Questions tagged [strength]

Use for Questions where the strength of the materials and/or the overall design is of primary importance.

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How can I increase the resistance in an adjustable scissor-lift?

Recently I built a scissor-style laptop raiser and book lectern. It works fine, but the weighty laptop requires much tightening of the wingnuts, making me fear that over time the wood will crack (they'...
Josip's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
72 views

Would a 2 Pass Dowel Glue Up For a Hung Door Be Stronger and Reduce the Fall

I recently had to rehang a laundry door as it had dropped over the years. As I was squaring up the door and redrilling the dowels I wondered whether the door would be stronger if I drilled and glued ...
User314's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
55 views

Recommendations for making bench more sturdy?

My first home woodwork project was this bench/bookcase. It is pretty sturdy but wobbles a little. I would like to reinforce it on the back but would love some guidance on what would be best. It ...
Brooke's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
97 views

Is this a valid way to brace a garden gate?

I am planning to replace a wooden garden gate which has rotten over time. Lacking much experience myself, my first thought was to copy the existing design. However, I don't know who made it or what ...
Joseph's user avatar
  • 123
2 votes
1 answer
151 views

Grain direction for ends of a wooden tool tote

In a typical wooden tool tote, the sides have grain running horizontally, but what is the best way to run the grain for the ends? It seems like it would be better to make them with vertical grain ...
user1572900's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
72 views

Box to cover consumer unit flush with wall - Backless with cutouts possible?

I have a consumer unit that is perfectly flush in the corner of my hallway, and I am wanting to build some kind of full height storage cupboard around it from 18mm melamine chipboard. I was initially ...
physicsboy's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
107 views

What is a commonly available wood that will be strong enough for this thin piece?

I am trying to make a center console for my car. The piece in question looks like this: You can see that one side of the smaller cupholder hole was broken just by the activity of handling the piece ...
Datguy's user avatar
  • 13
1 vote
1 answer
131 views

Calculation of the strength of a wooden beam

I'm designing a wooden structure for Shibari purpose and I need to calculate the maximum load capacity of a beam at the midpoint. I've tried using various calculators, but I don't fully understand all ...
Cynizm's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
57 views

Bookcase mounting question

I am planning to build a bookcase inside an alcove, on top of some base cabinets. The bookcase is to take up the entire alcove width and remaining height of just over 1500mm, and it will be ...
physicsboy's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
164 views

How to attach legs to a custom torsion box

I am making a table for my dungeons and dragons group. This is the second version of my table, here was my first. https://i.stack.imgur.com/ZzmPA.jpg For my first table I used 3.5" fence post ...
Jeremy Murdock's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
97 views

Do I need any support for 2x8' shelves jointed with dados?

I'm want to make some 8 foot shelves with 2x8s. I want to set them in a 2x8 on each side with dados. It's my understanding that an ideal depth for the dado is 1/3rd of the thickness, so I would cut ...
BVernon's user avatar
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4 votes
1 answer
568 views

How to determine drawer weight capacity?

I am fitting my pantry with custom drawers, and I am worrying a bit about the weight capacity of one drawer in particular. The drawers are 14" wide and 21" deep. I've constructed them with ...
Ajean's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
60 views

Using a tabletop as a shelf?

I am wanting to install a shelf above a washer and dryer. Seems like a lot of the DIY videos involve buying 3/4 plywood and cutting it to size and then various other steps to take it from the rough ...
Carol's user avatar
  • 21
4 votes
1 answer
88 views

Posts on inside vs posts on outside of corner -- is there a difference in strength?

I'm working on a lofted bedframe design. Currently, I'm planning on creating the main frame using some wide boards (10"-12") joined with cross laps, leaving some overhang (from which I can ...
Jim McNulty's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
87 views

Building a sturdy kinda narrow and tall freestanding shelving unit for boardgames

I'm very new at building and working with wood in general. Had 1 project before this one but it was just a bunch of acoustic panelling frames. I want to build a shelving unit for boardgames similar to ...
Newbie Scripter's user avatar
3 votes
1 answer
142 views

Support needed for "butcher block" cart top?

Building a wheeled table or maybe better called a cart/bench that will slide back and forth over my washer and dryer. I can leave in place to fold on, or pull it out to have an additional table in the ...
Mom of 3's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
575 views

How do I securely hang heavy closet shelves?

