Topic: Platform Construction Materials

[Jesse Gibson]

Not too resurrect a dead thread, but...

I was gathering up some things to make a platform and was wondering something. In the the garage are some 12'x3' strips of goodyear mining belt (tough rubber) but it's only around 1/4" thick. I thinking of 4- 4'x8' sheets of 3/4" inch plywood and a 1/4" piece of ab grade plywood atop it, to match up with the mining belt  Sound ok?

My folks were coal miners...

[Matt Erdman]

Yeah it would be fine. I've had 1/4" rubber on concrete before. The thing to remember is that the more impact your platform absorbs, the less the bar and plates will have to. Basically it's a longevity issue. The plywood will have a little give too, so you will be fine I think.

[Jim Hooper]

Another thing you can throw in that I like for sound-deadening -- and its cheap -- is to get a cheap 8x8 piece of carpet and underlay the whole stack with it.  It really quiets things and kind of fills in any irregularities in the concrete floor.  Good stuff to make everything else last long.

[Mike Wittmer]

I would consider adding an extra layer of wood and double up on the rubber on the sides.
The concrete in my basement has actually cracked.  I patched it and added a second layer of rubber.  It seems to
be holding up well.  Jeff is away at school and does not train at home much, however.  I'm sure the neighbors
are not too upset about that.

[Jesse Gibson]

Well, today I purchased:

3- 3/4" plywood cdx
1- 3/4" plywood ac (had to as they only had 3 sheets of the cdx, and they discounted it)
1- 1/4" plywood ac
1 box 6 x 1 1/4" wood screws
4- 2"x4"

total- $135.50

I already have the rubber belt and wood glue.

Wish me luck, as I am not the most adept carpenter, but I had to get this going or I'd never get started.