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- When it comes to strength, plywood is the winner
- MDF is a softer material than plywood and tends to sag or split under pressure
- That’s why it’s important to reinforce it if you’re going to using it to build shelves or other weight-bearing furniture
Consequently, Is plywood good for bookshelves? Plywood is the industry standard for shelving, so it’s a good choice for bookshelves
Does IKEA use MDF? While it’s true that IKEA makes extensive use of MDF—they are the biggest users of MDF world-wide—this by no means makes them unique among cabinet manufacturers, nearly all of whom use some form of engineered sheet products in the construction of the basic cabinet boxes
Besides How thick should plywood be for shelves? First and foremost, the wood you use for making bookshelves will impact the design as well as the cost of your project 3⁄4-inch plywood is considered the industry standard, thanks to it being strong yet inexpensive—especially when compared with some solid woods
Can you build a bookcase out of MDF?
How thick of plywood should I use for shelving?
In almost all cases, 3⁄4” thick plywood should be used for shelving; thinner material will bend too easily If the plywood is to be stained and varnished, instead of painting it, then it is a good idea to use hardwood plywood
What is the best wood to build a bookcase?
Pine, birch and oak are three common woods used for building homemade bookshelves
- Pine plywood is a lightweight softwood that is inexpensive However, it is prone to knots and splitting
- Birch plywood is a hardwood
- Oak plywood is a heavy hardwood that lends a rustic and sturdy charm
Will plywood shelves sag?
A 30” wide adjustable shelf that is 10” deep, made of any of these three (plywood, poplar, pine) materials, will have an acceptable sag for a load of up to 35# per foot, or about 90# for the entire shelf
What is better for shelves MDF or plywood?
When it comes to strength, plywood is the winner MDF is a softer material than plywood and tends to sag or split under pressure That’s why it’s important to reinforce it if you’re going to using it to build shelves or other weight-bearing furniture
How thick should MDF be for shelves?
Use 18mm MDF as a minimum and support the shelf at no greater than 500mm centres for all but the lightest of loads Or 25mm MDF with supports no greater than 700mm apart
How much weight can 3/4 MDF support?
MDF can hold up to 35 pounds per square foot, so if you are attaching your mdf shelving onto drywall or plasterboard then it’s not advisable to put more than 80lbs on this weak material If you’re screwing into studs in wood walls that will support up to 300lbs!
What are the drawbacks of using MDF?
What are the downsides of MDF?
- Engineered wood is easy to damage One of the main differences between solid and engineered wood is the surface
- MDF is heavier
- MDF is vulnerable to extreme heat Remember that engineered wood is made out of wax and/or resin-like compounds
- MDF can’t support too much weight
What is the best material to use for shelving?
Solid wood also makes an excellent shelf material Maple is easy to stain and can be customized to match your decor Cherry is lightweight yet strong and easy to cut Birch is another solid wood that works well for shelves and shelving units, especially if you want to paint the finished pieces
What is the standard width of a bookshelf?
In all, a standard bookshelf will be on average 31 inches wide with a depth of 12 to 13 inches, and height will depend on how many shelves the bookshelf has
What is a good width for a shelf?
Shelf depth for a general purpose bookshelf is usually 10 to 12 inches Shelf spacing will generally range from 7 to 15 inches with 8 to 12 inches being common for bookshelves
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| Storage Item | Spacing | Depth |
|---|---|---|
| Stereo Equipment | 7″ | 18″ |
| Children’s Books | 8″ | 8″ |
| Small Paperbacks | 8″ | 8″ |
| General Reading | 10″ | 10″ |
How far apart should bookcase shelves be?
A good average spacing for shelves is between 8 and 12 inches If you have oversize books to store, you might prefer to increase the spacing to 15 inches
How deep should a shelf be?
As far as shelf size, a depth of 10 or 12 inches fits most functions without concern of drooping in the middle, while length should be determined based on where you want to install yours If you want a long span but are concerned about weight, install adjacent, identical floating shelves, or opt for bracket supports
How much space should be between a bookcase and a wall?
However, a gap of 7 to 15 inches between shelves is permissible For bookcases, shelves are usually 8 to 12 inches from one another Overall, maintaining a space of 12 inches between shelves is the sweet spot
How long can shelves be without support?
The standards tell us that a wide hardwood shelf that carries a heavy load should be no more than 36-in long
What should be the height between shelves?
The rule of thumb for spacing is 12 inches between each shelf but bump that up to 15 or 18 inches and you enhance that sense of exposure and accessibility
How deep is too deep for a shelf?
Most linen closet shelves shouldn’t be any deeper than 24 to 28 inches Any deeper than this, it becomes difficult for the average person to reach something like a stray washcloth that has tumbled toward the back
What is the difference between a bookshelf and bookcase?
A bookcase is a close-sided unit that literally encases books and is designed to sit on the floor, while a bookshelf does not have encased ends and is usually designed to hang on a wall Bookcases tend to be more traditional than bookshelves and are often installed as permanent recessed fixtures in a home
How wide is a standard bookshelf?
The standard bookshelf dimensions are 9 to 12 inches of spacing between the shelves with 10 to 12 inches in depth The suitable width for a standard bookshelf is 31 to 32 inches; however, you can find bookshelves with a width of between 24 to 48 inches Typical bookshelves are four feet tall
How deep should living room shelves be?
Typically, shelves with a depth of 12 inches and a width of 14 to 16 inches should suffice
How deep should decorative shelves be?
In general, floating shelves should be between five and ten inches deep However, there are much bigger sizes you can try, spanning from 12 inches up to 15 inches deep
