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Need opinions on screw types from someone with experience (lemmings.world)

submitted 2 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

9 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I am building some simple "pallets" out of 4x4 lumber to ship some machines.

The plan is to screw the feet of the machines to the top of 8 foot long 4x4s, and then to screw shorter 4x4s, probably about 4 feet, to the top of them as crossbars to move the machines with pallet jacks. Basically, I'd have a rectangle 8 feet long by 4 feet wide with the weight being supported from above by the crossbars. I'm not sure how much the machines weigh, but as a guesstimate, I'd put them at about 600 lbs each.

My question is what type and length of screws should I be using for this? I may double up on the cross bars if it doesn't feel strong enough to safely carry the weight. Given I'm using 4x4s, I'll have about 7" of wood to work with, I imagine 6 inches would be a minimum length, but I don't know if I need some thicker screws, in which case I might need to drill some pilot holes.

Thanks for the help

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[–] [email protected] 10 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

Instead of using screws, I'd drill holes and use lag/carriage bolts. They're much stronger and you can easily get ones long enough to go all the way through

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Yeah you'll break the wood before having issues with the bolts.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

Maybe even some threaded rod with nuts and washers at each end.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 2 months ago (1 children)

4x4 might be more trouble/overkill and money than it's worth for something that only weighs 600lbs? I think you'd be able to get by with 2x4s (+plywood?)and some deck screwed.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago

This right here. If you have any doubts, go look at a regular wood pallet. Those things can handle thousands of pounds. Some 2x4s and some 3 inch deck screws will do just fine with 600lbs.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Switch to 2x4, make sure the ones on the bottom (known as 'runners') are standing on edge. Then use 3" coarse thread screws to attach the slats. We build them like that at my workplace to ship and store drums of material that are 1600 - 8000 lbs per pallet. So unless your machines are more then 2000lbs per square foot, you should be fine. The important part is to mark the center of gravity, NOT the center of the machine. As long as the pallet is lifted at CoG, it should move around just fine.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I get that 4x4 might be overkill, but the feet on these machines are 3.5" wide, so I can't realistically put them on the narrow end of a 2x4. I'm also ok with overkill since I'm shipping 4 machines worth at least 100k each.

I also can't lift the pallet width-wise since it needs to get through a door that is exactly 8 feet wide. We'll be moving it slowly with two jacks, or a jack and some kind of dolly for the other end.

I'm not paying for it, so I don't care about the cost. I'm trying to get the simplest solution. If I do it with 2x4, then I need cross bars under the feet, and I need to attach the bottoms as well, and I need a lot more measuring and cutting to get the job done.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I see why you choose that method then. I only need to build for forklifts going through large bay doors, so I'm afraid I can't give good advice for the constraints you have.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

You're over thinking this. For only 600 pounds, you can just use a regular pallet. Just strap it down with steel strapping, you'll be good.