splitting a 24 ft 2×8 into two 2×4’s, inserting a 2×4 under the middle of both, nailing the ends down to produce a crown, and gluing and nailing 1/2 inch exterior plywood to one side. My recollection of the details of this article might be in error. My question is, in which issue of FineHomebuilding is this article contained? Thanks
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Not sure about the issue, or about it being 24 ft. I made a 16 ft. plank from that tip, and you could park a truck on it. You do have to skin both sides, not just the top. And although I made mine with 1/2 in. ply, I think next time I'd use 3/8 in. on the bottom to save weight. Also, you have to block at the joints in the plywood. I glued and nailed the skins on 4 in. centers.
That plank is strong but heavy. I've been tempted to try making one from 1x4 instead of 2x. I think it would work, but I'd test weight it first. I'd look for it to support 1000 lbs., for a margin of safety.
Andy
"Never try to teach a pig to sing. It wastes your time and annoys the pig." Robert A. Heinlein (or maybe Mark Twain)
"Get off your dead #### and on your dying feet." Mom
"Everything not forbidden is compulsory." T.H. White, The Once and Future King
You're talking about a torsion box, and there was an article in FWW about 1992 on how to build them. 1x4 would work, and you're right there has to be a diaphram top and borrom, glued and screwed. There has to be ... can I say this? ... intimate contact between the ply and the ribs, so consistent size ribs is essential."Put your creed in your deed." Emerson
"When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it." T. Roosevelt
can I say this.....intimate contact between the ribs, so consistent size ribs is essential.
No, you can't say that, but with a little editing, I like the thought <G>
terror
Our standard work plank is 22" x 16'. We also have 8's and 12's and a couple of odd ones built for a stairway.
We use stress rated 2500 lb 2x4 that we get from a truss company. For the smaller planks (-8') any sound 2x4 will work.
We put cross members in every 4'.
Then we screw 1/2" ply to the top. We remove the plywood to move them and we are thankful for reduced weight.
The torsion box plank with ply on both sides would be very heavy.
We routinely span 14' with these and they will support 2 men in the center. But we try to avoid situations where we are both in the center at the same time.
We replace these every couple of years.
I think it is about time I start looking to buy aluminum planks. But these are very handy, because you can have any number of these around a job site for standing on or as a table top, on sawhorses or pump jacks.
Rich