need help estimating weight of blanket chest top

Just my 2 cents from a proffesional cabinet maker.
You guys are building rocket parts here.
All that is required is a ball park weight, to determine if the lid
falls within the weight/load range of the desired hardware. Varience
one way of the other is acceptable. Use the scale, it really works.
Buy your hardware after you cut the raw stock for the lid to rough
dimensions and weigh it.
You won't need it until the lid is finished anyway, and the finished
lid will weigh less than your rough cut stock.

Best regards,
Butch Price
20 years in the casework industry

On Nov 10, 3:14 am, [email protected] () wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Chris Friesen <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Joe Bemier wrote:
> >> On Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:58:07 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
> >> wrote:
>
> >>>>Dry Oak has an SG of 0.92 gr/CC
>
> >>>No, it doesn't.
>
> >>>Specific gravities range from 0.59 to 0.72 (excepting southern live oak).Is that African oak, or European oak?
>
> --
> Contentment makes poor men rich. Discontent makes rich men poor.
> --Benjamin Franklin
> Larry Wasserman - Baltimore, Maryland - [email protected]

Thanks Joe, Doug, Chris, Butch, Charlie and everyone else who gave a
useful answer. That's exactly what I was looking for. It's nice that
there's still some people on this group that try to help instead of
just making noise.

[email protected] wrote:

> Is that African oak, or European oak?
>

What, are you suggesting that Oaks migrate? ;-)

Joe Bemier wrote:
> On Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:58:07 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
> wrote:

>>>Dry Oak has an SG of 0.92 gr/CC
>>
>>No, it doesn't.
>>
>>Specific gravities range from 0.59 to 0.72 (excepting southern live oak).

> http://www.tesarta.com/www/resources/library/weights.html

http://www.hoganhardwoods.com/hogan/pages/technical/Technical_01/densitygravity.htm
gives 0.52 to 0.59 for red, and 0.6 to 0.68 for white

According to http://ittendojo.org/articles/general-7.htm, "live oak" or
"Quercus virginiana", averages 0.88

Chris

[email protected] wrote:
> I am sorry Gentleman, but now I know why it is so complicated for some to
> change a light bulb.
>
>
> "Charlie M. 1958" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> bf wrote:
>>> Hi,
>>>
>>> I was going to buy one of those safety closure devices for a blanket
>>> chest I plan to build (they prevent the lid from slamming shut).
>>> The top will be solid oak, 16" X 48" by 3/4" thick.
>>> I need to estimate the wieght so I can get a properly rated safety
>>> closure thing.
>>> The lid is not built yet, so I can't just hold it and step on a scale
>>> :)
>>>
>>> Thanks, as always.
>>>
>> Ball park figures: oak is 3.5 to 4 lbs. per board foot, making your lid
>> no more than 20lbs. That should be close enough to determine the needs
>> of your safety device.
>>
>> I guess if you really wanted to split hairs, though, it would depend on
>> the width and depth of the top. I'm not sure exactly what safety devices
>> you are using, but if they are mounted on the hinge side, the load they
>> must support will increase as the front-to-rear depth of the top
>> increases, right?
>
>
Since you chose to quote my response, Woodman1, I feel compelled to
defend my honor! LOL!

I totally agree with you that this isn't rocket science....and that's
why I gave a very simple answer first. I merely included the second part
because I felt certain that some of the more technically-minded here
would be quick to point out that more than just the weight of the top
figures into the equation.

Charlie

bf wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I was going to buy one of those safety closure devices for a blanket
> chest I plan to build (they prevent the lid from slamming shut).
> The top will be solid oak, 16" X 48" by 3/4" thick.
> I need to estimate the wieght so I can get a properly rated safety
> closure thing.
> The lid is not built yet, so I can't just hold it and step on a scale
> :)
>
> Thanks, as always.
>
Ball park figures: oak is 3.5 to 4 lbs. per board foot, making your lid
no more than 20lbs. That should be close enough to determine the needs
of your safety device.

I guess if you really wanted to split hairs, though, it would depend on
the width and depth of the top. I'm not sure exactly what safety devices
you are using, but if they are mounted on the hinge side, the load they
must support will increase as the front-to-rear depth of the top
increases, right?