Original Question I recently built a pair of custom shelves for a closet remodel. Ideally, I would like to float these shelves by securing them to some studs. Shelving dimensions are 72"x32"...
pyRabbit's user avatar
  • 133
0 votes
2 answers
57 views

Estimate leg width for router table

I'm making a table to hold my router. The surface will most likely be plywood but I'm wondering how to make the legs and attach them so that they're strong enough and the table is stable. The table ...
BanksySan's user avatar
  • 101
7 votes
3 answers
3k views

Wood grain direction vs. strength

I'm cutting some shelf supports, and am curious which grain direction is optimal for holding a screw + load. (Of course this is negligible in the given context, but I'd like to know for reference) I'm ...
dpren's user avatar
  • 173
3 votes
3 answers
762 views

Reinforce bunk bed

I built the below kit bunk bed for my kids and interested in reinforcing the posts to deal with some horizontal sway. It is constructed out of pine and connected with screws, barrel nuts and dowels. ...
Novice in everything's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
970 views

Board strength of true 1"x4"

I am trying to make a king-size bed frame. I have 2"x6"x80" pine boards that were free (always best). I planed them down to 1" thick to use for the head/foot/side rails. If I rip ...
Moverholt's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
143 views

Floating (kinda) book shelf support

I'm planning to make a bunch of shelves in-leu of a bookcase (see picture). Individual shelves will be attached by a small corner bracket to the wall and to two support posts approximately in the ...
Eugene's user avatar
  • 330
0 votes
1 answer
136 views

Reinforcing fragile wooden pendant?

With help from these boards I was able to reattach the broken-off wing of this wooden owl pendant using wood glue and some clamping power. However, I'm not sure I completely trust this little guy to ...
user1930581's user avatar
3 votes
2 answers
350 views

Strengthened leg miter joint with spline [key]

I'm building a coffee table with legs that are sub-assembled with a miter joint. See photo. The plans call for a Domino or dowels in addition to a spline [edit: key, see link below] for added strength....
bdots22's user avatar
  • 31
3 votes
2 answers
2k views

Pull-Up Bar - Wooden dowel - 1.25" actual diameter

I searched but I couldn't really find this answer. I want to use the linked wooden dowel as a pull-up bar. 1.25" oak (not specified which). Is this gonna be strong enough across a roughly 30"...
Christian R Ferrell's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
373 views

Can I use paracord to prevent a Large desk from racking?

I plan on making a large l-shaped desk out of an ikea counter top and a desktop then making legs out of 2x4s. I was planning on integrating shelves onto the desk legs as regular drawer unit can get ...
armando19's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
276 views

Are 1.5"x1.5" poplar legs strong enough to support a 3'x2' hardwood top?

I'm building a mobile (not on wheels) kitchen island for my partner in our new apartment, as a first woodworking project. A 3'x2' top is about right for the space, and she'd like an overall height of ...
F McA's user avatar
  • 13
1 vote
0 answers
91 views

Produce long, strong, flexible shavings

Ainu people (indigenous to Japan) use long wood shavings as a material to weave or braid into headpieces. The movie Ainu Mosir includes a scene that demonstrates the process of shaving down a green ...
Duncan Ocel's user avatar
0 votes
2 answers
277 views

Back panels for wide cabinets

I want to build a free-standing cabinet for the kitchen but since it is my cabinet build, I am not very sure about being able to make a solid/stable cabinet without back panel. It will probably have 4 ...
Hamzahfrq's user avatar
  • 103
0 votes
2 answers
444 views

Building a sideways bookshelf

I am trying to build a sideways bookshelf. The space I have to fit the bookshelf in is: Depth: 13.7 inches Length: 87.5 inches Height: 35.5 inches When I looked online for store-made bookshelves, none ...
Moish's user avatar
  • 109
0 votes
1 answer
254 views

Hardening wood arrows

I just bought wood dowel (beech, to be precise) with a diameter of 8mm and length of 100 cm. I am planning to use them as arrows but there is a problem: my archery skills can be terrible sometimes and ...
Yağız Alp Ersoy's user avatar
2 votes
3 answers
544 views

Do I need the front apron piece in a desk with a 3/4" plywood top?

I'm planning to make this desk for a person who has asked to leave off the front of the apron. She's very short and has difficulty with most desks being too high, and the ones that aren't too high don'...
John's user avatar
  • 123
0 votes
0 answers
234 views

Minimum leg dimensions for pine stool

I would like to make a wooden stool, but I don't know how thick the legs need to be for it to be safe and sturdy. I have 70x35mm pine and I plan on resawing it to get ~30x30mm legs. Is that enough ...
poida's user avatar
  • 109
0 votes
0 answers
51 views

Wood sag question

I used a 2ft. piece of 2x12 Doug Fir as a small ramp for truck. When truck weight was on the 2x12; the 2x12 flexed (sagged) a little and when the weight was removed the 2x12 went back into its regular ...
user9525's user avatar
3 votes
0 answers
124 views

Stability/joinery method for melamine

I'm building a book case out of melamine. The drawing below show the normal and exploded view. Dimensions are 110cm wide, 30cm deep, 126cm high (~43"x12"x50")". I'm worried about ...
Kenneth's user avatar
  • 141
1 vote
0 answers
287 views

Using plywood for vertical shelving?

