Replies

1. 
   Steinmetz | Mar 06, 2006 08:12am | #1

   Barrister, Whatever design you decide on, use plywood or built up plies of solid wood . Without the alternating grains of plywood, solid wood will split and separate under load and inherent weakness of the grain structure.

   I recently used plywood to make brackets which had been used as drawer sides on fine furniture.
   Two of the brackets split in half after the shelf was loaded.

   Turns out, the ply grains were all in the same direction.

   The reason they(Ethan Allan) chose that type of ply, was the horizontaly oriented built plies up were fine as drawer sides AND,
   their upper rails were rounded over which disguised the look of ply.

   Steinmetz.

2. 
   notDusty | Mar 08, 2006 06:18pm | #2

   Barrister ,

                      There is no hard rule on bracket dimensions that I know of so it is really up to your eye and the design of the piece . If the shelf is 15" deep then the brackets would lend more support if they were close to the depth of the shelf . Sometimes you may not have room to make them equal width and length .

                Another suggestion would be to run back rails behind the pockets and screw through them to fasten the piece to the wall . The brackets would then be simply for looks .

                     good  luck                  dusty

3. 
   citrouille | Mar 10, 2006 04:12am | #3

   You could consider a french cleat and forget about the brackets.

   C.

4. 
   Barrister | Mar 17, 2006 12:49am | #4

   Thank you all for your imput.  I will make the brackets out of plywood and they will be almost as deep as the shelf.   Thanks again

   Jack

1. 
   Steinmetz | Mar 19, 2006 12:01am | #5

   Barr,when detailing your plywood brackets,don't create a sharp deliniation at the inside corners. Always 'radious' the inside corners as that adds additional strengthThe same reasoning apply's to metal
   Look at any router bit's shaft
   If the transition from shaft to cutter was at a sharp juncture, that bit would develope a tiny crack and eventually fly apart and bury itself
   god know's where. Steinmetz.

   Edited 3/21/2006 6:06 pm ET by Steinmetz

1. 
   Barrister | Mar 22, 2006 12:35am | #6

   I am radiusing (spelling?) the inside corner as well as both ends.  Hopefully it willlook as nice as I think it will.  But the mind always sees things perfect.  Its the hands that aren't.

   Thanks for the advice

   Jack