What about lifting up 3 - 48" x 6" boards, and weigh them? It can't be THAT
hard, can it?

Mike



"bf" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi,
>
> I was going to buy one of those safety closure devices for a blanket
> chest I plan to build (they prevent the lid from slamming shut).
> The top will be solid oak, 16" X 48" by 3/4" thick.
> I need to estimate the wieght so I can get a properly rated safety
> closure thing.
> The lid is not built yet, so I can't just hold it and step on a scale
> :)
>
> Thanks, as always.
>

In article <[email protected]>, Joe Gorman <[email protected]> wrote:

>I didn't measure it but the last piece of live oak, dried for over 1
>year approx 1 1/8" thick, sank to the bottom of a bucket of water.
>Seems like that would put it's specific gravity over 1.0

Since the rule of thumb for air-drying the "average" wood is "one year per
inch, plus a year", I suspect it takes a good bit longer than one year to
air-dry 1-1/8" thick live oak.

The 0.88 figure is specifically for KD 12%.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
> In article <[email protected]>,
> Chris Friesen <[email protected]> wrote:
> >Joe Bemier wrote:
> >> On Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:58:07 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
> >> wrote:
> >
> >>>>Dry Oak has an SG of 0.92 gr/CC
> >>>
> >>>No, it doesn't.
> >>>
> >>>Specific gravities range from 0.59 to 0.72 (excepting southern live oak).
> >
>
> Is that African oak, or European oak?

I wasn't aware that oaks were native to Africa... and neither are the
authors of the encyclopedia on the shelf in my living room...

In article <[email protected]>, Group wrote:
>It appears my original link is bogus, but Doug's range is not correct
>either.

Yes, it is -- for oak.

>There are a number of woods that exceed 0.72

Certainly there are. How many of them are oaks?

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

In article <[email protected]>, "bf" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hi,
>
>I was going to buy one of those safety closure devices for a blanket
>chest I plan to build (they prevent the lid from slamming shut).
>The top will be solid oak, 16" X 48" by 3/4" thick.
>I need to estimate the wieght so I can get a properly rated safety
>closure thing.

16 x 48 x 3/4 = 576 cubic inches = 1/3 cubic foot.

Common North American oaks range from about 38 to 45 pounds per cubic foot,
kiln dried, with white oaks being generally heavier than red oaks. So figure a
weight of 13 or 14 pounds if it's red oak, 14 or 15 if it's white.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

On 9 Nov 2006 11:45:55 -0800, "bf" <[email protected]> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I was going to buy one of those safety closure devices for a blanket
>chest I plan to build (they prevent the lid from slamming shut).
>The top will be solid oak, 16" X 48" by 3/4" thick.
>I need to estimate the wieght so I can get a properly rated safety
>closure thing.
>The lid is not built yet, so I can't just hold it and step on a scale
>:)
>
>Thanks, as always.

Dry Oak has an SG of 0.92 gr/CC
Some simple math will give you an exact weight for your top.

I wasn't singling you out, I just responded to you since you were the last
post. I should have went back to the top to reply. I will try and remember
that in the future.

"Charlie M. 1958" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> [email protected] wrote:
> > I am sorry Gentleman, but now I know why it is so complicated for some
to
> > change a light bulb.
> >
> >
> > "Charlie M. 1958" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> > news:[email protected]...
> >> bf wrote:
> >>> Hi,
> >>>
> >>> I was going to buy one of those safety closure devices for a blanket
> >>> chest I plan to build (they prevent the lid from slamming shut).
> >>> The top will be solid oak, 16" X 48" by 3/4" thick.
> >>> I need to estimate the wieght so I can get a properly rated safety
> >>> closure thing.
> >>> The lid is not built yet, so I can't just hold it and step on a scale
> >>> :)
> >>>
> >>> Thanks, as always.
> >>>
> >> Ball park figures: oak is 3.5 to 4 lbs. per board foot, making your lid
> >> no more than 20lbs. That should be close enough to determine the needs
> >> of your safety device.
> >>
> >> I guess if you really wanted to split hairs, though, it would depend on
> >> the width and depth of the top. I'm not sure exactly what safety
devices
> >> you are using, but if they are mounted on the hinge side, the load they
> >> must support will increase as the front-to-rear depth of the top
> >> increases, right?
> >
> >
> Since you chose to quote my response, Woodman1, I feel compelled to
> defend my honor! LOL!
>
> I totally agree with you that this isn't rocket science....and that's
> why I gave a very simple answer first. I merely included the second part
> because I felt certain that some of the more technically-minded here
> would be quick to point out that more than just the weight of the top
> figures into the equation.
>
> Charlie

