gw

garage woodworker

04/12/2010 5:32 PM

Baltic Birch plywood bookcase

My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
really hold up? I have my doubts.


This topic has 18 replies

Hg

Hoosierpopi

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

05/12/2010 11:12 AM

On Dec 4, 1:25=C2=A0pm, RP <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Dec 4, 12:32=C2=A0pm, garage woodworker <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" =
11
> > ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
> > really hold up? I have my doubts.
>
> 3/4" would be better. If the length of the shelving is 39 1/2" you
> should put on a dropped edge so that it won't sag. Books are heavy.
>
> RP

I think that, if you Google "sagulator" you will find detailed answers
to your question as well as links to various approaches to stiffen
your forty-inch shelves

Engineer Shelves With The Sagulator - Fine Woodworking Article
Online calculator determines thickness and length to prevent shelves
from sagging.
www.finewoodworking.com/.../SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?

The Sagulator - talkFestool
Mar 27, 2009 ... Check this out for figuring out sag in shelves.
Pretty cool huh? The Sagulator.
www.talkfestool.com =E2=80=BA

The Sagulator =E2=80=93 Shelf Sag Calculator
The Sagulator =E2=80=93 Shelf Sag Calculator. Posted on October 1st, 2010 b=
y
TheCadSetterOut. Check out this handy guide for calculating weather
your shelf will ...
cadsetterout.com/woodworking/the-sagulator-shelf-sag-calculator/

ww

whit3rd

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

05/01/2013 9:12 PM

On Saturday, December 4, 2010 9:32:17 AM UTC-8, garage woodworker wrote:
> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
> really hold up? I have my doubts.

For uprights, sure, it's fine.
I've made 7' tall shelf units with 1/2" plywood uprights, and a thin
plywood back for bracing.

For shelves, plywood has half the plies running the wrong direction,
so you will get better stiffness with solid wood. Even if it's softwood,
and has flaws and knots, it at least has the grain running the long
dimension for best compressive strength (bottom of the shelf)
as well as best tensile strength (on the top of the shelf).

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

04/12/2010 8:34 PM


"Martin Eastburn" wrote:

> Baltic Birch is a hardwood ply from Russia in the first place.
-------------------------------
"Baltic Birch" plywood is produced in Finland, Russia as well as other
Eastern European countries.

Finnish Birch uses exterior glue, can be laser cut, and is the most
expensive.

Russian uses interior glue and produces a total mess if you attempt to
laser cut it.

Birch ply is also available as "die board" for temporary tooling.

None of the above applies to book case construction.

BTW, I'd use 13 ply with front and back flange supports for shelves.


Lew

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

05/12/2010 5:00 PM


"Father Haskell" wrote:

> Just for theory's sake, I wonder how much stiffening you'd get
from epoxying carbon fiber cloth to the bottoms of the shelves.
I doubt it'd be cheap.
----------------------------------
A layer of 17 OZ double bias (+\- 45 degree) knitted glass and epoxy
would also work at considerably less cost although it would still be
expensive.

If you put a layer of glass on both sides of the ply, then you would
probably use 1/2", 4 ply CDX as the core material.

Strong like bull, but still be expensive for book case shelves.

Lew

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

05/01/2013 9:45 PM


garage woodworker wrote:

> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either
> 5/8" 11
> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will
> 5/8"
> really hold up? I have my doubts.
--------------------------------------------------
Rip some 11 ply strips, 1-1/2" x shelf length, and attach front and
back
of shelf for supports.

Make the back from some 1/4" (5 ply) birch and you are good to go.

Without support strips, never going to happen.

Lew


ww

whit3rd

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

05/12/2010 2:08 PM

On Dec 4, 9:32=A0am, garage woodworker <[email protected]> wrote:
> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
> really hold up? I have my doubts.

For uprights, 5/8" is more than enough; I've got 1/2" plywood holding
fine on seven-foot shelf units from decades gone by.
For a shelf 39" wide, though, use solid wood, or some kind of
frontedge/backedge stiffener (like, 2" oak, tongue-groove and glue)
that's deeper than 5/8 or 3/4".

