Shelving supports...

[Jake]

I'm planning to put up a 2320 x 275 x 18mm pine shelf for books, and I reckon I can fit a lot of books and papers on this, so the total load will probably be fairly hefty.

The shelf will be in an alcove, exterior wall at one end, chimney breast at other and the back will be up against a supporting wall dividing the property from that next door.

Will it be sufficient to support the shelf at each end on 25 x 25mm battens and 25 x 25mm all along the back edge?

Or is something more substantial in order?

[Tim Watts]

25x12 would be enough for the battens - or the traditional method of a bit of upside down architrave or narrow skirting for a "prettier" finish.

The hard bit is the 2.3m span. I cannot visualise the effect here as the back edge and ends are supported, but I suspect (by insitinct) it will try to twist due to the forward component of the load.

Me? I'd pop 2 supports in at 1/3 and 2/3 - A trick I did was use scroll brackets on top of the shelf (upside down) and machine screws + large washer through the bottom of the shelf with a clearance hole so the washer+bolt head are recessed - then filled the hole.

In my case, these were to create "floating" shelves (no underside support visible) but th scrolls did also happen to mke rather useful bookends.

[jgharston]

Agreed -

- though at 2.3m I'd recommend 1/4, 1/2, 3/4.

JGH

[The Medway Handyman]

Check out The Sagulator

[Jake]

fact that it will be fully supported along the back.

[Weatherlawyer]

18 mm is insubstantial and requires the front batten to be substantial. Put it a couple of inches back from the front to make it look better. Just round the two front corners off if not.

If it starts to sag just put a couple of spreaders in later... But why wait?

Glue and pin. It would also help if the shelf had a slight tip up on the front edge, throwing the weight backwards.