Plywood thickness for wooden track
Plywood thickness for wooden track
Hi,
I've been looking around at some plans for building my own wooden test track with two lanes. The one I plan to follow is:
http://www.rahul.net/mcgrew/derby/track/
Pinewood Daddy built this one also and he said he used birch 1/2 inch ply and removed some of the stiffner on the back of the peices that bend.
Do you think I could use a thinner ply like 1/4 inch or something in between? I plan to make it 32 feet long. And I'm not sure if my local Home Depot has birch. What other alternatives could I use?
Thanks!
I've been looking around at some plans for building my own wooden test track with two lanes. The one I plan to follow is:
http://www.rahul.net/mcgrew/derby/track/
Pinewood Daddy built this one also and he said he used birch 1/2 inch ply and removed some of the stiffner on the back of the peices that bend.
Do you think I could use a thinner ply like 1/4 inch or something in between? I plan to make it 32 feet long. And I'm not sure if my local Home Depot has birch. What other alternatives could I use?
Thanks!
Re: Plywood thickness for wooden track
Check this thread for some thoughts n the issue: http://derbytalk.com/viewtopic.php?t=3305
Re: Plywood thickness for wooden track
Thanks Doc, that was very helpful especially where they said 1/4 inch plywood would be like a potato ship! I called another lumber store here and they do sell 1/2 inch birch plywood for $26 so I'm going by there this afternoon to pickup a sheet of it. According to Pinewood Daddy, thats all I need for three lanes. Although I only needed two, I might as well make three lanes.
I'll start a thread on here with pics just as soon as I make some progress.
Thanks for your help!
I'll start a thread on here with pics just as soon as I make some progress.
Thanks for your help!
Re: Plywood thickness for wooden track
I bought a sheet of 1/2" birch plywood on the way home today. I set my table saw to 8" cause I'm only going to do two lanes. A neighbor helped me cut the pieces and they came out perfect!
Tomorrow I'm going to glue down the lane guides and assemble the starting gate. I should have this going by Mon or Tues - just have to let the poly dry on the track when I apply it.
Thanks everyone!
Tomorrow I'm going to glue down the lane guides and assemble the starting gate. I should have this going by Mon or Tues - just have to let the poly dry on the track when I apply it.
Thanks everyone!
Re: Plywood thickness for wooden track
Why 8" wide for a 2 lane?
Personnally, I would only go 7" wide with a 3 1/2" wide lane center.
Most track manufacturers use 3 1/2" lane centers and when purchaseing a timer you will be more in the norm and buying or selling the timer will be more of a standard width.
Never know an aluminum track may be in your future.
Personnally, I would only go 7" wide with a 3 1/2" wide lane center.
Most track manufacturers use 3 1/2" lane centers and when purchaseing a timer you will be more in the norm and buying or selling the timer will be more of a standard width.
Never know an aluminum track may be in your future.
- Pinewood Daddy
- Pine Head Legend
- Posts: 1500
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- Location: Wallingford, Connecticut
Re: Plywood thickness for wooden track
I had Home Depot cut up the plywood. They do it for free now! I have a table saw but their panel saw is much easier.
I designed a few large reptile enclosures using 3/8" & 1/4" plywood, made cut drawings and had them cut all of the pieces. It saved me alot of time.
I designed a few large reptile enclosures using 3/8" & 1/4" plywood, made cut drawings and had them cut all of the pieces. It saved me alot of time.
Re: Plywood thickness for wooden track
I was going to cut it at 7" and may still trim it down but I'm building my own timer enclosure so thats not a problem linning it up. This is just my own personal test track for my boys so it will work out fine.
I didn't think of having them cut it for me. I stacked the cut pieces last night wondering if any of them were off any but they were just right - guess my hands were more steady than I thought!
I didn't think of having them cut it for me. I stacked the cut pieces last night wondering if any of them were off any but they were just right - guess my hands were more steady than I thought!
Re: Plywood thickness for wooden track
Feel good at the price you paid for that 1/2" birch plywood. I checked today & it is $36 at the only lumber yard around here that actually stocks it.Pack26 wrote: I called another lumber store here and they do sell 1/2 inch birch plywood for $26 so I'm going by there this afternoon to pickup a sheet of it.
Re: Plywood thickness for wooden track
Last night I put the lane guides on three of the sections and I do not see hoe this is going to bend at all. Is there a secret to it to make the sections bend?
Re: Plywood thickness for wooden track
Piantedosi recommends two 5 lb. weights attached to cross member via large dowel at base of curve just before transition, they also use 3/8" for track base and 1/4" for guides.Pack26 wrote:Last night I put the lane guides on three of the sections and I do not see hoe this is going to bend at all. Is there a secret to it to make the sections bend?