The usual Google searches didn't turn up much on this.
Is there a rule of thumb on when to use one vs. the other?
It's specifically for a custom sized version of this:
http://www.staples.com/images/products/catalog/enlarged/430593_01_enl.jpg
There will be around 80 lbs of weight on the bottom piece (UPS
and computers) and maybe 10lbs each on the shelves (printer/scanner),
so I'm thinking only the bottom piece has to be 3/4" plywood and
the rest can be 1/2" to save weight, although the desktop may look
better w/ 3/4" plywood. I did find a reference that each 4'x8'
piece of 3/4" plywood weights 75 lbs (vs. 50 for 1/2") and
this project will require roughly 2.5 sheets, so it'll be a difference
of 75 lbs...
Thanks in advance,
ken
Sun, Dec 12, 2004, 2:45am (EST+5) [email protected]
(Ken=A0Yee) wants to know:
<snip>
http://www.staples.com/images/products/catalog/enlarged/430593_01_enl.jpg
<snip>
I've found 1/2 plywood amazingly strong. I've got some knock-down
bookshelves, with about an 18" span, the work well as chairs. They'll
take around 300 lbs, no prob.
I'd support a piece, so it's as wide as your shelf would be, and put
weights on it, and see how it does. Of course, it may look OK, but
still bow a bit in time. If you're unsure, you can either go to 3/4",
or run a brace or two on the bottom side. You could probably even add
the brace later. Or, you could laminate two pieces of 1/2" - I do that
at times, because that's all I've usually got on hand. One of my kids
gave me a big chunk of that laminated stuff that's about 2" thick. No
prob about that stuff bowing, but it's almighty heavy.
JOAT
We cannot direct the wind, but we can adjust the sails.
- unknown
On Sun, 12 Dec 2004 04:20:02 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>
>"Ken Yee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> although the desktop may look
>> better w/ 3/4" plywood.
>
>Not "may", it will look better. Alternatively, you can put a 3/4" or 1"
>strip of hardwood on the edge to give the illusion of thickness.
>
Also sturdier. I can bend a piece of 1/2", but have trouble with a
3/4 ". Consider "relative" thickness and strength. Although not
exactly linear, you are talking about a 50% increase. I used high
density 3/4" particle board with a good hard surface material
[formica?] applied with contact cement, edged wih solid wood. That
was a long time back, and it's still good.
"Ken Yee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> although the desktop may look
> better w/ 3/4" plywood.
Not "may", it will look better. Alternatively, you can put a 3/4" or 1"
strip of hardwood on the edge to give the illusion of thickness.
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in news:cpgoi32d92
@news1.newsguy.com:
> or do unspeakable but vastly enjoyable things) on it.
And I supposed this is from personal experience? ;-)
Thanks. I think I'll go for 3/4" plywood on the bottom and desk horizontal
pieces and 1/2" plywood everywhere else w/ all the parts hooked together
w/ Kreg screws (except the front two posts which will have through
screws)..
ken
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> I'd think about doubling up on the top, or putting a little bit of
> structure under it.
I'm actually changing the depth of it from the 30" of the original down
to 24" to get it to fit into a particular area, so hopefully using a
3/4" plywood top should be ok. Also shrinking the width to 48" to fit,
so it should just take 5 pieces of 2'x4' plywood...
Still think I'd need to double the top's thickness to 1.5"?
thanks,
ken
p.s., no plans to do unmentionable things on top of it ;-)
"J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> Well, I've got a monitor stand here that's 2 feet wide with a 3/4" top
> and after several years with a 19" monitor sitting on it it's got a
> definite sag.
A 19" monitor is somewhere around 80lbs. I had a 17" one that was
enough of a bear.
Definitely look into an LCD. My 19" is maybe 20 lbs. Gobs easier on my
eyes and one of the best computer purchases I made :-)
ken
"mike hide" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> ply.and some oak and cherry scraps . There are a few pictures on and
> some dimensional info on my web page
> http://members.tripod.com/mikehide2.
Very impressive work! Love the chairs and that large desk w/ the
elevators! And the carving. Wow. :-)
Does using splined wood for plywood edging make a difference in strength
at all? I was planning on using iron-on edge veneering to keep it
simple. How did you get the wood edging to curve around that keyboard
cutout for the desk top?
Interesting way to hook that left shelf up as well.
ken
I've got a 19" CRT monitor: it's 62 lbs.
Eventually, someone WILL sit on your desk. :)
David
Ken Yee wrote:
> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>
>>Well, I've got a monitor stand here that's 2 feet wide with a 3/4" top
>>and after several years with a 19" monitor sitting on it it's got a
>>definite sag.
>
>
> A 19" monitor is somewhere around 80lbs. I had a 17" one that was
> enough of a bear.
