Lumber choice for window bench/storage
I’m looking to build a very low window bench/storage unit. The basic design would be to have a two horizontal 6′ lengths of lumber, sandwiched around 7 12″ pieces of vertical lumber. The end result would look like 6 12″X12″ boxes.
It’s going to be very short, because it is going to be for a child’s room.
My question is regarding what material to use. My options are:
2X12 Kiln dried spruce
5/4 X 12 Finger-joined pine
The spruce would be a stronger choice, but it is construction grade lumber, so it is not going to be very smooth.
The finger-joined pine is already primed, which is convenient, and would be a nice finished look. But, is the 5/4 thickness strong enough? The span is never going to be more than 12″, but it does need to be strong enough if someone sits on it.
Replies
I would think/imagine that 5/4" on 12" would be fine.
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If those are the only choices available, then definitely the pine. Most spruce is gnarly and will get gnarlier with time.
most window boxes/seats are at 18" AFF - same as a seat, but the other thing to consider is that there needs to be 18" between the box and the window sill for safety, because this box becomes a shelf the child can stand on. Too low of a sill and she falls out, or can fall into the glass and break it.
So if the sill is at say 32" AFF, you need to modify things.
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Why not use plywood? It's straight and strong. You could use prefinished maple or birch plywood and apply hardwood edging.
The attached shows a couple of window seats I built from plywood. I made torsion boxes from 3/4 birch plywood with internal framing on 16 inch centers of 4 inch plywood "joists" and screwed them into the wall framing. They have held three adults with no problem. making the 12 x 12 cubbies you describe would be plenty strong enough using 3/4 ply.
Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to try the 5/4. One of the reasons I wanted to use 12" lumber, rather than plywood, was to avoid having to do all the rip cuts. I don't have a table saw, so ripping the plywood gets to be a pain. At least with the 5/4 X 12 one dimension is the same for all the pieces automatically.
I don't know if you are in the Boston area, but Boulter Plywood in Somerville used to precision cut plywood for me when I lived in Winthrop w/o a table saw.
Most home centers do it for free too (I think it's free). Here they have one of those cool panel saws. All you need is patients. :-)
OP: I'd think you might have problem with cupping with 5/4 that is 12" wide - unless is it pretty high quality wood.
Yes, the home centers will rip plywood for free. Officially, there's a limit of 2 or 3 cuts, but they usually ignore that.
The problem is that they need to re-set the panel saw for each cut and you can't depend on them for accuracy. Cutting to within 1/2" is probably about the best you can expect and that may not be good enough for making the bench in question.
I have them cut for me all of the time, but I call them "transportation cuts", as in, a cut to make it easier for me to get it home and re-cut as needed.
I thought that you (they) set the panel saw for the rip and then any number of cuts could be made by sliding the piece through repitevily - which would all be the same width rip, be it possibly (probably) off a little.
Yes, that's possible, if they cut from the bottom up. In other words, if the "keeper" piece is below the blade and the scrap above. Then, the scrap piece (assuming it's larger than the keeper) can be run through again making an identical-sized cut.
But, they're not supposed to cut this way because the weight of the larger piece on top can bind the saw blade. Of course, not all of the employees have been instructed properly and I've gotten them to make cuts like this for me. I helped pull the sheet through so they probably never even realized that there could be an issue with this technique.
And the other reason I mentioned that expecting them to make the finish cuts is probably not a good idea is because of edge splintering. In my own shop, I can control the variables that cause it (blade choice, rate of feed, face-down/face-up, etc.) which can't be done at the big box.
"Most home centers do it for free too (I think it's free). Here they have one of those cool panel saws. All you need is patients. :-)"Either you don't trust the employees at Home Depot or you really like Guns & Roses.
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