I want to build some shelving (actually, on wheels, for use as a rolling cart) and I'd like to use 3/4" hardwood plywood for the whole thing, because it's cheaper than wood boards and I'm going ...
Joshua Frank's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
149 views

Strengthening plant stand butt joints

I want to start working on my first woodworking project: a plant stand. It's quite a large project (for being first project), but my neighbor has worked on some projects and he can help me to some ...
tumchaaditya's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
75 views

Flexing in middle of 3/4" walnut table top

I am building a table made out of 3/4" walnut. Right now, I have it on saw horses but will soon be attaching legs via cleats. The problem I am having now is that I'm noticing a bit of flex in the ...
Matt Senko's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
749 views

Building a Rolling Wall, Step 1 The Base

I am working on a project to create a rolling wall for a local art gallery. Wall will be 8ft wide, 7ft tall and 1-1/2ft deep. I'm planning to frame it with 2x4s as a standard wall, mounted on top of a ...
InOverMyHead's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
272 views

Strength of plywood walls for built-in bookshelves

I am planning on building built-in bookshelves that would span the length of a wall. Each unit would consist of a cabinet base ~2' across with a set of bookshelves mounted on top. The depth of the ...
Robert Farley's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
3k views

How to decide upon leg placement

I have prepared a 7.5 ft x 2.5 ft piece of monkeypod wood that is approximately 2 inches thick. It will serve as a computer desk. The heaviest object on it will be my desktop tower (~25-30 lbs). You ...
Dylan Russell's user avatar
0 votes
0 answers
115 views

Bookshelf with cutout

I've built a bookshelf that is basically just glued wood with notches cut in: With the vertical struts 50cm apart, this is ideal for just about anything: it nicely fits 40cm Euroboxes and 19 inch ...
Simon Richter's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
1k views

How thick to make toddler bed slats

I'm building a bed for my toddler out of pine, and wondering what dimension wood I should use for the bed slats, and how many. Toddler mattresses are generally on the order of 52" x 27" or 28", so I'm ...
Dathan's user avatar
  • 123
0 votes
2 answers
2k views

How to build a stable heavy bag stand for kickboxing?

I am trying to build a heavy bag stand. I am going to place it outside in the car shed (which is open from three sides). I am wondering what is the best way to give it a strong base. The heavy bag ...
AIQ's user avatar
  • 103
0 votes
2 answers
142 views

How can I replicate this joint?

The picture looks like simple miter but how can I make this a strong miter myself?
mac_33's user avatar
  • 103
0 votes
3 answers
2k views

Weight capacity of cabinet made of 1/2" plywood

I would like to determine the weight capacity of a cabinet made of 1/2" plywood which is 18" deep and 60" long, 37" high. The cabinet has 2 sides and 2 uprights spaced about 20" from either end. The ...
Joe's user avatar
  • 1
2 votes
3 answers
1k views

Which shelf holds the most weight

I am new to this forum so please bear with me. My wife wants a "retro" shelf in the kitchen and wants it as figure B on the image. Is there a difference in "strength" (i.e., able to hold more or ...
Jerry.S's user avatar
  • 43
2 votes
1 answer
1k views

Is a single dowel strong enough to resist sheer forces on a bed frame?

I am building a new bed for the missus for Christmas. She liked this bed from ikea: The problem is where the headboard connects to the legs. The legs/headboard piece are both 1.5 inches in diameter. ...
dfife's user avatar
  • 4,186
3 votes
1 answer
215 views

Back nail or face nail. Which is stronger?

Say you have the opportunity to nail a piece of trim in from the back with an 16-18ga finish nail on a barn door (so all wood construction). You were smart about it and made sure it wouldn't bust ...
Alex's user avatar
  • 133
2 votes
1 answer
529 views

Wooden dowel rod for wall hangings

I'd like suggestions of what size (diameter) and wood type to use for a project I'm considering. I want to make macrame wall hangings that incorporate plant holders, so the rod would need to be strong ...
Beth Gingerich's user avatar