Replies

1. 
   pzgren | Feb 07, 2006 10:15pm | #1

   Here's something that might work for you:

   One of my bookcases is an adjustable-shelf German-made one in pine, with shelves that measure 60" long X 12" wide X 2" thick (all measurements approximate). The shelves themselves are laminations of 60 X 2 X 2 strips of pine (again all measurements approximate). There has been a complete set of Encyclopedia Britannicas with 20 years worth of yearbooks on two of the shelves for over 3 years, with zero sag.

   So, if you can use 1 1/2 " or 2" thicknesses for the shelves, laminating them might solve your problem.

   Good luck!

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   Edited 2/7/2006 2:15 pm ET by pzgren

   
   

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   Edited 2/7/2006 2:17 pm ET by pzgren

2. 
   user-110844 | Feb 16, 2006 11:09pm | #2

   torsion box approach seems to be highly time intensive.  solid maple shelf of suitable thickness would be my choice.  however, 1.75 x 12 x 54 maple is going to weigh a considerable amount so ease of adjustability becomes a factor if shelf weighs 20+ pounds.   even a 1 3/8 thickness will be considerably sag resistant (and i would expect center support is overkill) with a lot less weight then 1 3/4.  Although the rough lumber cost might be $40-50, processing time should be far less than that spent fiddling with the torsion box and all the other engineering projects proposed.  And client will be getting what it sounds they want.

   having seen pc/mdf shelves overburdened with heavy tomes somehow managing not to collapse (although they did sag noticeably), the solid wood of substantial thickness approach is the most straightforward, most time efficient, and likely most successful strategy .  good luck!

   DKA