Hey everyone,
So I set about making a torsion box to be used as an extension table for my TS. My plan is/was to use 3/4" MDF to build the inner web or grid that goes between the outer skins. Everything went as planned until I assembled the web, when I noticed that the web pieces are now warped.
The web was assembled by cutting a series of half-lap joints in the pieces so they slip over one another to form the grid. The pieces are approximately 30" long by 2.5" wide (3/4" thick); the half laps were cut every ~ 6". Now I know that the lengths of MDF weren't curved when I ripped them to width and crosscut to length - Ive got a few extra backup pieces and those are still straight. Now all of the assembled pieces are warped so that they are concave along the opposite edge that I cut the half lap joint into, with about 1/8" deflection over the length of each piece.
Im fairly certain that I didnt bend them during the dry fit, so Im thinking that they warped after I cut the half-laps? Is this normal for MDF, I thought the stuff was supposed to be super stable...
Anyways, Im wondering if I should just start over with some plywood instead of the MDF. Im guessing I dont want to build a torsion box out of something that isnt even close to flat...