noakesy123 Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Hello everyone, I'm currently looking at producing a new, modular layout, using a series of 4 by 2ft boards. Unfortunately, as a student, I'm not in the best financial position, so whilst looking to produce something of highest quality, I also need to do it cheaply. The cost of the sheer amount of timber I would need to suitably brace the boards, makes the project, just at the baseboard stage quite expensive. One solution I thought of was that I have a 1 inch thick ply sheet from a first layout when I was very young, if this was cut into 3inch strips, to make 1inch by 3 inch batons, could this be used as baseboard framing in the same way you would use traditional timber? Has anyone tried this method, or if not, just ensure me that it would be suitable, as if so, I may be able to go forward with the project! thanks, Tom. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Friar Tuck Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Ought to be a good solution - especially as it must be well matured by now. Just be careful to make sure the strips are flat and have square edges when you cut them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noakesy123 Posted June 7, 2012 Author Share Posted June 7, 2012 cheers - that was my only real concern, but I will ensure it is cut straight to give good square sections. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coombe Barton Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 Has anyone tried this method, or if not, just ensure me that it would be suitable, as if so, I may be able to go forward with the project! I'd have thought that your major problem will be getting the ply cut at 90 degrees to the surface and the two edges parallel. Not something that I'd like to attempt without a full set of wood machining jigs. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold chris p bacon Posted June 7, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 7, 2012 I'd have thought that your major problem will be getting the ply cut at 90 degrees to the surface and the two edges parallel. Not something that I'd like to attempt without a full set of wood machining jigs. I had mine supplied already ripped, but there were still inaccuracies 105-107mm, this is not a problem if you mark a face side and edge and just work from this, I made mine up with the underside of the baseboard as the "flat" surface, this meant any inaccuracies didn't matter as all measurements for legs etc were from that point. To be honest not being at 90 degrees over 25mm won't matter much, just use a resin based gap filling glue, this gets down into the grain as well. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Penlan Posted June 7, 2012 Share Posted June 7, 2012 ....... using a series of 4 by 2ft boards....... I have a 1 inch thick ply sheet ...... if this was cut into 3inch strips, to make 1inch by 3 inch batons, I use 15mm ply for unrelated (to Model Railways) activities, 15mm is heavy, thus 25mm ply sounds a lot heavier, Are these boards to be moved on a regular basis? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
noakesy123 Posted June 8, 2012 Author Share Posted June 8, 2012 They would have to be moved, but only every few months. Not regularly, and would probably be moved by 2 people, so weight wouldn't be too much of an issue. Dave, as you say, I would use the board as the flat surface and match the framing to it, so the small inaccuracies probably wouldn't make too much of a difference. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.