05-06-2011, 02:50 PM
[albumimg]3803[/albumimg]
Here's the rig I built to support the side frames while I glued on the bottom cross braces. By 'built', I really mean one 2x4 is rubber cemented to the workbench and the other is free to move. I measured from the plan the distance that should be between each side and marked the 2x4s accordingly. Then I applied rubber cement to the long members of the side frames and set them in place. Before the cement got too tacky I quickly measured from opposite corners in order to determine if the sides were square. Then I let the glue set for a minute before proceeding to measure, mark, and glue the cross braces in place. I did this in the morning and was able to proceed to the next step that night.
Seems like it worked well except for one thing...I didn't take into account the slight variance in length of the side frames. That is, the 'feet' or shoes on the frames are actually not all the same length. The instructions say to cut them oversize but I couldn't see why. Anyway, as a result my side frames are not parallel. However it is only a slight variance, not noticable to the naked eye, and did not affect the rest of the construction so far. Diagonal measuring is still the correct way to determine squareness or trueness of a 4 sided shape but only if parallel sides are equal length. Good 'ole geometry.
Up next will be the floor beams after I get that step completed and photographed.
Galen
Here's the rig I built to support the side frames while I glued on the bottom cross braces. By 'built', I really mean one 2x4 is rubber cemented to the workbench and the other is free to move. I measured from the plan the distance that should be between each side and marked the 2x4s accordingly. Then I applied rubber cement to the long members of the side frames and set them in place. Before the cement got too tacky I quickly measured from opposite corners in order to determine if the sides were square. Then I let the glue set for a minute before proceeding to measure, mark, and glue the cross braces in place. I did this in the morning and was able to proceed to the next step that night.
Seems like it worked well except for one thing...I didn't take into account the slight variance in length of the side frames. That is, the 'feet' or shoes on the frames are actually not all the same length. The instructions say to cut them oversize but I couldn't see why. Anyway, as a result my side frames are not parallel. However it is only a slight variance, not noticable to the naked eye, and did not affect the rest of the construction so far. Diagonal measuring is still the correct way to determine squareness or trueness of a 4 sided shape but only if parallel sides are equal length. Good 'ole geometry.
Up next will be the floor beams after I get that step completed and photographed.
Galen
I may not be a rivet counter, but I sure do like rivets!