Joint for Mobile Base

[Charlie North]

Here's a crude drawing of a mobile base concept:

http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/charlienorth/Misc/Mobilebase3.jpg

The idea is to not raise the machine very much. The wheels are 4 inch.

All pieces are about 3" x 3" hardwood. What kind of joinery would be best to attach the wheel boards to the M/T base?

About the only idea that I came up with is spline.

Or is there a better way altogether?

[Matt Benton]

If you want to use wood, I'd suggest Cary's base here:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=71000

I built one very similar, and it is an excellent design. I used 5/4 Ash, and each board was about 3 1/2" wide. Held together with good screws (I didn't use glue, but its probably a good idea).

[glenn bradley]

My dad built one similar to Cary's out of 8/4 poplar and it is really solid. Low center of gravity and doesn't over-elevate the tool.

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Charlie, just about the only easy way to attach your wheel boards to the frame is a simple bolt. That would be plenty strong enough if you use large washers of some sort. Maybe do a shallow rabbet in the ends of the wheel boards to accept the frame.

You could get fancy, and dovetail the wheel boards, but you will greatly complicate things, and the wheels will be lower then you show, unless you curve or offset everything.

[Charlie North]

Thank you all for the advice.

I was determined to use no hardware except for the wheels.

I'll follow your advice and save that idea for the next project.