DIY Aluminum Plank
An aluminum plank is often used in applications where you are working on a ladder or scaffolding. These planks can be used to attach two ladders together so you can walk on them to paint or do work on the side of a building. Some planks come with the ladder you purchase. If you do not have an aluminum plank, you can make one yourself to be used for your particular application. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Sheet metal
- Tape measure
- Black marker
- T-square
- Tin snips
- Rivet gun
- Pop rivets
Instructions
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1
Determine all of the measurements for the size of your plank. Lay out the pieces of sheet metal. Transfer your measurements to the sheet metal, using a tape measure. Mark the desired "cut" location with a black marker.
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2
Line up a T-square at the marks and draw a straight line across each piece of sheet metal you are going to cut. Cut along the line with a pair of tin snips. Repeat the process for all of the sheets you need to cut.
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3
Stack all of the pieces of sheet metal on top of each other until you achieve the desired height for the plank. Add more pieces of sheet metal, if necessary. Measure the thickness of the plank and purchase pop rivets that correspond to the plank's depth.
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4
Square up all of the sheets so they are even and flush throughout to ensure the plank will be square when you stand on it.
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5
Fill a rivet gun with pop rivets and press the tip of the gun firmly into the sheet metal at any corner location. Pull the trigger to release the rivet into the sheet metal. Check the bottom to ensure the rivet has passed through all of the sheet metal. Move down eight inches and repeat the process. Continue all the way around the sheet metal until the rivets are installed and the plank has been constructed.
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