Weight Tree
Project 2: Building a Weight Tree
Materials & Tools:
Materials & Tools:
- 2 - 4x4x8 Douglas Fir (untreated)
- 1 - 1½˝ x 8’ Electrical Conduit
- 10 - ⅜˝ x 6˝ Lag Screws W/ washers
- 2 - ⅜˝ x 8˝ Thru bolts W/ nuts & washers
- Drill W/ 1½˝ & 1˝ Forstner Bit, ⅜˝ Auger Bit & ¼˝ Long Drill Bit
- Miter Saw & Circular Saw
- 16 Gauge Nail Gun W/ 2” Nails
- Hammer and Rubber Mallet
Cut List:
4x4’s
- 2 @ 20˝ (Base)
- 4 @ 26˝ (Angled Legs)
- 1 @ 30˝ (Middle Upright)
1½˝ Conduit
- 7@ 10½˝
Step by Step:
Building the Base...
- Start by cutting all the 4x4’s to length according to the cut list. Place the two 20˝ pieces side by side and draw a line across both at the center point. Measure over from that line 1¾˝ in each direction and draw those lines. Set the depth of your circular saw blade to 1¾˝ and cut thru both 4x4’s at and between these lines. Make a bunch of passes between these lines then use a hammer and chisel to clean out the notches.
- Interlock the two pieces and check for fit. If the fit is good, glue the two pieces together and use the 16 gauge nail gun to tack them. This is your base.
- Using a 1˝ forstner bit drill two pre-holes (1˝ depth) in the bottom center of the base at an angle to each other. Drill two ⅜˝ holes thru the center of these holes all the way thru the base. Keep the drill bit perpendicular to the base while drilling. These holes will receive two ⅜˝ lag screws to attach the middle upright.
- Place the end of the middle upright on the center of the top of the base. The forstner holes you drilled should be facing down. Square up the middle upright with the base and glue and tack it in place. Using the ⅜˝ drill bit, drill into the bottom of the middle upright about 1˝. Tap the ⅜˝ lag screws W/ washers into these holes and tighten.
- Marking the angles of the legs. Take one of the 26˝ 4x4’s and lean it against the side of the base and upright at an angle. The end corner of the 26˝ leg should line up with the top end corner of the base leg and the side of the upright. When it’s in the right position mark your angles to be cut.
- With the miter saw, cut the angles you marked and dry fit the leg to the base. If the fit is good, cut the other 3 legs. Glue and tack all four legs in place. Repeat steps #3 & 4 for the bottom of each leg where it meets the base.
- Using the 1˝ forstner bit, pre-drill a hole 1˝ deep 3˝ - 4˝ down from the top edge of two of the angled legs at the center. Do the same on the corresponding sides of these holes. Offset these two holes about 1˝ so the thru bolts miss each other. Using a long ⅜˝ drill bit drill all the way thru the base from one side to the other. Start the drill bit in the center of one of the pre-drilled holes and exit thru the opposite one. Note: Be careful to keep the drill bit straight and level while drilling.
- Tap the ⅜˝ thru bolts all the way thru the holes you drilled (one in each direction) and tighten them down. Make sure to use a flat washer.
- With the 1½˝ forstner bit, drill a hole, 2½˝ deep in the center of two of the angled (opposing) legs. For the other two legs, drill two holes in each in the same manner. Drill one hole 4˝ down from the top edge and the other 6˝ up from the bottom. Drill one last hole in the same manner in the center of the top of the middle upright. Note: Keep the drill bit perpendicular to the surface you’re drilling.
Attaching the Conduit...
- Cut the 1½˝ conduit to length according to the cut list. Using an orbital sander W/ 80 grit paper, sand & smooth both ends of each piece of conduit.
- Using a hard rubber mallet, tap all 7 pieces of conduit into the holes you drilled. Make sure to pound them all the way in.
Now your ready to hang the weight plates!!