[Shop-talk] 2 by's for truck ramp

[Jim Franklin]

Google "joist span tables" and you should be set for the day :-)

As others noted, there isn't much strength in a flat board- the  
strength comes from compression at the top and tension at the bottom,  
of an on edge board. The taller the board, the more leverage the  
compression and tension have.

jim


On Aug 26, 2008, at 10:19 AM, john niolon wrote:

> so Jim.... your calculations are based on the board being 20%  
> wider ??? that makes sense but where do you find 'bearing  
> weight'   (I don't know the proper term)  for how much weight either  
> board would handle before disaster time...  I wonder if it truly is  
> 20% more on the 2x12 ?
>
> john