Hi,
I’m planning to build a set of bookshelves and I’d like some suggestions on how to attach the internal shelves. The sides will be open: a post on each corner and 2 or 3 thin stiles between them. I could make the stiles thick enough to help support the shelves, but I need a clean way to attach the end of the shelf to the stile and/or the post so they’re adjustable.
I expect the shelves will be between 32 and 36″ wide. The whole thing will be cherry or oak. So I’m leery of the brass pin approach. Are these pins strong enough to support a 12″x36″x 5/8″ oak slab with 30 pounds of books? Maybe I need titanium pins <smile>?
TIA,
Mike
Replies
The pins aren't the weak point. 30 pounds on 4 pins is 7.5 pounds per pin, nowhere near the shear strength of brass. The edges of the holes are more likely to fail. I don't think that will be a problem either, in cherry or oak, but if you think it might be, I've seen brass liners in a couple of catalogs. You drill the holes oversize, put these liners in, and the holes in the liners are 5mm or 1/4", whichever you prefer.
Mike,
There are some ratios that you may want to look at for guidance relative to your dimensions and wood selection. I wish I could give you a web page for the info...I usually grab a book from the library. What I do remember is that all shelving is rated at 60 lbs per running foot. So, for instance, you can run 1" oak up to 3' with 60 lbs per foot with out bending....that is from memory, not to be trusted.
Those are deep shelves, I would put pins on the stiles also...but that is just me.
The "Sagulator" is at this link:
http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Thank you all for your prompt and useful responses. I found the pins and their sleeves at Rockler, and according to the Sagulator, I'm well within mission parameters (pun intended).
Cheers.
-Mike
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