Sheet goods for home made sys port? (opinions please)

[fritter63]

Getting ready to make some sysports of my own.'

I'm inclined to use baltic birch ply, since it's lighter and stronger than MDF.

Of that, I have an option of using 5x5 sheets or 4x8 sheets.

Anybody got an wisdom from experience which size is better? Mine will be same size as the Festool product, but deep
enough to use 16" slides, so maybe 18" max on the side depth. I know that the 5x5 are geared toward the sys32 dimension to minimize waste.... is it

Of course, I could just use melamine which comes pre-drilled for Sys32 ( in which case they'd be 24" deep), but I've read (on this board) concerns about it warping after being cut (as in the rip edge not staying straight!). Cheaper but heavier then?

They'll be on wheels of course, but some day if I have to move them, want them as light as possible.

Thoughts?

 

[Kev]

I don't know what you have available local, but for my few bits worth of wisdom I'd say "go with ply" !

My plan is to do something down the track in this space and I'll certainly use ply - probably use something quite thick top and bottom too, rather than same size all round.

Will there be any internal bracing in your design? That could be "thin stuff".

All our sheets are 8x4 ... Yeh - I have a lot of useless ply off cuts hanging about at my place  [embarassed]

 

[Wood_Junkie]

I made three 'Festool condos', each being two stacks wide with banks of pull-out shelves for the Systainers.  Depending on the configuration I have as few as 4 Systainers in a bank, up to a possible 7 Sys 1's.

I highly recommend using 3/4" MDO.  This is plywood with a thin face/back of MDF, which gives it a nice smooth and consistent surface.  So you get the strength and stability of plywood, without the sag of MDF and with a nice clean (and paintable if you so choose) surface.  I put a coat of wipe-on oil-based poly on mine and called it good.  I have an array of other tools and such stack on top of the 'condos'.

Mine are all on wheels (and also currently lag-screwed to the walls), just in case I do want to rearrange or need to move them at some point (I did about a year ago, to a new house).  I got 4" non-locking wheels from Harbor Freight.  Non-locking, because if they're not being permanently relocated, they're screwed to the wall.

Linkie, with pics if you're interested:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/home-made-sysports/msg139419/#msg139419

 

[Brice Burrell]

I'd suggest you save some money and go with MDO or even a lower grade birch or maple ply.  True "Baltic birch" isn't cheap and I don't see any reason to spend that kind of money.  Ha, Junkie beat me to it.

 

[fastbike]

FWIW, 14 inch full overtravel slides are plenty if you arrange the trays width wise.

 

[hobbes]

Go with the 3/4" baltic birch ply in 4x8 sheet. If you cut it into thirds you will have a size that can fit the MFT folded up as well resting on top of it (i.e. one for the base, one split in half again for the two sides, and one for the "shelf" that sits below the MFT).

You'll regret it if you go with MDF (IMHO). I'm glad I went with the birch ply because I went with MDF for the drawers holding the systainers and they didn't hold up well to the slides so I switch back to all birch even for the drawers and it's better.

For the wheels getting the locking kind, then you'll have maximum flexibility where to place it and still have a stable platform.

If you do a quick search you can find some really nice versions of this on the forum. I got my inspiration from one here. I didn't actually complete it because I needed to finish other projects but it was good enough to use even without having all the systainer drawers put in.

 

[Sparktrician]

I'd suggest you save some money and go with MDO or even a lower grade birch or maple ply.  True "Baltic birch" isn't cheap and I don't see any reason to spend that kind of money.  Ha, Junkie beat me to it.

Cabinet-grade plywood is far less spendy than Baltic birch.  Last time I bought 18mm Baltic birch (just over a year ago) it was $109 per sheet.  Cabinet-grade was roughly $42 per sheet. 

 

[mouppe]

I just went with MDF, and painted it the same colour as a new systainer. I think it was called Moon Base or something! 14" full extension draw slides can accommodate systainers perfectly allowing for the lid to stay upright when open.

I've made three sysports and all are on wheels, but I rarely move them. The MDF will hold up fine unless you are wheeling them around all the time.

 

[peter halle]

I am going to go with the cabinet grade ply versus baltic birch.  As was mentioned earlier - much cheaper and also much more available.  We are talking about a shop cabinet (or even a house cabinet).  Top, bottom, two sides, and a back.  Spend the money on the hardware - casters and slides.

Peter

 

[sgryd]

I made my systainer shelf system (seen in the background in the image) out of MDF at first. Painted it white and was very happy. Then I started using it... [crying] It didn't hold very well. My biggest problem was the routed track for the tambour. Without the tambour doors I suppose it would have worked out better. I teared it out and rebuilt it in Baltic Birch.

I'd suggest ply. And if you want a nicer look (IMO) I'd suggest birch.

[attachthumb=#]

//Michael

 

[sancho57]

Dont take this the wrong way but..

Doood

its a workshop cabinet.. I made mines out of 3/4 shop birch cases and shelves and the drawers out of 1/2 baltic.