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85K views 71 replies 30 participants last post by  Billp 
#1 ·
Cutting out parts, & starting assembly.

We recently purchased a new washer, & dryer,

& we didn't want to spend $400 for the factory pedestals, so I'm making my own.

They should cost us about $75


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This is the factory made pedestal

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The front load machines are kind of low without a pedestal.

It makes it kind of tough on the back muscles.


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I'm building them with 2X4s, & 3/4 birch plywood.

Some pictures of the progress. After cutting the frame piece to proper length, I cut the half lap joints with the bandsaw

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All of the frame pieces, ready for assembly.

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Gluing, & clamping frame.


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I used my Kreg pocket hole jig to fasten the frame uprights.
The plywood skin is to be glued, & nailed.

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Adding casters.

The factory pedestals don't have casters, but I thought it would be nicer for maintaning the machines.


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I was very disgusted yesterday after cutting the plywood to the sizes I needed.
The plywood plies separated right down the center plies on one cut. I ended up spending some extra time injecting some glue, & clamping it. so I could use it.


I think I'll go down to Lowes, & complain about this.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?


To be continued.
 
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#6 ·
Thanks!

At first I was going to have a drawer, but using the 3" casters only leaves room for about

an 8" deep drawer. I plan on facing the front of the cabinets with some Brazilian Cherry

flooring scraps.

Besides we figured it would just be another place to stash junk that we never use.

We have "too much" of that kind of junk now.<(O;}#
 
#7 ·
I'd never even heard of an appliance pedestal until now. Wow, $400 - clearly a ploy on the part of the appliance manufacturers to up-sell at high margins. I still don't see the need - our washer is high enough already ( and we haven't owned a dryer for 10 years), adding a pedestal would make it awkward. Are they making appliances in the US too short these days so they can sell you one of these?

Never mind that, though, as you are doing well to build your own. I'm a bit confused about a couple of things though:
How did you secure the upright 2×4s which connect the frames?
Wouldn't wheels be a problem when the machine runs? Might not it vibrate and roll away?

Thanks for taking the time to take pictures and share your ideas.
 
#8 ·
btw, people did use to make their own plywood (and still can). It's called lumber core plywood. The center is strips of solid wood, surfaced, then a single veneer applied ( or edge glued pieces). Where I am, this is still a cheaper option than plywood (where construction grade 3/4 ply costs $105/sheet, hardwood is easily double)
 
#10 ·
Dick
I had a sheet of plywood I used on my router table mod, where the plies were not glued well in one region, and of course I got into it with a screw that wouldn't hold. It was just one spot, and the rest of the piece was OK, and already cut up, so I injected glue, and put in in 4 pan head screws around the path of the malfunctioning screw, fortunately it was not in a position you could see, and that worked.

My project was purposely made out of warped plywood, just to get rid of it. That caused some challenges, but the outcome is OK, and it does not have any effects on the mechanics of the router. Now on my sled, it is a different story. There I can't tolerate bad plywood, because the wood forms the tool surfaces and mechanics.
 
#11 ·
Steve
I added a picture to show the front load washer. You have bend over quite a bit without a

pedestal.

Branch
I'll be going to Lowes, & at least tell them about it.

Jim
I did squeeze some glue into the plies like you did.

It should hold together fine, but just the idea paying $35 for this kind of quality isn't right.

I think with the sophisticated machinery they use to make plywood, they shouldn't have

this problem. I think it's too rush, rush nowadays. I never used to have this happen to me.
 
#12 ·
Wow! Nice project. I like the joints and the casters. Definitely complain about the plywood. The big box stores seem to be taking advantage of people by lowering the quality of goods for the sake of higher profits. The concept of "helping customers" is not well recognized by their corporate computers.
 
#13 ·
Dick-

A great idea! I think the manufacturer wants even more for the pedestals for our units. I quickly passed.

My thought about a drawer was … if it's getting difficult to bend for the laundry … the only time I'd ever access the drawer was … when I'm crawling around on the floor :)

Our dryer is "powerful," and on the noisy side. Knowing that, I used double drywall in the laundry room, and insulated the interior wall that separates laundry from the guest bedroom.

