Replies

1. 
   andybuildz | Dec 01, 2003 01:30am | #1

   My guess from your post is that you don't want to spend tons of time and a fortune.

   veneered plywood  with you ironing on front edge is the easiest and looks good to boot.

   Even the box stores sell decent quality oak and birch at a fair price along with the rolls of edging.

   You could fancy it up by using a complimentary edge "molding" rather than the veneer edges.

   Post pictures as you go along and

   BE well

            andy

   My life is my practice!

   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

   
   

   ---

   Edited 11/30/2003 5:32:01 PM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)

1. 
   RonEl | Dec 01, 2003 03:28am | #5

   Thanks for all answers guys.

   You make a good point about 4' wide. What would you say a good width would be for plwood shelves? (3'?) I have a good amount of tools, and the shelves will be painted white to match trim.

1. 
   andybuildz | Dec 01, 2003 03:56am | #6

   3' kinda wastes material...divdide it up so you have little waste.

   Design and concept.......function and form...or do you wanna reverse that? Its yer call brother.

   The basement is a perfect place to learn so worry not...but think hard from the heart..then the head.then the hands

   edit: if youre gonna paint then use birch ply....

   Be well

           andy

   My life is my practice!

   http://CLIFFORDRENOVATIONS.COM

   Edited 11/30/2003 7:57:45 PM ET by Andy Clifford(Andybuildz)

2. 
   VaTom | Dec 01, 2003 01:55am | #2

   roughly 5' high by 4' wide

   Unless you aren't planning on loading them, you really don't want 4' wide shelves, especially plywood.  Regarding the style, that depends on what you want your room to look like.

   PAHS Designer/Builder- Bury it!

3. 
   PhillGiles | Dec 01, 2003 01:58am | #3

   You didn't give much indication as the intended level of finsh. Is this just rough shelves, or will they be "better" ? 4' is a long span, even for 3/4" ply - will it be supported at the back along it's full width (e.g. in a dado, or with support pins), or only at the ends ?

   From what I'm seeing lately, library-quality shelves are made up with G1S veneered ply bonded to both sides of a piece of HD foam with 1-by decorative edging (NB, if the shelf is going in a dado, then leave the back open, if it's going on pins, then edge 4 sides 2 9mm sheets of ply bonded (and it has to be bonded, like with epoxy or water-based contac cement) to a 1" sheet of foam is amazingly rigid. Make that 12mm ply and it'll hold up a truck. The thicker shelves really look nice and you can do all sorts of decorative things to the edging.

   Another path is to build shelves like hollow-core doors (i.e. sheet goods on both sides of a simple lap-jointed frame - same treatment on edges.

   .

   Phill Giles

   The Unionville Woodwright

   Unionville, Ontario

4. 
   NickNukeEm | Dec 01, 2003 02:23am | #4

   You don't give us your experiance level, so I'm gonna assume it's DIY with a minimum of tools available.  Rather than go into detail, I suggest you go to the local hardware/home center store and see if they have a rack of Sunset books (I don't believe HD or Lowes carries these.)  These are basic instruction books for specific projects for DIY'ers.  I think they have one on storage, which would(should?) include a book case.

   I'll echo the previous comments about shelf length, though; a 4 foot plank of plywood (or even pine) weighted down by 50-60 lbs of old college textbooks can turn into a deep smile after a short time.

   Good luck.

   I never met a tool I didn't like!
5. 
   goldhiller | Dec 01, 2003 04:04am | #7

   Here's a few sites you can look thru for ideas and methods.

   http://www.woodcentral.com/shots/shots.shtml

   http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm

   http://www.WoodworkersWorkshop.com/

   On that last link, just click on free plans (not on free plans info) and then perhaps on the "S" index (for shelving) and see if anything there is applicable or helpful.

   Lots to look at.

   Edit: You could try the "B" index for bookcases, too.

   Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.

   
   

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   Edited 11/30/2003 8:52:22 PM ET by GOLDHILLER

1. 
   FastEddie1 | Dec 01, 2003 04:08am | #8

   4 ft is doable if the shelves are suppoprted alonmg the entire back edge.  Also, if you use a piece of solid wood edging for the front, maybe oak or maple depending on the finish, and make the edging 3/4 in thick and 1-1/4 or 1-1/2" high, it will add a lot of strenth to the front of the shelves and hide the plies at the same time.

   Do it right, or do it twice.

1. 
   CloudHidden | Dec 01, 2003 04:48am | #9

   >Also, if you use a piece of solid wood edging for the front

   I second that. Give it a scroll or other neat shape and you can dress up the room with minimal effort.