Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Mar 05, 2004 06:13pm | #1

   Chipper,

   Provided that the glass is evenly supported, the glass panels could each easily support a hundred pounds or more, probably quite a bit more.  It is important that the wood frames stay flat, if they warp, the load on the glass would get concentrated on two opposing corners which would lead to cracking. 

   Of course dropping a hard heavy object on the glass would also cause shattering, even if the panel could support the load if it were carefully placed.

   The ledges only need to be around a half inch wide, yours are much wider than they need to be, but they won't do any harm being that wide. 

   If you wanted to be extra careful, install tempered glass panels which are stronger and if they did break, tempered glass doesn't produce large dangerous shards the way ordinary glass does.

   Glass is easily scratched, try not to slide hard objects like pottery on the shelves or, better yet, apply small soft pads on the bottom of hard objects placed on the glass.

   John W.

1. 
   Michmesquite | Mar 06, 2004 02:48am | #2

   John

   Temperred glass scratches VERY easily. I would recommend annealed glass.__________________________________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   Freedom from mental disturbance is the very most for which one can hope.

    Epicurus (341-270 BCE)

2. 
   RickL | Mar 06, 2004 05:39pm | #3

   Have you tried asking a glass supplier for technical info on shelves and recommended types of glass. I'm sure there is technical data available.

3. 
   jazzdogg | Mar 06, 2004 09:07pm | #4

   Chipper,

   The March, 2004 issue of Wood magazine included a "Smart Builder's Shelving Selector" that included the maximum load, in pounds per square foot, for annealed glass used as shelving supported at each end:

   Thickness     12" Span         24" Span          36" Span

   1/4"                 74 lbs             16 lbs                5 lbs

   3/8"               197 lbs             46 lbs               18 lbs       

   1/2"               345 lbs             81 lbs               33 lbs

   I hope this is the kind of information you were looking for.

   -Jazzdogg-

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.