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Reply to "1x4 lumber for benchwork"

If you have a genuine lumber yard slice a 4 x 8 sheet of shop grade Birch/Maple  plywood into 3 1/2" strips 8' long  it will yield 13 pieces.  The per piece will come in about $4.50 to $5.00 aprox.  This will provide the most stable of benchwork frames.

Solid dimensional lumber will warp.  Can not give an account of the many solid wood layouts I have had to straighten. 

For decking the best deal is Advantech at 84 lumber for about  $30.00 per 4 x 8 x 3/4" sheet.  The density makes it much quitter than 1/2" plywood or OSB.

For demonstration purpose I built a 200'  long around the wall layout using all popular benchwork methods and you can hear the difference as the train moves from one construction style to another.

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1 x 4 (3/4 x 3 1/2) plywood sides and cross members on 16" centers

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13' x 29' staging loop.  Floor taped to determine aisle size restrictions.

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Predrill wire management holes and run most wires b/4 decking.

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Below: beads of silicone on all mating surfaces with decking pre positioned on dowels and gently clamped in place with gussets holding plywood butting edges even.  Helps in sound control.

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I have now retired from benchwork to finish my own RR.

 

 

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Last edited by Tom Tee

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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