Once again I come to the well of wisdom for help on a project.
My pastor asked me to talk to him about "...a small woodworking project..." the alarm bells should have gone off then, but...
The Praise Worship Service is being held in the "Activity Center" of the church, having outgrown the chapel they were holding the service in. In the activity center (a large gym) they are performing on some portable platforms that fold all up for storage. These are borrowed from the church next door and they will want them back soon. He wants me to make some platform sections that the band can perform off of, but can be moved out-of-the way for other events in the activity center.
The fancy fold-up platforms they borrowed are very expensive, so buying something like them is out of the question. They measure 3' by 6' by 12" high when set up. They are using 4 of them at this time.
The music director wants twice the space. They don't have to fold up but must be moveable so they can lean them up against walls when they want them out of the way.
I was thinking of using 3/4 ply or underlayment (something like "Sturdi Floor") with some sort of reinforcement to keep it from bending and flexing. My thoughts/questions:
1) I could make then 3' X 6', using 3 sheets of 4' X 8' ply to make 4 platforms, or
2) I could just make them 4' X 8' and make 6 platforms. The problem with this is that they would be 2' taller when they stand them up against the wall.
3) I could use angle aluminum around the edges ad down the center to stiffen them, or
4) "Skirt" them with 1X4s and run a 1X4 down the center to stiffen them.
I think the 1X4 answer would be cheapest, plus it would give me a solid surface to mount legs to.
Last question: I was thinking a leg at each corner (2X2) and one in the center of the 3X6 panels. If I went 4X8, would I need more legs?
My pastor asked me to talk to him about "...a small woodworking project..." the alarm bells should have gone off then, but...
The Praise Worship Service is being held in the "Activity Center" of the church, having outgrown the chapel they were holding the service in. In the activity center (a large gym) they are performing on some portable platforms that fold all up for storage. These are borrowed from the church next door and they will want them back soon. He wants me to make some platform sections that the band can perform off of, but can be moved out-of-the way for other events in the activity center.
The fancy fold-up platforms they borrowed are very expensive, so buying something like them is out of the question. They measure 3' by 6' by 12" high when set up. They are using 4 of them at this time.
The music director wants twice the space. They don't have to fold up but must be moveable so they can lean them up against walls when they want them out of the way.
I was thinking of using 3/4 ply or underlayment (something like "Sturdi Floor") with some sort of reinforcement to keep it from bending and flexing. My thoughts/questions:
1) I could make then 3' X 6', using 3 sheets of 4' X 8' ply to make 4 platforms, or
2) I could just make them 4' X 8' and make 6 platforms. The problem with this is that they would be 2' taller when they stand them up against the wall.
3) I could use angle aluminum around the edges ad down the center to stiffen them, or
4) "Skirt" them with 1X4s and run a 1X4 down the center to stiffen them.
I think the 1X4 answer would be cheapest, plus it would give me a solid surface to mount legs to.
Last question: I was thinking a leg at each corner (2X2) and one in the center of the 3X6 panels. If I went 4X8, would I need more legs?
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