Shelf supports 133shelf- supporting clips. The flush- finishing type is
more professional- looking – especially when used
with hardwood.
An online search for these so- called Tonk strips at
http://www.ironmongerydirect.com revealed that these tradi-
tional items of ironmongery are still available in both
types and are described as Tonk Flat Bookcase Strip
in lengths of 1829 × 19mm and Tonk Raised Bookcase
Strip in lengths of 1829 × 24mm. They are available in
a variety of finishes, namely zinc- plated, brown, electro
brass, satin- nickel plated, polished solid brass and pol-
ished chrome (on brass). Note that the last two types
are not available in the Raised Strip range. Four clips
are required per shelf – and a specially- designed router
cutter is available for forming the stepped, vertical
grooves in the cheeks.Indented and mid- area bearings
Figure 7.2(e): The third traditional form of support –
used predominantly for storage shelves of short or
long lengths – is right- angled brackets. Although
these can be made of wood, they need a diagonal
brace and – unless the brace is ornate – they tend
to look bulky and ugly. Also, making small, wooden
brackets is tedious and time- consuming. Therefore
the cantilever- type metal brackets – especially the
so- called London- pattern type, illustrated below – are
quite commonly used. They can be screwed directly
onto the wall, via their three fixing holes (two at the
top, one at the bottom), but it is more practical for
them to be fixed onto pre- positioned, plugged- and-
screwed vertical wooden cleats. The cleats, usually
made from ex 50 × 25mm softwood, should be neatly
chamfered on the two face- side edges and bottom
edge.Another type of bearing, illustrated above at (c)
and (d), for simply- supported shelves is available
in the form of vertical metal- strips that are pierced
with closely- spaced, small slots. The slots support
small, flat- lying metal lugs (referred to as clips) that
act as interchangeable bracket- bearers, giving infi-
nitely variable shelf- spacing options. The vertical
strips – two normally required at each end of the
shelves – are either of a shallow, inverted u- shaped
surface- fixing type, or are comprised of flat strips
of metal that require housing into double- grooved,
vertical channels to bring them flush with the surface
of the bookcase cheeks. Note that the stepped inner
groove accommodates the bracket- ends of the
Figure 7.2 (b) Part of a simply supported shelf shown
in a raised position to allow a view of the 45° splay-
chamfered bearer fixed to the wall; two alternative end-
shapes to edge- chamfered bearers are shown alongside.
Figure 7.2 (c) Part isometric- view of a Tonk Flat Bookcase
Strip and (d) a part view of a Tonk Raised Bookcase Strip;
the clips shown are a heavy- duty type.
(c) (d)Figure 7.2 (e) London pattern, pressed- steel bracket fixed
to vertical wooden cleat.