Thick Wood Bookshelves
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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.
Likewise, How thick should Plywood be for garage shelves?
IMO you should get the best quality 3/4 plywood you can find (as many plys as possible) rip it to width, then glue 2 layers of that plywood together to make a 1 1/2″ thick shelf. If desired, you could cap the cut ends with solid wood.
Also, Is Poplar stronger than pine?
Which is a harder wood – pine or poplar? … On the Janka scale, standard poplar is rated harder than Eastern pine. But, other pines, such as Radiata, Southern Yellow Pine, and True Pine, are much harder by a magnitude of 2 and 3.
Moreover, How far can a shelf span without support?
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.
What wood is best for making shelves?
The Best Wood to Use for Wood Shelves
- Pine. Pine is one of the most affordable and popular softwoods in the market. …
- Plywood. Plywood is another good option for people who are interested in making their own shelves. …
- Cherry. Although cherry is a hardwood, it is lightweight and easy to use. …
- Koa. …
- Red Oak. …
- Paduak. …
- Mahogany.
Which plywood is best for garage shelves?
We use 1/2″ plywood for the 16″ width shelving – perhaps go up to 5/8″ or 3/4″ if you do 24″ wide shelving or have especially heavy loads destined for these shelves.
Is MDF good for garage shelving?
Because it’s inexpensive and fairly durable, medium density fiberboard s a good choice for practical projects like shelving and storage cabinets. … MDF is basically sawdust and glue, fused together under pressure and heat.
How thick should a garage shelf be?
How deep should garage shelves be? – The depth of your shelves may depend on what you plan to store and how much space you have in your garage. Garage shelves typically range from 12 – 24 inches deep.
Why is poplar wood so cheap?
Poplar is one of the less expensive hardwoods. … Because poplar is not the most beautiful wood, it’s rarely used in fine furniture, and if it is, it’s almost always painted. Poplar can be a good choice for drawers (where it won’t be seen) because it is stable and inexpensive.
Why is poplar cheaper than pine?
Pine is cheaper than several other types of wood, including oak. It is commonly considered the cheapest wood used in furniture. In many cases, it’s even cheaper than poplar. Poplar tends to be somewhat easier to work with since it’s lighter and has fewer knots and less sap.
What is the strongest lightest wood?
The Lightest Wood Options
- Redwood – It’s one of the lightest and most durable woods used for building. …
- Cedar – At just 19.7 to 23 pounds per square foot (dry) Cedar is one of the lightest woods. …
- Cypress – Like Cedar and Redwood Cypress is a lightweight softwood that is durable and resistant to water damage.
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 far apart should you put shelf brackets?
Supporting brackets for most shelves should be spaced no more than 24 inches apart for light to medium loads (15 to 20 pounds per foot). This means that the vertical slotted pilasters must be spaced at about that distance from one another on the wall.
How much weight can a 2×4 shelf hold?
Modern 2x4s are probably stronger than you think. Under optimal conditions, a single 2×4 can support about 1,000 pounds, or half a ton vertically.
Is pine Good for shelving?
Avoid using particleboard, MDF, and softwoods like pine for bookshelves. They sag under a lot of weight, dent and scratch easily, don’t offer long-term rigidity, and require extra support for long spans.
Is MDF stronger than pine?
Although MDF is stronger, it is more difficult to repair if dents or marks are made on the material. Finger jointed pine is slightly more expensive than MDF. As it is a natural timber material, it is softer than MDF and can be more susceptible to marks.
Is cedar wood 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 OSB strong enough for shelving?
OSB is a great sheathing material but I certainly wouldn’t use it anywhere it would be visible. Even painted, it will not be a smooth surface and it will delaminate if it gets wet. The big box plywood gets a bad rap but for shelving, if a hardwood face is attached, it will work fine.
Is OSB better than MDF?
OSB is considered to be stronger than MDF. OSB is suitable for structural projects and withstands water, moisture, and weather conditions better than MDF. However, MDF is more versatile and easy to work with than OSB and preferred for projects requiring a smooth finish.
Can you use brad nails on MDF?
Puckers and mushrooms are less likely to occur in molding-grade MDF because the less-dense material at the site of the nail head allows for more material expansion. Slim, “needle-style” 18-gauge brad nails work best in pneumatic nailers. … You can, of course, use screws with MDF.
Is MDF stronger than plywood?
MDF is ideal for cutting, machining and drilling, since it does not chip easily. On the other hand, plywood is a much more stronger material, which can be used for doors, floors, staircases and outdoor furniture.
How thick should OSB be for garage shelves?
How To Build Basic Garage Storage Shelving
- 4 sheets 7/16” OSB (or 1/2” plywood )
- 7- 2X4s by 8 feet long.
- 6- 2X2s by 8 feet long.
- 3 inch nails or screws.
- 1-1/2 inch drywall screws.
How deep should I build garage shelves?
For a garage, 16” depth is ideal for the storage of large items and 12” depth is ideal for smaller items. Adjustability is very important to maximize the use of space. Ideally, shelves should be 6” to 1′ off the floor to keep the items stored on them clean and dry.
How thick should plywood be for shelving?
As a general rule, the heavier the items you will be placing on the shelves, the thicker the recommended product will need to be. The most common size used in shelving is a 3/4 inch thickness.
