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WOODWORKING

Chapter 18

SHELVING

Introduction
Incorporating shelves in your cabinet work is important to the overall design and function of your
project. The first thing you must consider is the required strength. That is: How much weight will it need to
carry? There are three factors that play an important role in shelf durability: Type of wood, thickness of
material, and shelf support.

Type of wood:
As we learned in Unit II: Understanding Wood, different types of wood are stronger than others.
Softwoods are typically understood as less durable, while hardwoods are considered stronger. Though this
is not always the case, and some softwoods truly are harder than hardwoods, for the most commonly built
cabinets woods like oak, walnut, and mahogany will provide a more durable shelf.
The problem with wood shelves is their tendency to warp. To avoid this, many choose to use plywood
rather than milled lumber. Plywood gets its strength from being formed with sheets of wood called “plys,”
which are layered in such a way that the grain direction in each ply run perpendicular to the previous layer.
Plywoods, as well, are much stronger than press board or MDF with a greater capacity for holding fastners.
When using plywood, decorative molding should be attached to the front edge to hide the unsightly layers
of ply.

Shelf thickness:
As a standard rule, wood shelves should be ¾” thick, anything smaller than that and you’re asking for
trouble down the road. Thin shelves simply do not hold the weight and bend under the pressure.

Shelf support:
Shelves may either be:
 Fixed Shelves: Shelves are secured in place in such a way that they cannot be removed
 Removable Shelves: Shelves are “loose” and can be removed, but not adjusted.
 Adjustable Shelves: Shelves are “loose” and can be adjusted to different heights
 Sliding/rotating Shelves: Shelves are fixed on a sliding or rotating mechanism and can be pushed
in and out, or rotated.

Fixed shelves:

There are many ways to install fixed shelves. The most popular methods

are by using a:

 Dado joint: Dados are cut into the side panels and the shelf is

inserted.

 Nailer: A nailer is a piece of wood attached to the side and backs of

the cabinet (sometimes called a ledger), which acts as a support to

the shelf. Shelves may be nailed to the nailer or kept free/removable.

Nailer

Unit IV: Cabinet Construction