I am sorry Gentleman, but now I know why it is so complicated for some to
change a light bulb.


"Charlie M. 1958" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> bf wrote:
> > Hi,
> >
> > I was going to buy one of those safety closure devices for a blanket
> > chest I plan to build (they prevent the lid from slamming shut).
> > The top will be solid oak, 16" X 48" by 3/4" thick.
> > I need to estimate the wieght so I can get a properly rated safety
> > closure thing.
> > The lid is not built yet, so I can't just hold it and step on a scale
> > :)
> >
> > Thanks, as always.
> >
> Ball park figures: oak is 3.5 to 4 lbs. per board foot, making your lid
> no more than 20lbs. That should be close enough to determine the needs
> of your safety device.
>
> I guess if you really wanted to split hairs, though, it would depend on
> the width and depth of the top. I'm not sure exactly what safety devices
> you are using, but if they are mounted on the hinge side, the load they
> must support will increase as the front-to-rear depth of the top
> increases, right?

Chris Friesen wrote:
> Joe Bemier wrote:
>> On Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:58:07 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
>> wrote:
>
>>>> Dry Oak has an SG of 0.92 gr/CC
>>>
>>> No, it doesn't.
>>>
>>> Specific gravities range from 0.59 to 0.72 (excepting southern live
>>> oak).
>
>> http://www.tesarta.com/www/resources/library/weights.html
>
> http://www.hoganhardwoods.com/hogan/pages/technical/Technical_01/densitygravity.htm
> gives 0.52 to 0.59 for red, and 0.6 to 0.68 for white
>
> According to http://ittendojo.org/articles/general-7.htm, "live oak" or
> "Quercus virginiana", averages 0.88
>
> Chris
I didn't measure it but the last piece of live oak, dried for over 1
year approx 1 1/8" thick, sank to the bottom of a bucket of water.
Seems like that would put it's specific gravity over 1.0
Joe

Doug Miller wrote:
> In article <[email protected]>, Joe Gorman <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I didn't measure it but the last piece of live oak, dried for over 1
>> year approx 1 1/8" thick, sank to the bottom of a bucket of water.
>> Seems like that would put it's specific gravity over 1.0
>
> Since the rule of thumb for air-drying the "average" wood is "one year per
> inch, plus a year", I suspect it takes a good bit longer than one year to
> air-dry 1-1/8" thick live oak.
>
> The 0.88 figure is specifically for KD 12%.
>
correct. Right after I posted I noticed I do happen to have some live
oak here on my desk. A set of circles cut with hole saws to make a Tower
of Hanoi Game similar to this http://www.mazeworks.com/hanoi/
I took the smallest disk, so it would fit in a plastic cup I have and
dropped it in the water. Disk is 3/8" thick, 1.25" dia. with a .25"
hole from the hole saw. It has been drying for over 2 years in a heated
and air conditioned office.
http://people.musc.edu/~gormanj/Liveoak/
Joe

On Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:58:07 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
wrote:

>In article <[email protected]>, Group wrote:
>>On 9 Nov 2006 11:45:55 -0800, "bf" <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>>Hi,
>>>
>>>I was going to buy one of those safety closure devices for a blanket
>>>chest I plan to build (they prevent the lid from slamming shut).
>>>The top will be solid oak, 16" X 48" by 3/4" thick.
>>>I need to estimate the wieght so I can get a properly rated safety
>>>closure thing.
>>>The lid is not built yet, so I can't just hold it and step on a scale
>>>:)
>>>
>>>Thanks, as always.
>>
>>Dry Oak has an SG of 0.92 gr/CC
>
>No, it doesn't.
>
>Specific gravities range from 0.59 to 0.72 (excepting southern live oak).



