spar question

[LDK]

I'm sure this question has been asked many times before but how far apart should the roof spars be. Also the kind of wood used and the thickness of the spars.

[bobhenry]

I have built 4 with rounded profile and I found 12" o/c easy to work with. I used 2x2 ) 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 southern yellow pine. It is about 50% stronger than spruce pine fir. They were ripped out of #1 2 x 12 material as knot free as possible. Read the end grain is should not have a smile
( rounded grain pattern ) Straight grain indicates it was cut from a large log or very near the center. Cut about 4 extra as a couple will go wild. Short section of the crooked ones will be useful in building cabinet or gussets here and there. I notched mine in most folk don't but it has worked for me. When you get to your galley hinge perhaps a 2 x 3 may be prefered to help resist the rotational forces of opening and closing and the extra weight. I used the full 2x4 ( 1 1/2 x 3 1/2) on each side of the hinge. Lay out your spar spacing while both sides are sandwiched together and mark the CENTER that way you can not get on the wrong side of the line and the spars will run true and square.



Here is a vintage pic of how the spars were inserted......

If you find the spars are not falling exactly where you need them there is no law that says you can't add a couple more. Note the cabinet needed a couple extras and I simply added them.

[Woodbutcher]

It seems to work well if you figure out where your seams will be for your ceiling and roof panels. Then divide the remaining space equally. I never liked having more then 10" of space between spars. But they don't weigh much, so no worries. If you are attaching a shelf or headboard etc. place them where you will be able to secure your shelf to them.

[Wolffarmer]

I made my spars from poplar from HD and ripped to 4 foot and 1 7/8 wide. I was able to put most of my 290 lbs in the middle of a spar and it didn't break. poplar is fairly light, no knots. Where to put them? Put them where they need to be. On a radius like the tighter front ones about 8-12 inches, on most of the gentler rear curves probably doesn't matter. Put some where a plywood joint will be, put two far enough apart for a vent you might use. after all that most of the space is used up so you don't have much figuring to do. Don't try to over think it.

Randy