48 × 40 skid: drawing, specs and parts list
A standard 48 × 40 in skid has 7 top deckboards, 3/4 in thick, nailed to 3 runners 3-1/2 × 3-1/2 in, with no bottom deck. It stands 4-1/4 in tall, takes 48 nails and 18.19 board feet of lumber, and weighs about 79 lb in mixed hardwood, green. Entry: 2-way.
Reviewed
- All dimensions in inches, actual size.
- Nails per Uniform Standard Table 5: two per joint on boards up to 5-1/4 in, three up to 7-1/4 in.
- 2.5 in helical nails.
- Top gap 3.250 in, 59% deck coverage.
| 1 | 2 | Top lead board 3/4 × 5-1/2 × 40 |
| 2 | 5 | Top interior board 3/4 × 3-1/2 × 40 |
| 3 | 3 | Stringer 3-1/2 × 3-1/2 × 48 |
The engine's standard design for this size, drawn from the same parts list as every number on this page. Your mill's build may differ.
Specifications
| Size (L × W × H) | 48 × 40 × 4.25 in |
|---|---|
| Type | Stringer skid |
| Entry | 2-way |
| Pallet weight | ≈ 79 lb |
| Top deck | 7 boards, 3/4 in thick |
| Stringers | 3 × 3-1/2 × 3-1/2 in |
| Bottom deck | None (skid) |
| Lumber | Mixed hardwood |
| Fasteners | 48 × 2-1/2 in helical |
| Board feet | 18.19 |
| Classification | 48 x 40 in, Stringer, Single-Face (Skid), Flush, 2-Way, Reusable |
Parts list and cut sizes
| Part | Qty | Cut size, in | Board feet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top lead board | 2 | 3/4 × 5-1/2 × 40 | 2.29 |
| Top interior board | 5 | 3/4 × 3-1/2 × 40 | 3.65 |
| Stringer | 3 | 3-1/2 × 3-1/2 × 48 | 12.25 |
| Total | 10 | 18.19 |
Boards are thickness × width × length; stringers and blocks are width × height × length. Actual sizes.
How it's built
The 7 top deckboards run across the 40 in width and are spaced along the 48 in stringers with 3-1/4 in gaps. The end (lead) boards are 5-1/2 in wide and the interior boards 3-1/2 in, all 3/4 in thick.
There is no bottom deck. The 3 runners (3-1/2 × 3-1/2 in) sit on the floor, so forks and pallet jacks enter from the two ends only: 2-way entry. Skids suit machinery and crate bases that are lifted and set down, not loads stacked on top of each other.
Nails follow the Uniform Standard for Wood Pallets minimum per joint by board width: 48 in the top deck, 48 in total, 2-1/2 in helical.
More on this construction: skids, deck board spacing and nail schedules.
Weight by species
| Species | Green | Kiln dried |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed hardwood | 79 lb | 53 lb |
| Oak | 95 lb | 71 lb |
| Southern yellow pine | 81 lb | 62 lb |
| SPF | 59 lb | 42 lb |
| Douglas fir | 71 lb | 55 lb |
18.19 board feet × pounds per board foot for the species, nails included. Kiln dried is to 19% moisture; see moisture content.
Questions
- How much does a 48 × 40 skid weigh?
- About 79 lb (36 kg) in mixed hardwood, green. The same design ranges from about 42 lb in kiln-dried SPF to 95 lb in green oak.
- How many nails are in a 48 × 40 skid?
- 48: 48 in the top deck. That's the Uniform Standard minimum: two nails per joint on boards up to 5-1/4 in wide and three on wider boards. See the nail schedule guide.
- How many board feet are in a 48 × 40 skid?
- 18.19 board feet, from actual part sizes (thickness × width × length ÷ 144) with notches not deducted. Buy more than that to cover trim and kerf; see board feet.
- How tall is a 48 × 40 skid?
- 4-1/4 in overall (108 mm), from the floor to the top of the deck.