Was there a plan to cover the plywood edges? Or to apply a finish?

Rr

RP

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

04/12/2010 10:25 AM

On Dec 4, 12:32=A0pm, garage woodworker <[email protected]> wrote:
> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
> really hold up? I have my doubts.

3/4" would be better. If the length of the shelving is 39 1/2" you
should put on a dropped edge so that it won't sag. Books are heavy.

RP

FH

Father Haskell

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

07/12/2010 3:26 PM

On Dec 7, 4:11=A0pm, whit3rd <[email protected]> wrote:
> On Dec 5, 5:00=A0pm, "Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > "Father Haskell" =A0wrote:
> > > Just for theory's sake, I wonder how much stiffening you'd get
>
> > from epoxying carbon fiber cloth to the bottoms of the shelves.
> > A layer of 17 OZ double bias (+\- 45 degree) knitted glass and epoxy
> > would also work at considerably less cost although it would still be
> > expensive.
>
> > If you put a layer of glass on both sides of the ply, then you would
> > probably use 1/2", 4 ply CDX as the core material.
>
> The bottom is in tension, your best strength is with oriented
> strand material (not knit).
>
> The top is in compression, just use a cheap laminate (Formica)
> that'll take the wear of books sliding. =A0 If you can attach it all
> well at the ends of the shelving, the midspan can be
> a lattice of wood strips,enough to hold the depth constant.
> Like a hollow-core door, though, this would make a shelf
> that cannot arbitrarily be cut to length. =A0 Solid wood is
> easier.

Leave the tops unlaminated. Wood is excellent in
compression, strong enough to build load bearing
walls from.

JC

"J. Clarke"

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

04/12/2010 3:45 PM

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] says...
>
> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
> really hold up? I have my doubts.

Run the sagulator on it <http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm>.

You'll find that the shelves need some reinforcement--if they are
attached to the back that should do it, if they're removable they need a
reinforcing strip--you can play with the dimensions in the sagulator.

Note that the sagulator doesn't list birch ply, just fir--use those
numbers and you'll have good margins.

ww

whit3rd

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

07/12/2010 1:11 PM

On Dec 5, 5:00=A0pm, "Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote:
> "Father Haskell" =A0wrote:
> > Just for theory's sake, I wonder how much stiffening you'd get
>
> from epoxying carbon fiber cloth to the bottoms of the shelves.

> A layer of 17 OZ double bias (+\- 45 degree) knitted glass and epoxy
> would also work at considerably less cost although it would still be
> expensive.
>
> If you put a layer of glass on both sides of the ply, then you would
> probably use 1/2", 4 ply CDX as the core material.

The bottom is in tension, your best strength is with oriented
strand material (not knit).

The top is in compression, just use a cheap laminate (Formica)
that'll take the wear of books sliding. If you can attach it all
well at the ends of the shelving, the midspan can be
a lattice of wood strips,enough to hold the depth constant.
Like a hollow-core door, though, this would make a shelf
that cannot arbitrarily be cut to length. Solid wood is
easier.

c

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

05/01/2013 2:35 PM

On Saturday, 4 December 2010 12:32:17 UTC-5, garage woodworker wrote:
> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
> really hold up? I have my doubts.

did you complete the baltic birch bookcase?
my son wants a baltic birch album case (3 shelves, 3/4"x96"x14" top and 3/4"x44"x14" sides). i am planning on 16" between vertical pieces.
he plans to store his 5,000 vinyl record albums in this shelving.
he also wants it urethaned including the edging (showing the plies)

hB

"http://www.Towood.com/ Birch Plywood"

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

06/12/2010 5:56 PM

In my mind, use 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood, it's more
stronger .

On Dec 5, 1:32=A0am, garage woodworker <[email protected]> wrote:
> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
> really hold up? I have my doubts.

ME

Martin Eastburn

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

04/12/2010 10:09 PM

Baltic Birch is a hardwood ply from Russia in the first place.
If it is true and only Birch it is tough.

