The engineering tag has no wiki summary.
46
votes
9answers
7k views
Is there a case where nails are better than screws, from an engineering/structural standpoint?
Is there a case where nails are better than screws, from a structural standpoint?
For instance: Say you used screws instead of nails on a backyard deck, when the design specifically called for nails. ...
15
votes
7answers
6k views
How much load can a (wood) board support, if it is supported only at the ends?
How much load can a board support, if it is supported only at the ends?
At the moment my specific problem is hanging a tire swing between two trees, and depending on which trees I choose they could ...
0
votes
5answers
215 views
What is the cheapest way to stiffen a tube/pipe?
I have some steel tubes (18 mm OD) which I wish to use as horizontal members in a storage rack (a bit like shelves). However, the tube flex and bend quite a bit when I put heavier boxes on them. The ...
1
vote
0answers
120 views
How do I hang a 500lb bed swing?
Could someone please tell me what kind of support is needed to hang a 500 pound porch bed swing? The 500 pounds also includes the weight of people on the swing.
0
votes
2answers
709 views
My 5th (top) floor apartment is shaking; what might cause this?
I live in a developing country (so don't have much faith in building codes), and have been experiencing increasingly noticeable and frequent "shaking" in my top fifth floor apartment. I'm seriously ...
4
votes
3answers
895 views
How can I support a large aquarium built into a wall?
I have a wall that goes 3/4th of the way to the ceiling between my living room and dining room. I would like to put a fish tank in it, spanning the length of the wall.
I have the engineering skills ...
3
votes
1answer
145 views
What exactly is magnetic drilling equipment?
What puzzles me is a term "magnetic" in the context of Magnetic Drilling Machines by Euroboor (for example).
3
votes
4answers
335 views
Air conditioning on a shoestring budget
Without purchasing expensive air-con units, or solar panels - and the associated moutings and electrical paraphernalia, is it possible to create a temperature difference of 10-20 °C using materials ...
4
votes
3answers
1k views
How can I calculate the load capacity of a platform?
I'm planning to build a very basic bed frame, but I'm not sure what size lumber to use.
I was thinking of building the entire thing from 2x4s (legs would be 4x4), but I'm not sure if this will be ...
3
votes
3answers
4k views
How strong are bolts compared to welding and what qualities to look for in foundations?
I'm planning on building a home climbing wall, made from a mild steel subframe. It will probably be around 10 feet tall approx.
I was thinking along the lines of using mild steel angle, cutting to ...
4
votes
1answer
692 views
How much weight should a deck of a given area support?
How much weight should a deck of a given area support, either according to building codes or convention?
In my local (Massachusetts) building code, I found the answer for floors (40 lbs/ft2 live ...
