Lifting Platform

I'm in the process of building a lifting platform for my garage gym following the instructions at: http://www.ironmind.com/ironmind/opencms/Main/homesweathome6.h...

I managed to get get 4 sheets of 18mm exterior plywood delivered for £98 from a local company, but I'm finding it hard to get hold of a good quality sheet for the top. I want the top sheet to be 12mm to match the 12mm rubber mats I have from strength shop. Any ideas on were to get one? Or will a sheet of 12mm exterior plywood be ok? Also should I use anything to finish the top sheet?

I am no expert at DIY but I built one and used 18mm exterior ply as the top sheet. Just screwed it down and that was it. I think I've nearly had it two years if I look back on my thread on MP the date will be there when I was making it.

It has so far lasted very well and will for much longer.. the only thing is there is a couple of chips out of the ends of the wood where benches, weights and people have backed into them but nothing major!

I was going to post in your log on MP to ask you what you used for the top sheet, saved me some time there

I was thinking about making a new one to better fit my new rack.. If I was going to do that though I think I'de come up with something that I could re-use most of the wood from the old one but the top sheet I would spend a bit more money on but dont know how! So if anyone has some good answers to this thread I might start unscrewing and planning a new one

http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_sec...

Seems expensive, but I'm guessing this is the type of stuff they mean for the top.

perhaps, I just happen to work in b&q so would be affordable if i could salvage most of the wood from my other one.

Working there is a bonus for you then. I might just splash out and get it. I would have to use a layer of thin carpet or something similar under my strength shop rubber mats to get the 18mm.

http://www.wickes.co.uk/birch-plywood/invt/164521/

I saw this stuff too but might be a bit thin at 6.5mm

Finally finished my platform today, I ended up getting some better grade plywood from a local firm for £33 for an 18mm 8x4 sheet. The only thing I've done different with mine to the design on most websites a is I got my top piece cut to 3ft 6" and got horse stall mats cut to 2ft 3" for each side. Might varnish the top piece at a later date.


http://i662.photobucket.com/albums/uu342/reddotvintage/IMG_124...

Im looking at building one of these and noticed in the starting strength vids the whole platform is matted. I've not done any work on a platform before will this make a huge diference? also does it have to be exterior ply?

mine is some thick wood they use for industrial shelving ..attach some ply ...and pop on a couple of buzzman mats ...its SUPER

Tht platform looks the bizzle

yes !! great use of limited space !!

Looks very tidy that, top work.

ahh i am in the market for one of these, excellent timing!

i shall pop off to the diy store this weekend!