What type of wood for mobile base kit?
JasonWhite
| Posted in General Discussion on
Hi. I bought a mobile base kit at Rocker’s for my table saw. It’s the type with the metal corners and wheels — you supply the hardwood stretchers. I’m attaching a picture of the kit.
The instructions call for 1-1/2″ (actual thickness) hardwood like oak, maple, etc. Problem is, I can’t find 1-1/2″ “actual” thickness hardwood at my local home center or lumberyards and don’t want to pay a bundle at a specialty place. Has anybody used something cheaper with any success? Would using some LVL scraps work?
Thanks.
TF
Toolfanatic (a.k.a. The man formerly known as “Toolfreak”)
Replies
Try it.Worst case scenario is you redo it!
I'm biased (the company I work for makes the stuff) but the LVL in short lengths is incredibly rigid. Just make sure the plys are oriented correctly.
Regard it as just as desirable to build a chicken house as to build a cathedral.
Frank Lloyd Wright
Edited 6/14/2006 11:20 am by Rennie
Ran by the lumberyard at lunch today and got a stick of LVL. Not cheap ($50 for a 14-foot 2x9 stick, which is actually 1-3/4" thick, but I figure it's cheaper than buying 2"-thick oak, which I'd then have to plane down. I'm sure I'll find lots of uses for the leftover LVL scraps. Very rigid and I'm sure it's just as stable (if not more so) than oak.TFToolfanatic (a.k.a. The man formerly known as "Toolfreak")
You probably know this, but just in case, be aware that you can't joint or plane down LVL beams, the adhesive in them will wreck ordinary steel jointer and planer blades in seconds. To get the wood to the dimensions you need it will have to be cut on a saw with a carbide blade.
John W.
Dear John,
I see where you are going, but I would like to differ with you or at least modify your advice. I have been a contractor for more years then I care to admit to, and we have planed LVL's with good results. Now, given it is tough on blades, but not impossible. I would prefer to see some one plane it as opposed to ripping it "on the flat" (Or filleted), due to the glue content. Just my two cents.Best,John
Glad you mentioned it!! I was actually thinking of running them through the planer. You saved me a few bucks on new blades. Thanks!TFToolfanatic (a.k.a. The man formerly known as "Toolfreak")
Tool,
Go get a pallet and rip it up ....look for oak or maple
Just use regular old 2x4s. No problem. Avoid any knots/wild grain, cull it for straight grain.
I bought one for my RAS, and used spruce 2x4's ripped down the middle. Worked just fine. Depending on the weight, might want to use hardwood, but the cost for runners for a mobile base seemed to much for me. Try the 2x4's and if it don't work, you did not lose much. Good Luck.
I used poplar, laminated to the 1 1/2" spec for building this kit for my lathe. I was a little concerned that with such a long run it might sag but after being under the lathe for about a year now, no sag at all and it continues to work just fine.
see the link below, near the end of the review for a photo of the base under the lathe.
http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/rockmobaservu.html
Tom Hintz
Because there is always more to learn!
The instructions with the kit say to use 1-1/2" x 1-1/2" stretchers, but when I measured inside the metal corner brackets it's more like 1-5/8". Does it matter if the stretchers are loose inside the brackets?TFToolfanatic (a.k.a. The man formerly known as "Toolfreak")
I made my runners 1 1/2"-square and they fit fine. One thing is to round the upper edges slightly so they fit up into the rounded brackets better.Tom Hintz
Because there is always more to learn!
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