Up the Creek Column - 8
A Masonite backdrop?
On my previous layout, I laminated two layers of 1/8” Masonite
to make very curvy fascias. When I unscrewed them from the
layout for access below the roadbed, they held their shapes
very nicely. So, would two layers of 1/8” Masonite work for
my new backdrop? At $9 per 4x8 sheet the price was attrac-
tive. However, all the 1/8” Masonite sheets at the local lumber
yards had serious ripples in them and were warped enough I
doubted a two-layer lamination would make them flat.
The 3/16” Masonite was a lot flatter but I had doubts whether I
could force it into the 24” radius next to South Jackson. It also cost
more and was heavy. An earlier experiment with a 2’x8’ piece of
12
12. We double-checked the ceiling cleat’s alignment
with the benchwork below. To our relief, it was spot on!
13. When joining Masonite spline to 2x2 fir cleats, the
2x2 needs to be the same thickness as the splines.
It turned out the joist in the ceiling was in the wrong
position for mounting this part of the spline. I solved
the problem by screwing a piece of plywood to the
ceiling and the 2x2 cleat to the plywood. Note also the
splice plate in the background. We cut the spline in
into two pieces, making it lighter (and easier to handle)
and rejoined the pieces with a splice plate yellow-
glued in place.
13
leftover 1/8” Masonite required serious shoving to force it into the
24” radius curve. A 48” tall piece would require twice as much effort
and the 3/16” would be even stiffer. Not recommended.
Patriot Lumber RevolutionPly
I was looking dolefully at the Masonite pile in Lowes, beginning
to doubt I could build a laminated, ultra-skinny, monocoque
Splice plates
Splines and 2 x
2 must be same
thickness
This plate was needed be-
cause the joist was in ex-
actly the wrong place
Screw into joist
MRH-Jul 2014
