wood dimentions

rpcraft said:

I wasn't sure if they actually meant 1 1/4 and that was just an easier way to show it.

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No, they just give it that dimension before planning after it being cut from the log. Same as a 2x4 actually being 1.5"x3.5".

Measure the spacing of the holes in the cross braces.....that should give you some idea.

Frankenchevy said:

Whichever surface you plane on the PT won’t be PT anymore. You can use copper green like you’d do on the cut ends of a construction project, but it’s not the same.

If you use galvanized carriage bolts, be sure to use hot dip galvanized and not electro-galvanized or a decent stainless steel fastener. Standard thickness electro galvanized will corrode much quicker.

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I had never considered that. I thought the process permeated the wood all the way through. Now I've learned something. Cheaper wood and urethane does seem smarter in the grand scheme.

There’s a charring process you can do to just about any wood that increases it’s pest resistance. You can make Doug fir and southern yellow pine decently resilient and if you also add some sort of treatment, it’ll be pretty good. Soft woods will get beaten up easier though.

Depends on how you use the bed really.

You want the wood to last outside, polyurethane alone will not last in the weather. This works:

2 or more coats of polyurethane to seal the wood.

2 coats of automotive primer.

2 top coats the color of your choice.

Lightly sand between coats. Just sand the last coat of polyurethane after it is completely dry. I like MRO heavy solids paint, if your using spray cans.

The show trucks you see with some kind of clear coat on the wood, live in a garage. They come out for a show or Sunday drive.

Well, let me summarize better to establish my mindset. Currently there is some sheet of metal over what is there. Not sure how thick it is but it is at least 18 gauge so not exactly structural but not an issue while parked in the driveway undergoing the knife. I am sure I will probably throw it back on top once I replace the wood but just wanted new wood in there so that I can also add strenght for tie down points into the bed itself. From what I can see underneatht there is parts of the wood missing and lots of rot and rusty loose bolts already so definitely need to replace. I realize the bed has stake holes but I noticed looking at them that there isn't much of an edge or lip inside them for a set of tie downs to grab on, plus I am probably going to have a tonnuea cover on at some point so not wanting anything that would normally protrude. I am not a big fan of those rubber expanding blocks with screw in hooks, if I am towing something with a tailgate down either.

I'm also going to be doing the typical truck stuff, hauling trailers, towing, etc etc. I'm not making a show truck per say and it has lots of rust all over (oh sorry I meant Patina, lol), but just making it into a strong rust-o-mod (LS swap, better seats, AC, power brakes, power steering, lift for prerunner style setup, etc etc. The idea is daily functionality and strong enough to survive when I beat on her. I know I can use what is left of the bedwood to measure and make cuts on whatever wood I end up choosing, and the finish just needs to be such that I figure having the metal over the wood will offer a lot of sun and weather protection but need to prevent water and moisture rot in the grand scheme of things. It was my dad's truck and he was really happy to get it but unfortunately he passed away a very short time afterwards so my interest is into making it into something I can hang on to and cherish as he would have and not need a membership at the gym and a chiropracter to keep driving, lol.

I guess I am just getting a reality check and a little advice on what finish would be durable and strong under the metal. I was consdering putting some metal plates across where the tied down would be but I guess I just need to take all the crap out and look and then engineer it up. Like I said, think modern work truck plus something I can go beat on in the streets when I feel like dropping the clutch.

I am cutting my own wood bed and am looking for recommendations for the proper bed rail dimensions on the wood. 78 Chevy c10 short bed