Struts. Each pair of horizontal beams are held parallel to each other and three feet apart by six horizontal struts. The form of these struts is illustrated in Fig. 2.
They are three feet long and 1/2 x 1 1/4 inches in cross section. A notch 1 1/2 x 3/4 inches is cut in each end so as, to form a projection 1 1/2 x 1/2 x 1/2 inches.
The location of the struts in the plane is illustrated in Fig. 3. The two in the centre are two feet apart and the others respectively 4 feet 6 inches and 9 feet on either side. The struts on the upper plane are placed so that the projections come above the horizontal members. Those on the lower plane are placed just the opposite, that is so that they come on the under side.
Fig. 2.—Strut.
They are fastened with one or two small wire nails and then secured by means of a clamp. Two dozen clamps are required. They are bent out of a strip of sheet brass one sixteenth of an inch thick, 3 7/8 inches long and 1 inch wide. The ends are rounded and a 1/4 inch hole located and bored in each as in Fig. 4.
Fig. 3.—Position of Struts.
The clamp also serves to protect the under side of the beam from the action of the nuts on the ends of the eyebolts. The method of fastening the clamp is detailed a little later.
