Replies

1. 
   Dreamcatcher | Jul 14, 2009 04:31pm | #1

   I have never built a bookcase door but I think your first step is to weigh the books that are intended to go into the case. Doesn't make sense buying the parts you need based on a guess.

   Second I wouldn't recommend a low tolerance hinge for such high weight; it seems that would just make it more difficult.

   If the floor is out, then my thought would be to suspend the case from a HD steel track like those used for sliding barn doors. Probably use something like a piano hinge for strength over the length and some decent quality poly casters for when it is in contact with the floor.
   It may be necessary to do some reframing...the standard stud framing for a bi-fold closet door is usually pretty weak.

   good luck and please keep us informed of whatever path you take (post pictures too!)

   DC

2. 
   Gary_Katz | Jul 14, 2009 04:59pm | #2

   I've never seen a bi-fold bookcase door. The weight would be a real problem, especially if the floor isn't level and perfectly square to the hinge jamb. I know you can get wheels that are spring-loaded, which would take up some of the 'slack' but.... I've always hung them on pivot hinges, without wheels.
   Gary
   http://www.garymkatz.com/TrimTechniques/hidden_pivot_bookcase_install.htm

3. 
   Snort | Jul 15, 2009 02:12am | #3

   Never seen that either, but did hang some heavy bifolds on Johnson Harware. Part pocket door, part bifold hardware kit. The slabs hung from an inverted u-shaped track. Pain to install, but worked very smoothly. Too light for your application.

   Anyway, maybe with the Rixon hinge Gary used, and the heavy heavy duty Johnson I beam pocket door track and hanger on the leading edge, and four or five (or six or eight)ballbearing hinges... and throw in that springloaded wheel, you might be folding.

   Or, Hafaell probably makes a kit <G>

   http://www.tvwsolar.com

   We'll have a kid

   Or maybe we'll rent one

   He's got to be straight

   We don't want a bent one

   He'll drink his baby brew

   From a big brass cup

   Someday he may be president

   If things loosen up

4. 
   Piffin | Jul 15, 2009 01:23pm | #4

   "Any warnings, thoughts, recommendations for parts suppliers? "

   Get a ten K deposit on the job

    

    

   Welcome to the
   Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
    where ...
   Excellence is its own reward!

5. 
   AitchKay | Jul 15, 2009 05:54pm | #5

   Re: weight of books --

   30 years ago I came across the rule-of-thumb, "30 inches, 30 pounds," as the average weight, and the span limit for 1x stock. I tested it out by hopping on the scales with 30 inches of books in my arms, and the ROT held up.

   Of course, some books are larger than others -- I installed a 2-foot-long shelf to accommodate a row of cookbooks the size of Larrouse Gastronomique and found that 3/4” hardwood ply sagged too much, and soon had to be replaced.

   But those cookbooks were twice as tall as regular books, so you can still use that ROT by figuring from the space that average books take up:

   99% of standard trade books are less than 11" tall, so you’ll have 6 or 7 shelves-worth
   of books in 6’- 8” of height.

   2 x 30” x 7 = 420# of books in 5’. I’d engineer for 500#.

   AitchKay

1. 
   fingersandtoes | Jul 15, 2009 06:41pm | #6

   The campus library at Carleton University in Ottawa ended up being capped at 5 stories rather than the 8 it was originally designed to be when the engineers realized during construction that they had underestimated the live load of books.

   Luckily in the long run it didn't matter because now we have the Internet and can read Twitters and Blogs rather than that troublesome book-learning stuff. Silly Tolstoy.