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Apr 26th, 2026 | | AD Chevy Trucks  Over 6,000 pictures Brad Allen has an awesome collection of Chevrolet factory pictures that he has set up from film strips. Check them out!
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| | | Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 22 New Guy | | New Guy Joined: Apr 2010 Posts: 22 | What if one were to use a single piece of exterior grade oak plywood as a bed with strips bolted through. What are the pitfalls of this idea snd how should the wood be finished? | | | | | Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 111 Wrench Fetcher | | Wrench Fetcher Joined: Oct 2010 Posts: 111 | Thats what I did, cept I used cabinet grade since I have alot of that on hand. Sealed it with epoxy (also have lots on hand), and bolted SS strips down on it. Did not rout grooves...wanted the strips above the wood for protection. | | | | | Joined: May 2004 Posts: 1,312 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2004 Posts: 1,312 | Toughest thing would be sealing the edges and holes well enuf to prevent water getting in and swelling / warping plywood. Also with oak ply, you don't get the grain variation you see with individual planks. Veneers are pretty thin surface. Make your own planks. I bought 1 x 6 & 1 x 8 dressed Oak at a wood worker supply place for around $ 125.00. Grooved the edges with a table saw. | | | | | Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 863 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 863 | delamination of plywood is a certainty..... | | | | | Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 946 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jul 2005 Posts: 946 | What are your reasons for wanting to go that direction? Durability? Beauty? Ease of installation? What is your goal? | | | | | Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Apr 2005 Posts: 1,971 | If you are trying to do this with as little work as possible, just throw the plywood over the top of what is there. If you have to take it all apart to put the boards in, and you are just using the truck for a driver or a "not for show", just get some 1 by's and cut them to fit. I believe the instructions can be found here at the bolt or at Mar-K (look in the upper left of this page). I just used some good construction lumber and used a good UV resistant deck finish on mine. Replacing the boards as they were from the factory will eliminate a ton of squeaks and rattles too. http://www.mar-k.com/bedwooddimensions.pdf | | | | | Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Jun 2005 Posts: 1,756 | Mine is done that way and 4 years old(I keep it garaged)
still looks great. I did seal it top,botom and sides. Ieven inset the strips as normal on a table saw. Dado blade. | | |
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