It all depends on what you put on it. I built 40+ book cases for this
house and limited shelf length. Only on one shelf - that of paperbacks
those are longer like you say - It is build out of 3/4" pine and is 46".
It has been loaded with paperbacks and small books for 6 years. Not a
bend. All of the others are 30" or less. We have just about 4000
books so books are our things. Kinda depends on what is put in them!

We use 30" shelves for DVD's and Tapes. More than ample.

Martin


On 12/4/2010 2:45 PM, J. Clarke wrote:
> In article<[email protected]>,
> [email protected] says...
>>
>> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
>> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
>> really hold up? I have my doubts.
>
> Run the sagulator on it<http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm>.
>
> You'll find that the shelves need some reinforcement--if they are
> attached to the back that should do it, if they're removable they need a
> reinforcing strip--you can play with the dimensions in the sagulator.
>
> Note that the sagulator doesn't list birch ply, just fir--use those
> numbers and you'll have good margins.
>
>

FH

Father Haskell

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

05/12/2010 3:08 PM

On Dec 4, 12:32=A0pm, garage woodworker <[email protected]> wrote:
> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
> really hold up? I have my doubts.

Just for theory's sake, I wonder how much stiffening you'd get
from epoxying carbon fiber cloth to the bottoms of the shelves.
I doubt it'd be cheap.

Ll

"Leon"

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

04/12/2010 12:52 PM


"garage woodworker" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
> really hold up? I have my doubts.


It will do fine, in fact 1/2" will do fine if you are using true Baltic
Birch. Like anything else you need to reinforce the bottoms of the shelves
with a front and back ledger strip if they are going to be of any
significant length.

ZY

Zz Yzx

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

04/12/2010 1:38 PM

On Sat, 04 Dec 2010 17:32:17 GMT, garage woodworker <[email protected]>
wrote:

>My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
>ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
>really hold up? I have my doubts.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesArticle.aspx?id=28101
http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm

'k, here's your answer for everything BUT baltic birch plywood.
Sawwwwwwry.

-Zz

DD

"Dr. Deb"

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

04/12/2010 11:50 AM


Yes, if you put a couple of center supports in it.. If you are really
worried about the joinery, you can always extend the top and bottom of the
case and put glue block below the bottom shelf and above the top shelf. As
for the center shelves, just make your normal rabbit.

If it were me, I would opt for the 3/4.

Deb


garage woodworker wrote:

> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
> really hold up? I have my doubts.

LJ

Larry Jaques

in reply to garage woodworker on 04/12/2010 5:32 PM

05/01/2013 5:10 PM

On Sat, 5 Jan 2013 14:35:53 -0800 (PST), [email protected]
wrote:

>On Saturday, 4 December 2010 12:32:17 UTC-5, garage woodworker wrote:
>> My son wants a no-frame bookcase 14" x 39.5" x 52.75" from either 5/8" 11
>> ply Baltic Birch Plywood or 3/4" 13 ply Baltic Birch Plywood. Will 5/8"
>> really hold up? I have my doubts.

I'd go 3/4", for sure. That's 39.5" wide, right? What's being stored
on it? If anything over half a dozen pounds, I'd want some kind of
stiffener on/under the front of the shelving. A piece of aluminum
angle iron or a 1.5" strip of the same ply on the front.

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or

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>did you complete the baltic birch bookcase?
>my son wants a baltic birch album case (3 shelves, 3/4"x96"x14" top and 3/4"x44"x14" sides). i am planning on 16" between vertical pieces.
>he plans to store his 5,000 vinyl record albums in this shelving.
>he also wants it urethaned including the edging (showing the plies)

Should be OK. All the weight will be roughly 8" back from the front,
unsupported edge. 16" width isn't too wide, but it may sag over time
with that much weight. (Suggest 3/4" aluminum strap or angle tacked
onto/under the face of the shelves if they start to sag later.)
Regular books would be harder on the shelving, with weight all the way
out to the front edge.

And go with a waterborne urethane, allowing plenty of time (in a WARM
shop or indoors) to dry and finish hardening before he loads them.

--
Intuition isn't the enemy, but the ally, of reason.
-- John Kord Lagemann


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