| Laminate Shelving |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-308 |
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Q: I want to make some shelves for the laundry room. Any ideas on the materials I should use? A: (from Bruce Johnson, Ask DIY Woodworking expert) Everyone can use extra shelving! Whether it's in the basement, the garage or the closet, it always comes in handy. The problem for many people is selecting the right material. Home-improvement stores stock so many options for shelving that deciding what to use for a particular project can be difficult. So along with the guidelines for laminate shelving offered here, you'll also find some basic information on other shelving choices. Materials: Laminate shelving
Laminate tape
Table saw with fine-toothed, carbide-tipped blade
Vise
Small roller
Scissors
Wood strips (optional)
Wood glue (for use with wood strips) - Solid wood, like the pine 1"x8" shown in figure A, features distinctive growth rings that run all the way through the board and are visible on the cut end.
Due to its higher cost (compared with other shelving materials), solid wood probably isn't the best choice if you're planning to paint your shelves. Since you're paying for the grain, it's a good idea to use solid wood only for shelves that will be finished with stain and placed in a room where looks and quality count. - A second option is plywood (figure B). The end of a plywood board will exhibit several bands of wood; it's created for strength and can actually support more weight than solid wood. (It's also sold in wider widths, like the 4'x8' sheets often used for shelving projects.)
The disadvantage to using plywood is appearance. It's not attractive and usually requires two to three coats of paint to cover its many imperfections. And for that reason, you're generally better off using plywood shelves in a "low-visibility" area like the garage or basement. - You'll also find plywood sheets finished with a thin veneer of oak, mahogany or maple. Like standard plywood, the end of the board will reveal multiple bands of wood, but the surface features an attractive grain pattern. As with solid wood, however, the issue is expense: if you're planning to paint the shelves, you're better off using a more economical material.
- Particleboard, yet another shelving option, has become more appealing in recent years, since it's now manufactured to have a fairly smooth, even surface (free of large chunks). And, like plywood, it's available in large 4'x8' sheets that are ideal for shelving. The drawback here? Particleboard won't have an attractive, finished appearance unless it's painted.
So if you're looking for a low-cost option that doesn't require the hassle of painting, what's the solution? Laminate. - Laminate is actually finished particleboard that boasts a smooth white surface (figure C). It's sold in the shelving section of most home-improvement centers (along with solid wood, plywood, etc.), and it's fairly economical.
If this choice works for you, your first priority will be to cut the material properly. A common problem with cutting laminate is a rough, chipped edge, which is usually caused by a dull saw blade or the use of a saber saw. Using a sharp, carbide-tipped blade (preferably on a table saw) is your best bet for a smooth edge. And the more teeth, the better: the blade used here has 64 teeth, and some fine-toothed blades have as many as 100. Safety note: Always wear safety glasses when working with a table saw or any other power saw. - When you're ready to make your cut, position the board carefully in place on the surface and run it smoothly through the blade (figure D). The result will be a clean, even cut without even the slightest jag along the edge!
- Now all that's left is finishing off the cut edge. When purchasing laminate shelving, look for matching laminate tape in the same section of the home-improvement center. This tape is preglued and easy to apply: Simply place the cut length of laminate in a vise to hold it steady, roll out a length of the tape along the edge of the board and cut off the tape at the ends, leaving just an inch or two extra on each side (figure E).
- After making sure the tape is even along the edges, use an iron heated to the highest setting to activate the glue and bond the tape to the surface (figure F). Although you'll need to hold the tape at certain points as you work, be sure to keep your fingers far from the edges of the iron and use only the tip to press the tape in place.
To avoid scorching the tape, be sure to continuously move the iron back and forth; don't allow it to rest at any one point. Once you've ironed over the entire length of the tape, use a small roller (figure G) to help the softened glue adhere to the surface beneath. - For those who prefer a more finished, custom look, a small strip of wood can be used instead of laminate tape. Simply cut the right length (on a table saw if you have one), then apply a bead of glue along the edge of the laminate board (figure H).
Tip: If your shelves will benefit from having a slightly raised edge or "lip," cut the strip slightly thicker than the wood; for example, a 3/4" piece of laminate could be edged with a 1" strip. - Carefully press the wood strip in place (figure I), making sure the edges are even. Then use a few small pieces of masking tape to hold the strip in place while the glue dries (figure J).
Note: Keep in mind that you can also glue a wood strip directly over the laminate tape if you decide to add this detail after the tape has already been attached.
RESOURCES :
The Complete Manual of Woodworking
Author: Albert Jackson
Publisher: Knopf
ISBN: 0679766111
Building Shelves in a Weekend: 15 Step-By-Step Woodworking Projects
Model: 1558705481
Author: Alan and Gill Bridgewater
(March, 2000)
Popular Woodworking Books
176 Woodworking Projects: A Workbench Treasury
Model: 0806965282
Author: Workbench Magazine
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
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