Intro: Trusses

We made a 3-foot tall Eiffel Tower model. How do you say DIWire in French?!?

Trusses are a commonly used structural component in all types of construction. A truss consists of numerous smaller lengths, each of which handles a portion of the load supported by the overall assembly. In short, trusses are sturdy and they're everywhere. Some examples: The Eiffel Tower, The Hearst Tower, Popsicle Stick Bridges. Try for yourself! Clip your bends together or use magnets to fixture your assembly for welding or soldering. Make a 2D or 3D truss and let us know how it goes!

STEP 1: Gather the Necessary Materials and Tools

STEP 2: Bend Some Trusses

To make a 3D four-sided truss, you'll need to bend four similar 2D trusses.

STEP 3:

Spot-weld or solder your lengths and bent portions together. We used 90-degree magnets to make sure our angles were clean.

STEP 4: Testing

A quick in-house strength test: Our truss holds stuff much better than wood does.

STEP 5: Other Examples

There are all sorts of trusses. Here are just a few 2D and 3D examples.