Track Building Question
While I am waiting on my buddy to do some test pieces for the fiberglass ramp, I decided to build a ramp using the plans on the blog. I bought a few pieces of 1x6 and a hinge. Long story short, when I fold the ramp up, the boards are not aligned. I laid the two pieces out and used another board to line them up. I laid the hinge on top and measured things up and screwed it on. Problem is when I folded them together to take them back inside, I realized that they were not aligned. I am going to take it apart and cut the 4' leg down to a 3' leg and try again. Any tricks to getting them straight?
Discussion
If the hinge is big enough you can use it to line up your board ends instead. (This would make a small gap between the boards when unfolded.) Here you would put the pin in the gap between the boards (hinge pin down). Push both boards against the hinge pin and use your other board to align the side edges. Attached the hinge to both boards.
My track boards have never aligned when they folded. I think that's mainly because the hinges is a very small point on what are otherwise much wider surface, so the hinge acts as a pivot point when they're upright.
Like you said, unfolded and flat you can adjust them just fine - they have give left/right - and that's what matters.
I've had my fold-out plank track for years now and run thousands of races on them without any issues do to what appears like a cockeyed board. So I wouldn't worry about it. The benefits of that style track is storage and ease of setup. If you want something more "solid" then a different style is what you're after...if that fiberglass turns out well, you'll certainly have your stability, ha!
It may not be accurate, since I am measuring off a photograph and then a computer screen, but your hinge is off as attached to both of the boards. Like Brian said though - if you have them straight when you set up the track - then it doesnt matter how they look folded up.
maybe clamp a straight edge to the hinge, use a square to get it perpendicular to the track boards...
I personally don't used hinges on my board track. I just take the individual boards and but them up together, and at every joint (Where the boards butt together) I place a wooden block to elevate the track off the floor. This helps keeping the boards straight at the joints. Most floors are uneven and that will cause your track joints not to align properly. The wooden blocks keep this from happening. Hope this helps
Preacher
Since it seems they are aligned when unfolded (right)? Then more than likely the hinge is not perpendicular to the board length (or the board ends are not square or the same length). Pics would help.
If it is the first and you dont have a square to check the boards with -
Take the hinge off (flip the boards over or relocate the hinge - meaning do not use the same holes).
Also flip over the hinge, so that the pin side is against the butt end of one board. Attach that side of the hinge to one board only.
Now undo the hinge and flip it over so the pin is up and reattach to the same board using the new holes.
Now slide the other board under the other hinge side and against the other board.
Use your other board to check to make sure the long edges of the boards are straight.
Attach that side of the hinge to the other board.
The boards may not line up at the unhinged butt ends, but should be straight or straighter along the sides when folded.