Fabric Rack & Battens

I built a large (maybe too large) rolling fabric rack. The existing layout will accommodate ten rolls of 5' (1.5m) material plus a space up top for an over-sized roll of material like the polyester batting I picked up at the fabric store to be used for vacuum bagging. I can store some additional material at the base of the rack and can add an additional three of four supports up the middle if that becomes necessary. The rack was designed to sit in the middle of both strong backs to serve up fabric and bagging films to the cutting table, but is able to be pushed back and behind each strong back to provide material along the length of the hulls.

I also triple-checked the cleat measurements before running the center string at a 90 degree angle down the length of the frame and got set up to start milling and pre-drilling the first set of battens. I'm going with a .71" (18mm) width to allow for .5" (12mm) penetration into the foam. This will leave 1/4" (6mm) of foam between the tip of the screw and the vacuum bagging materials. I'm hoping this will help a lot with the vacuum integrity.

Base of Fabric Rack

Fabric Rack side supports

Base flipped in order to attach a set of castors

Uprights built, screwed and glued

Pre-drilled for fabric roll support rods.
Notice the bottom two are set towards the middle to help keep the overall width down a bit.

Uprights installed and working on center bracing

Center brace detail

I'm short a few lengths of pipe, but I was able to get that big roll of polyester batting up off the floor.

Laminating table lifted up out of the way to allow for gluing the top to the frame.

Same thing for the Fabric cutting table

Fabric table flipped and set in position near the fabric rack

Laminating table flipped, moved and shimmed into location next to the fabric cutting table

Almost ready for work, I even had a left-over piece of carpet from the last apartment flip.

Adjusting the center line location to provide a 90-degree angle to the cleats.
This line was run on top of the strong-back to serve as a reference for the "real" one that goes under the cleats