My house has a "nook" that is 28" deep and 62" wide. I want to build
in a shelf to hold a TV and a couple of computers (a desk will fit
below). The shelf will be painted. To keep things simple, I will
probably cover the front with plastic T-molding.
1) Should the top surface of the shelf be of some material like
hardboard, or is sanded plywood good enough?
2) How thick do I need to make it so it doesn't ever sag? It will be
supported on three sides. I'm thinking of laminating 3/4" plywood +
1/2" plywood + 1/4" hardboard. Could I get by without the 1/2"
plywood? Would particle board be OK instead of plywood?
3) What's best way to laminate such large sheets? Is regular yellow
wood glue the best way to go, or should I use some other adhesive?
How about clamping? I was thinking of laying the stack on the garage
floor and setting weights on top of it (e.g. ice chests and buckets
filled with water).
Thanks for any tips!
Shooter Dude wrote:
>
> My house has a "nook" that is 28" deep and 62" wide. I want to build
> in a shelf to hold a TV and a couple of computers (a desk will fit
> below). The shelf will be painted. To keep things simple, I will
> probably cover the front with plastic T-molding.
>
> 1) Should the top surface of the shelf be of some material like
> hardboard, or is sanded plywood good enough?
>
> 2) How thick do I need to make it so it doesn't ever sag? It will be
> supported on three sides. I'm thinking of laminating 3/4" plywood +
> 1/2" plywood + 1/4" hardboard. Could I get by without the 1/2"
> plywood? Would particle board be OK instead of plywood?
>
> 3) What's best way to laminate such large sheets? Is regular yellow
> wood glue the best way to go, or should I use some other adhesive?
> How about clamping? I was thinking of laying the stack on the garage
> floor and setting weights on top of it (e.g. ice chests and buckets
> filled with water).
>
> Thanks for any tips!
T-box. Skin with Formica.
"Shooter Dude" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My house has a "nook" that is 28" deep and 62" wide. I want to build
> in a shelf to hold a TV and a couple of computers (a desk will fit
> below). The shelf will be painted. To keep things simple, I will
> probably cover the front with plastic T-molding.
>
> 1) Should the top surface of the shelf be of some material like
> hardboard, or is sanded plywood good enough?
>
> 2) How thick do I need to make it so it doesn't ever sag? It will be
> supported on three sides. I'm thinking of laminating 3/4" plywood +
> 1/2" plywood + 1/4" hardboard. Could I get by without the 1/2"
> plywood? Would particle board be OK instead of plywood?
>
> 3) What's best way to laminate such large sheets? Is regular yellow
> wood glue the best way to go, or should I use some other adhesive?
> How about clamping? I was thinking of laying the stack on the garage
> floor and setting weights on top of it (e.g. ice chests and buckets
> filled with water).
>
> Thanks for any tips!
If you are dan wheeler you can find part of the response in my answer to
your previous post.
1) plywood is fine. You could use hardboard too. It depends how you want it
to look. You could laminate it if you want.
2) The ability to resist bending/sagging for a beam is directly proportional
to the depth cubed. You make it twice as thick and it is 8 times better at
resisting bending. (within limits of the material and ignoring the effect of
the weight of the beam itself) So focus on making it thick. The inside of it
can be almost hollow. Use some 3/8" ply on top and bottom with 1x2 or 1x3
stringers in between and it will be many many times stiffer than a sheet (or
even two) of 3/4" ply.
3) Get a very flat spot as big as the shelf. Put the top sheet on the
ground. Glue the stringers on. Glue the bottom on. Put something to protect
the bottom sheet (maybe another sheet of plywood to spread the load. Put
heavy things on top of it.
"Shooter Dude" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> My house has a "nook" that is 28" deep and 62" wide. I want to build
> in a shelf to hold a TV and a couple of computers (a desk will fit
> below). The shelf will be painted. To keep things simple, I will
> probably cover the front with plastic T-molding.
>
> 1) Should the top surface of the shelf be of some material like
> hardboard, or is sanded plywood good enough?
>
> 2) How thick do I need to make it so it doesn't ever sag? It will be
> supported on three sides. I'm thinking of laminating 3/4" plywood +
> 1/2" plywood + 1/4" hardboard. Could I get by without the 1/2"
> plywood? Would particle board be OK instead of plywood?
>
> 3) What's best way to laminate such large sheets? Is regular yellow
> wood glue the best way to go, or should I use some other adhesive?
> How about clamping? I was thinking of laying the stack on the garage
> floor and setting weights on top of it (e.g. ice chests and buckets
> filled with water).
>
> Thanks for any tips!
Plywood will be fine.
How about using a lip on the front, say 2 1/2 tall, then another directly
under the shelf laminated to the front lip.
--
Jim in NC