>
> Definitely look into an LCD. My 19" is maybe 20 lbs. Gobs easier on my
> eyes and one of the best computer purchases I made :-)
>
> ken
Ken Yee wrote:
> The usual Google searches didn't turn up much on this.
> Is there a rule of thumb on when to use one vs. the other?
>
> It's specifically for a custom sized version of this:
> http://www.staples.com/images/products/catalog/enlarged/430593_01_enl.jpg
>
> There will be around 80 lbs of weight on the bottom piece (UPS
> and computers) and maybe 10lbs each on the shelves (printer/scanner),
> so I'm thinking only the bottom piece has to be 3/4" plywood and
> the rest can be 1/2" to save weight, although the desktop may look
> better w/ 3/4" plywood. I did find a reference that each 4'x8'
> piece of 3/4" plywood weights 75 lbs (vs. 50 for 1/2") and
> this project will require roughly 2.5 sheets, so it'll be a difference
> of 75 lbs...
If you're concerned about the ability of half inch ply to hold 80 pounds of
UPS and computers then think about the ability of the desktop to hold
whoever decides to sit on it. And somebody _will_ decide to sit (or lie,
or do unspeakable but vastly enjoyable things) on it.
> Thanks in advance,
>
> ken
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Ken Yee wrote:
> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in news:cpgoi32d92
> @news1.newsguy.com:
>
>> or do unspeakable but vastly enjoyable things) on it.
>
> And I supposed this is from personal experience? ;-)
>
> Thanks. I think I'll go for 3/4" plywood on the bottom and desk
> horizontal pieces and 1/2" plywood everywhere else w/ all the parts hooked
> together w/ Kreg screws (except the front two posts which will have
> through screws)..
I'd think about doubling up on the top, or putting a little bit of structure
under it.
> ken
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
Ken Yee wrote:
> "J. Clarke" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
>> I'd think about doubling up on the top, or putting a little bit of
>> structure under it.
>
> I'm actually changing the depth of it from the 30" of the original down
> to 24" to get it to fit into a particular area, so hopefully using a
> 3/4" plywood top should be ok. Also shrinking the width to 48" to fit,
> so it should just take 5 pieces of 2'x4' plywood...
>
> Still think I'd need to double the top's thickness to 1.5"?
Well, I've got a monitor stand here that's 2 feet wide with a 3/4" top and
after several years with a 19" monitor sitting on it it's got a definite
sag.
>
> thanks,
>
> ken
>
> p.s., no plans to do unmentionable things on top of it ;-)
--
--John
Reply to jclarke at ae tee tee global dot net
(was jclarke at eye bee em dot net)
"Ken Yee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> "mike hide" <[email protected]> wrote in
> news:[email protected]:
>
> > ply.and some oak and cherry scraps . There are a few pictures on and
> > some dimensional info on my web page
> > http://members.tripod.com/mikehide2.
>
> Very impressive work! Love the chairs and that large desk w/ the
> elevators! And the carving. Wow. :-)
>
> Does using splined wood for plywood edging make a difference in strength
> at all? I was planning on using iron-on edge veneering to keep it
> simple. How did you get the wood edging to curve around that keyboard
> cutout for the desk top?
> Interesting way to hook that left shelf up as well.
>
>
> ken
the splined edging allows you a reasonably strong method of joining two ply
sections . As far as increasing he overall strength it may contribute but I
would not imagine by much .
As far as the edging , I was referred to an article in FWW.by someone on
this group. It is a simple method and consists of a thin section of oak in
this case ironed on to the ply edge which has been previosly liberally
coated with tightbond glue [or similar glue] and let dry . I must admit at
the time I had very little faith in the procedure but apparently it works
very well .....mjh
"Ken Yee" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> The usual Google searches didn't turn up much on this.
> Is there a rule of thumb on when to use one vs. the other?
>
> It's specifically for a custom sized version of this:
> http://www.staples.com/images/products/catalog/enlarged/430593_01_enl.jpg
>
> There will be around 80 lbs of weight on the bottom piece (UPS
> and computers) and maybe 10lbs each on the shelves (printer/scanner),
> so I'm thinking only the bottom piece has to be 3/4" plywood and
> the rest can be 1/2" to save weight, although the desktop may look
> better w/ 3/4" plywood. I did find a reference that each 4'x8'
> piece of 3/4" plywood weights 75 lbs (vs. 50 for 1/2") and
> this project will require roughly 2.5 sheets, so it'll be a difference
> of 75 lbs...
>
> Thanks in advance,
>
> ken
I designed and built one using a sheet and a half of {Lowes} 3/4" oak
ply.and some oak and cherry scraps . There are a few pictures on and some
dimensional info on my web page http://members.tripod.com/mikehide2.
Actually as far as strength goes 1/2" ply is probably fine however the real
consideration is probably deflection, in that case it is not so attractive .
mjh