Table of Contents
Is it cheaper to buy or build shelves?
Lower Cost – Generally, buying the materials for your garage shelves should be cheaper than purchasing prefab – just make sure you do everything right the first time. Tailored – Making your own allows you to build shelving that meets your exact needs.
What wood is best for shelving for books?
Which Wood is the Strongest for a Bookshelf? If the cost of the materials is not a concern, woods like mahogany, African padauk, and koa are considered the best woods for bookshelves, thanks to their durability, strength, and longevity.
How thick should Wood be for shelves?
Use 3/4-inch thick materials for shelves and bookcase structure. If you’re using hardwood solids, it’s OK to boost the thickness to 1 1/4 inch for almost unlimited support. This type of shelf looks more like a mantel and is expensive, but adds the opulent look of craftsmanship.
Can plywood be used for shelving?
Plywood is a popular choice in construction because of its strength and low cost. Stainable and paintable plywood are often used to make shelving, cabinets and furniture. Plywood can also be made into fencing materials, packaging materials, scaffolding, sheds and shipping containers.
How deep should built in shelves be?
Most shelves are built a minimum of 11 to 12 inches deep, but this is your chance to customize: Go for it!.
Is Pine OK for bookshelves?
Pine. For short length bookshelves, pine is a good material to work with. If you’re planning on building bookshelves in an alcove or with intermediate support, its strength comes into its own in plank form. Varnishing is recommended.
How long can a shelf be before it sags?
The eye will notice a deflection of 1/32 inch per running foot so that a fully loaded (70-80 pounds) bookshelf that is 3 feet wide, should sag no more than 3/32 inches. For most shelves made from 3/4 inch stock, a practical span is 30 to 36 inches.
How much weight can a bookshelf hold?
Strength Comparison: The amount of weight a 3-foot 1×12 shelf can hold without sagging more than ¼ inch: Oak: 313 lb. Pine: 200 lb. Plywood: 129 lb.
How far can a shelf span without support?
Span Limits The span limit is defined as the maximum distance apart that you can place the shelving supports. Glass, particleboard, solid lumber, plywood, and other common shelving materials can have span limits that can range from 18 inches to almost 5 feet.
How tall should shelves be?
How High Should I Hang My Shelf or Shelves? Like artwork, shelves should be hung at about eye level or about 4 to 5 feet from the floor. If you’re hanging the shelf above furniture, measure about 10 inches from the top of the desk or couch.
How much weight can 3/4 melamine hold?
This a versatile product that can be installed in any room and with a weight capacity of 50 pounds per shelf, it is strong.
What is the strongest wood for shelves?
Koa. If you want wood shelves that last for a long time, you should consider using Koa wood. This is considered to be the hardest among commercially available wood types. Even so, Koa is lightweight and has beautiful shellac qualities.
What is the best distance between shelves?
The rule of thumb for spacing is 12 inches between each shelf but bump that up to 15 or 18 inches and you enhance that sense of exposure and accessibility.
How much weight can a 2×4 shelf hold?
A 2×4 can hold up to 40 pounds or 300 pounds when laying on its edge without sagging when laying horizontally. Several factors can lower or increase a 2x4s strength, including wood species, lumber grade, and moisture content.
How thick should Plywood be for shelves?
The most common size used in shelving is a 3/4 inch thickness. Cabinetry, furniture, and smaller decorative projects might generally use a combination of 1/2 and 3/4 and occasionally 1/4 inch.
Is 12mm plywood OK for shelves?
It is generally unsuitable for shelving as the finish is poor. Use 12mm chipboard as a minimum and support the shelf at no greater than 300mm centres for all but the lightest of loads. Or 18mm chipboard with supports no greater than 700mm apart.
Is MDF OK for shelving?
MDF is commonly used for shelving in closets and cabinets because it’s inexpensive and smooth. But MDF isn’t as stiff as plywood and will sag over time. The MDF edge will absorb a lot of glue, so spread on a light coat, give it a minute to soak in, and apply another bead before you add the wood nosing.
How wide is a book shelf?
The standard width is 31 inches. The depth will range from 12 to 13 inches. However, it’s not hard to find a two-shelf bookcase as tall as 36 inches. Two-shelf bookcases are the right size for small book collections, or to serve as bookcases dedicated to encyclopedias and large photographic books.
How deep is a book shelf?
Shelf depth for a general purpose bookshelf is usually 10 to 12 inches. Shelf spacing will generally range from 7 to 15 inches with 8 to 12 inches being common for bookshelves.
How deep is a book case?
How deep is a bookcase? Bookcases typically range in depth between 10”-12” (26-31 cm) for medium sized books. Smaller bookcase depths of 6.5” (17 cm) may be desired for paperback books and novels, while larger bookcase depths of 14” (35 cm) are useful for records and larger format books.
What’s stronger pine or poplar?
Poplar is stronger wood than pine. According to the Janks hardness value, poplar has 540 lbf while white pine wood gets 420 lbf value.
Is Cedar good for shelving?
Western Red Cedar shingles. We tend to prefer hardwood over softwood for making wooden shelves, but western red cedar is an exception. You can cut this wood and paint it easily. Hence, you get a softwood option that is both elegant and robust, ideal for shelves in your living space.
Is Red oak good for bookshelves?
A. Certainly, red oak is a goodchoice for shelving as it is strong and stiff, compared to most other species. There are several approaches tostiffening the shelf that would allow us to use a lighter weight shelf.
