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Step 3Tension!
Attach the trusses to the bottom of the cubes with a couple of screws. Make sure it is a good, rigid connection with minimal wobble. I centered each leg on the openings of the cubes; put them where you like, but no closer to the center than I have them for stability's sake.
At the very exact geometric center of the bottom of the cubes (where two corner-to-corner diagonals intersect), drive a screw with a washer partway in. An eye screw would also work.
Do the same on either end of the cubes, about an inch in from the side and centered front-to-back. Drill a small hole through each end of the bottom of each truss.
Loop some wire through those holes and up to the screws, so that each truss has four wire loops attached to it, making a double diamond when viewed from directly above. Twist the wire back on itself to secure. The wire here is copper; steel tie wire for rebar would work well, but you could also use aluminum, steel cable, or strong string.
Insert a little dowel or nail or whatever into one of the loops and twist it like a tourniquet. Set a square against the truss and the bottom of the cubes to make sure you're keeping the legs nice and orthogonal. Do one loop on one side and then the loop directly opposing tit to keep the tension on the trusses even. The wire should be tight enough to twang when you are finished, but not so tight it pulls everything out of square. When everything is taut, drive the three screws in altogether.
This wire works very well because when twisted under tremendous tension, it stays that way without unwinding. Using any type of cable or string will require you to secure the loops somehow to keep them from unwinding. the best way is to use a small finish nail or similar as your twisting tool; leave it wrapped up in the string when you have achieved the proper tension, then turn it parallel to the string and tie the two together.
Flip it over. While looking very delicate, the legs are actually very strong . I can stand on this piece without it wracking side-to-side hardly at all.
Fill it with your stuff and enjoy!
At the very exact geometric center of the bottom of the cubes (where two corner-to-corner diagonals intersect), drive a screw with a washer partway in. An eye screw would also work.
Do the same on either end of the cubes, about an inch in from the side and centered front-to-back. Drill a small hole through each end of the bottom of each truss.
Loop some wire through those holes and up to the screws, so that each truss has four wire loops attached to it, making a double diamond when viewed from directly above. Twist the wire back on itself to secure. The wire here is copper; steel tie wire for rebar would work well, but you could also use aluminum, steel cable, or strong string.
Insert a little dowel or nail or whatever into one of the loops and twist it like a tourniquet. Set a square against the truss and the bottom of the cubes to make sure you're keeping the legs nice and orthogonal. Do one loop on one side and then the loop directly opposing tit to keep the tension on the trusses even. The wire should be tight enough to twang when you are finished, but not so tight it pulls everything out of square. When everything is taut, drive the three screws in altogether.
This wire works very well because when twisted under tremendous tension, it stays that way without unwinding. Using any type of cable or string will require you to secure the loops somehow to keep them from unwinding. the best way is to use a small finish nail or similar as your twisting tool; leave it wrapped up in the string when you have achieved the proper tension, then turn it parallel to the string and tie the two together.
Flip it over. While looking very delicate, the legs are actually very strong . I can stand on this piece without it wracking side-to-side hardly at all.
Fill it with your stuff and enjoy!
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