http://www.tesarta.com/www/resources/library/weights.html

On Fri, 10 Nov 2006 07:05:14 -0500, Joe Gorman <[email protected]>
wrote:

>Chris Friesen wrote:
>> Joe Bemier wrote:
>>> On Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:58:07 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
>>> wrote:
>>
>>>>> Dry Oak has an SG of 0.92 gr/CC
>>>>
>>>> No, it doesn't.
>>>>
>>>> Specific gravities range from 0.59 to 0.72 (excepting southern live
>>>> oak).
>>
>>> http://www.tesarta.com/www/resources/library/weights.html
>>
>> http://www.hoganhardwoods.com/hogan/pages/technical/Technical_01/densitygravity.htm
>> gives 0.52 to 0.59 for red, and 0.6 to 0.68 for white
>>
>> According to http://ittendojo.org/articles/general-7.htm, "live oak" or
>> "Quercus virginiana", averages 0.88
>>
>> Chris
>I didn't measure it but the last piece of live oak, dried for over 1
>year approx 1 1/8" thick, sank to the bottom of a bucket of water.
>Seems like that would put it's specific gravity over 1.0
>Joe

It appears my original link is bogus, but Doug's range is not correct
either. There are a number of woods that exceed 0.72

In article <[email protected]>,
Mike Mac <[email protected]> wrote:
>What about lifting up 3 - 48" x 6" boards, and weigh them? It can't be THAT
>hard, can it?
>

Even that's harder than lifting up & weighing ONE 4' X 6" board &
multiplying by 3. (Well, I guess for some people lifting may be easier
than multiplying...) :)


--
Contentment makes poor men rich. Discontent makes rich men poor.
--Benjamin Franklin
Larry Wasserman - Baltimore, Maryland - [email protected]

In article <[email protected]>,
Chris Friesen <[email protected]> wrote:
>Joe Bemier wrote:
>> On Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:58:07 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
>> wrote:
>
>>>>Dry Oak has an SG of 0.92 gr/CC
>>>
>>>No, it doesn't.
>>>
>>>Specific gravities range from 0.59 to 0.72 (excepting southern live oak).
>

Is that African oak, or European oak?


--
Contentment makes poor men rich. Discontent makes rich men poor.
--Benjamin Franklin
Larry Wasserman - Baltimore, Maryland - [email protected]

In article <[email protected]>, Group wrote:
>On Thu, 09 Nov 2006 20:58:07 GMT, [email protected] (Doug Miller)
>wrote:
>>In article <[email protected]>, Group wrote:
>>>
>>>Dry Oak has an SG of 0.92 gr/CC
>>
>>No, it doesn't.
>>
>>Specific gravities range from 0.59 to 0.72 (excepting southern live oak).
>
>http://www.tesarta.com/www/resources/library/weights.html

Well, there's a pretty good illustration that you can't believe everything you
read on the web. That's just flat wrong. It isn't even close.

Here are the *correct* figures from the experts, the U.S. Forest Products
Laboratory. Refer to Table 4-3a. The data for various species of oak is on
pages 5 and 6.

http://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplgtr/fplgtr113/ch04.pdf

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.

In article <[email protected]>, Group wrote:
>On 9 Nov 2006 11:45:55 -0800, "bf" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>>Hi,
>>
>>I was going to buy one of those safety closure devices for a blanket
>>chest I plan to build (they prevent the lid from slamming shut).
>>The top will be solid oak, 16" X 48" by 3/4" thick.
>>I need to estimate the wieght so I can get a properly rated safety
>>closure thing.
>>The lid is not built yet, so I can't just hold it and step on a scale
>>:)
>>
>>Thanks, as always.
>
>Dry Oak has an SG of 0.92 gr/CC

No, it doesn't.

Specific gravities range from 0.59 to 0.72 (excepting southern live oak).

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek at milmac dot com)

It's time to throw all their damned tea in the harbor again.