The reason I mention that is … will the casters make the machine noisier than if you had NOT used casters? I was thinking about the pedestal as yet another opportunity to reduce noise, both through some insulation within the box, and-potentially-setting the pedestals on some sort of stall mat, or "anti-fatigue" shop mat.

Nice job on the build, though. Sorry about the ply issues. In my experience … everything I buy has to be bought, returned, and bought again ….. [sigh].
 
#14 ·
Steve
I just added a picture of the uprights. I used face frame screws with my Kreg jig.

Rich
Thank you, I didn't get anything done today.

Neil
I think the rubber casters may help the vibration some, & I plan on using a foam mat on top of the pedestal.

I'll let you know when its done.

Our dryer is very quiet, maybe because it's on a concrete floor.
 
#15 ·
All
We have a noisy dryer, and not a cheap one at that. But my wife likes it othwise, a lot, so she decided to put up with it. It is sitting on linoleum layed on concrete, so it's your machine that is quiet Dick. But our noise occurs in the vent system. Even beefed that up. Oh well, she can close the door on it.

It sure would be nice to have casters underneath those beasts, good thought Dick.
 
#16 ·
Thanks Dick. I see the problem now with the washer. Still looks like an intentional design flaw to me. They can now sell you the appliance in 2 halves! Otherwise I've seen washers like this mount on the wall as well, which might have been another option, leaving space underneath for your feet or a laundry basket or something.

Thanks for adding the pic about the pocket holes. I see how you did that now.
 
#17 ·
Steve

When I bought my Kreg jig, I didn't realize how many things it could be used for.

I have the cheapest one they make, called the two hole Kreg Rocket Pocket.
 
#19 ·
Lee

Thanks, I've decided to print up a picture, & show it to them the next time I'm There.

That's about all a guy can do, & let their conscience be their guide.
 
#21 ·
John,
Thanks for the tip, If this ever happens again, I'll try that approach.

They had already given me $5 off, because they had nicked a corner of veneer on the cut off saw.
 
#23 ·
Thank you, Renovation!

I'll be looking forward to your great idea.

Have you looked at part 2 & 3 of this blog?
 
#25 ·
Some progress pictures.

I've been poking along with this project, fitting it in with other chores around the house.

It seems like as a person gets older, it takes more time to get anything done, but it gradually gets done..


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After attaching the side panels, I glued in a piece of foam pad as a silencer.



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To stretch my plywood, plus protect the ply edges, I glued on some Brazilian Cherry flooring for edging to the top.


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I decided to face off the fronts with the Brazilian Cherry.


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I routed a 45 degree chamfer to the top of the boards to blend into the top.

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This is the end result after a coat of mineral oil. The oil sure brought out the beauty of the Birch plywood, although it's going to be covered up by the machines _

Now as soon as the other piece is completed, I'll need some help lifting the machines onto the pedestals._
 
#48 ·
FINALLY DONE AND WASHING CLOTHES ( Edited 02/05/2011)

I thought it was about time I posted the completed project.

With help from my Son we grunted the machines up in place.

They look good, & work real well. The pedestals are good, & solid.


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It's sure nice not to have to bend over to load, & unload now.


I edited this on 02/05/2011

I changed to stationary non-swivel casters, but after that I had the problem of them slipping side to side on the smooth floor during the spin startup.

You'll notice I laid down some foam cushion interlocking floor tile, & now it doesn't move
anymore.

Now I get a little wobble during spin startup, which is normal even when the machine is installed on

a floor, but after it reaches full speed it purrs like a kitten.

The machine has never moved out of position on the pedestals after a full year of use.



It's so nice to be able to move the machine in, & out with such ease.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Here's a picture of them in place.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~View looking behind the machines. I made the pedestals a little longer than the machines,
to make clearance for the vent pipe, & hoses when I push them in against the wall.
Notice the foam cushion bumper against the wall





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Low level view.

 
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