I’m preparing to build some cabinetry adjacent to the fireplace. My plan is to build a base cabinet and a hanging shelf unit above it. Doing the uppers first so the base isn’t in my way. I have 3/4 birch veneer plywood (fir plys) I’ll be using, and it will have a poplar face frame.
I’m having second thoughts about the span. The space is 50 inches wide. The plan is to dado the back for the shelves and they will have some additional support from the face frame in front. These aren’t intended for books, more like picture frames and decorative items for display, so there won’t be much weight involved.
The shelves that were there before were simply stained pine boards that were ugly and only attached with adjustable brackets on the ends, but I don’t remember them having any visible sag.
What do you think, do I need to add a center support or am I overthinking it?
Replies
A great resource for calculating the sag is the "Sagulator", found at https://woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator/. If you scroll all the way down towards the bottom of the wood types, you'll find fir plywood.
I don't see a problem with what you are doing as long as the face frame is 2" and considering no excess weight.
Is each shelf going to have a 2" face frame in front of it?