hi…
should i use 1/2 or 1/4 plywood as base for my layout…the benchwork will be open grid 35" x 7’
Based on your layout will be 35" by 84", it is going to depend on your joist separation I have 16" OC joists and use 1/2" plywood - Rock Solid! I think 1/4" material may be a little flimsy unless you reduce your joist spacing. Now, if you are using 2" foam glued on top of that 1/4" material, you should be good.
Jim
If it’s open grid like mine then you should use 1/2" minimum 1/4" is fine for flat track work but if there is any elevation changes , it will bow and twist for sure . even if its flat and you are nailing track like I did , the 1/4" dose not hold nails very well
Hi,
Seems like this same question was asked yesterday… Go with the 1/2 inch, you will NOT regret it. With 1/4 inch you may well do so.
1/2 should be plenty sufficient.
[8-|]
Agree, best advice in HO, use 1/2-inch. As another above said, 1/4-inch may be too flimsy. Every time I considered using it, I got worred and used 1/2-inch on both my previous two layouts and wasn’t disappointed. Plus over the past 25 years I’ve noticed universally, 1/2-inch is recommended for base, subroadbed, yards etc on HO layouts. It’s better to be conservative - imo 1/4-inch is risky, I wouldn’t go there.
If it is going to be a table top and not a cookie-cutter, and you are going to glue on a sheet of one inch builders foam on top of it, you can use 1/4 inch plywood. (I use Luan with one inch foam.)
If you are not going to use the foam, then 1/2 inch should be used.
By using a sheet of foam, you can carve down for some small streams and rivers without cutting through the plywood. You can also make some shallow depressions to vary the scenery if desired.
Good tip on using 1/4" ply as a skin for layering onto foam.
Other than that, you would be making a big mistake trying to use 1/4" for sub-roadbed. Don’t even bother, you’ll regret it.
If you are building with wood, definitely 1/2" minimum plywood. Even it should have support no farther than every 16" and I’d go closer, as even 1/2" can sag a little over time. 3/8 is pretty iffy, but might work with closely spaced risers.
If you want to be sure there will be no future issues – and you might need to climb onto the layout at some point – then use 3/4". I’ve not regretted it.