What thickness ply for making backing pads ?

[David2452]

Hi,

I need to buy some ply anyway and want to also use the leftovers for making backing pads for mounting poles, davits, cleats and thru-hulls. What thickness ply would be best for this application ?

Thanks,

boo2

Am I missing something? Surely the suitability for the primary purpose is paramount and not what the scraps can be used for.

 

[sailorman]

Am I missing something? Surely the suitability for the primary purpose is paramount and not what the scraps can be used for.

why cut up an 8 x 4 of 1/2 inch ply when off-cuts will do the job equally well

 

[late-night-lochin]

I have been turned onto using nylon kitchen cutting boards. You can get them cheap from places like Lidl or those poundstretcher type places. They are about 10mm. Ideally I'd have a stainless plate under that but realistically I'll just use penny washers. I took a few rotten bits of ply out and some big blocks of aluminium maybe 10 or 12mm thick. They were a bu**er to get off, they'd corroded badly and wouldn't let go of the screws. For chainplates I'll put a bug blob of sikaflex under the nylon backing plate and wait a couple of days before tightening them down.
I'd really like to use tufnol as it is the best material ever made.

This man's getting close!

Try 12mm delrin available from several suppliers including RS Components.

Not cheap but very good.

You won't need penny washers as it won't compress.