plywood for box bottoms

myhouseofBOYS 4/11/2011, 2:19 pm

Is this what I am looking for?
http://www.homedepot.com/Lumber-Composites-Plywood-Sheathing-Subfloor/h_d1/N-5yc1vZbqm7/R-100061639/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053

I only need it to last a solid year long though longer works too of course. I am planning on putting the boxes, with plywood bottoms on top of pallets. I will probably be moving between now and October so I thought I might put wheels on it in case my crops need to finish their season next door at my mother's house so we can roll it there instead of trying to carrying it around from the back yard, front yard next door and into her back yard.

Chopped Liver MM 4/11/2011, 2:37 pm

I've used a few boards across the bottom of boxes before and move them with no problem. Couple'o thoughts. If you go the plywood route, make sure you provide drain holes and cover those with landscaping fabric so your MM doesn't escape. The way I've done this is to first put the boards 1" by any width and space them at double the board width so that only 50% of the bottom is covered by wood. Then staple landscape fabric (or a bed sheet, or plastic, or whatever you have) across the bottom and up the sides. Make sure to staple it to the bottom boards in a few places as well. This is lighter than a full sheet of plywood and holds up longer. The neighbor's went the full sheet one year. After moving both our boxes, I caught them making some like mine. Don't blame them as the plywood gave up on some of their boxes and others weighed a ton!

Good luck

myhouseofBOYS 4/11/2011, 3:20 pm

what is the (approx.) cost for this if I do not already have spare wood laying around? For a 4x4 and 2x4 box?

Chopped Liver MM 4/11/2011, 4:19 pm

Well it depends on what type of wood you use. I use cedar and never use treated lumber. A box like this ran me $36 last week while the 1"x8"x8' was on sale at Lowes (and it might still be). Better yet if you have a little while, Craigslist is your friend. Look in the free stuff or post in the wanted for free un-treated wood and you'll likely get what you are looking for.

myhouseofBOYS 4/11/2011, 4:55 pm

was that for the whole box or just the bottom supports? I am seriously lacking in the wood picking out department.

Chopped Liver MM 4/11/2011, 8:36 pm

That was for the entire box. It took 3 of the 1"x 8" x 8' boards to make a single box with a bottom.

**walshevak** 4/12/2011, 8:11 am

Am I correct that you have the wood for the sides of the boxes, but you want to know what to use for the bottoms and how much it will cost. I used hardware cloth fastened to the bottom of the boxes with U nails and lined with weedcloth. But you can use regualar plywood screwed to the bottoms.

I don't have my book handy right now to know if 1/2" or 3/4" plywood is needed. Somebody else help out here. But I think what you want is about $12-$15 a sheet for 4'x8'

Kay

Chopped Liver MM 4/12/2011, 8:44 am

walshevak wrote:I used hardware cloth fastened to the bottom of the boxes with U nails and lined with weedcloth.
Kay

What a great idea Kay! We have rolls of fencing here that we could use. We built our tumbler out of fence and landscaping fabric and it works great. A layer of fence and landscape fabric on the bottom of the boxes would be so much lighter.

Guess I know what I'm building today. Wink

**walshevak** 4/12/2011, 10:09 am

Glad to help out and weight was the reason I used the hardware cloth as well. I had to lift them up onto the 1 1/2 foot high supports I'm using ALL BY MYSELF. It's hell getting old but it beats the alternative.

Besides, we Carolina folks have to help each other out.

Kay

We Carolina

**walshevak** 4/12/2011, 1:37 pm

I forgot to remind you how heavy Mel's Mix is when wet. Be sure you have some supports in the middle of the boxes.

Kay

Chopped Liver MM 4/13/2011, 1:36 pm

Presenting, the Kayboxen! (lol)

plywood for box bottoms Pre_2012

It's stronger than the wood bottom, lighter by far, helps reinforce the box instead of weaken it, won't interfere with drainage, and holds the landscaping fabric nicely.

I'll snap a picture once landscape fabric is fastened in. The wind is too much today to fight it.

CL

**walshevak** 4/13/2011, 2:13 pm

Wish I could take the credit, but I was just following Boffer's advise.

But you need some support through the middle. MM is HEAVY. Search on tabletops for more pics of supported wire bottom boxes.

Kay

Chopped Liver MM 4/13/2011, 2:23 pm

Well I saw it from you first Kay, so you get the credit from me.

This is a 3x3 box and I can stand on the wire. If the wet MM weighs as much as I do, we're going to have a different problem. The boxes need to be light enough to move under human power.

myhouseofBOYS 4/13/2011, 2:30 pm

chopped liver can you show my how it is attached and tell me what type of wiring that is (I found the hardware cloth expensive but I seem to recall being able to buy that type by the foot from bulk rolls)

Chopped Liver MM 4/13/2011, 7:09 pm

Myhouseofboys,

It's cattle fencing which is very strong and a little difficult to bend and cut, however for this purpose that's good. Don't want it giving up in the middle of a move. It held strong when I stood on it. 3x3 is as large as I'd go without some sort of support board. A 3x3 has 4.5 cf of dirt and water, and a 4x4 has 8 or almost double the weight.

Perhaps pictures and a step by step might help so I'll do that Friday during the next box. I learned a lot while making this one. Tried "staple" nails, but they were far to big. Ended up wrapping screws before tightening them.

Still have the label from the fencing which likely came from Tractor Supply Company. I think a picture is worth a thousand words.

CL

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