I’m planning to build some built in shelves, and I’m thinking of using veneered particleboard. My plan is to put a face frame of 1.5 X .75 maple on the carcass and the shelves. The maximum span of the shelves is 30″, so I’m not worried about sagging shelves.
In the past I’ve always used plywood, but the scale of this project is making the cost rather high – hoping to lower the price by using particleboard.
Anyone have opinion and advise about using particleboard?
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There's nothing wrong with using particle board, but if you're going to put anything heavy on those shelves, forget it. A thirty inch particle board shelf will probably sag a little from its own weight. You might consider springing for ply for the shelf blanks, at least. I don't see any point in going to all that trouble of custom building shelving units that are as bad as cheap store-bought.
What will go on the shelves? The 1.5" wide piece on the front edge will certainly help prevent sag and - depending on the expected shelf loading - I would either run another piece on the back edge, or add some kind of support along the back.
IME, the additional work required to prevent sag in particle board shelves is usually more than whatever I "save" by buying it in the first place. - lol
In my dealers, the cost saving offered by MDF core isn't big. The real cost of good hardwood sheet goods is the veneer itself. Depending on species, you might save $5 per sheet on a 3/4" A1 sheet which costs $100. That's not enough to make me deal with MDF's sagging.
If you make a face frame with the 1 1/2" fascia across each shelf and fasten a back to the cabinet and the back edge of the shelves you can do what you want .So if fixed shelves are o.k. it will help .
good luck dusty
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