How long a shelf can be without it flexing....

[RoflGecko]

Im just trying to get an idea as to how big each shelf can be without it starting to bend/flex.
Im thinking about using 5/8 or 3/4 inch melamine, and was just wondering how many inches across I could go, so that the tubs are still able to slide out without difficulty....

 

[Dog Shrink]

Prob. about 4 feet.

 

[RoflGecko]

Thanks...
Anyone else got any input? it's much appreciated...

 

[Dog Shrink]

what??? My imput isn't good enough I may be an animal behavior specialist but I've also done construction in my lifetime you never really want to put a straight board more than 4 feet without some sort of cross support esp. if you need it to stay straight and true and bear weight.

From a melamine shelf manufacturer's site "When should I use a center shelf support?
A Center Shelf Support to provide support for melamine shelving is recommended every 36” to 48” in width". http://www.vanguard-plastics.com/shelf/faq.html

 

[RoflGecko]

haha, sorry, hope you didnt take that the wrong way
You can never get too much info, ya know?
Thanks for the link + help

 

[Dog Shrink]

Yeah I can understand that in certain situations BUT when you have ONE person with the RIGHT info the others become useless and just confuse ya hence the link and info.

and no I didn't take that the wrong way... just bustin your chops

 

[RoflGecko]

fair enough, but it's hard to tell how much expertise you have just by seeing your first post that just said "about 4ft.". Hence why I figured Id try to get other people opinions.

Thanks again.

 

[Northstar Herp]

I am a professional finish carpenter, and would never go more then 36-42" with melamine. It may take it several years, but it will sag. Remember, it's not like a piece of wood that has a grain orientation from years of growing that way. It's essentially wood chips and glue...

What I would do is this-

For adult sized racks, go four to six tubs wide, and put a support in the middle. For hatchling racks, of course, you could put more tubs in each "bay", but I hiope you get the idea.

That's assuming you're gonna use the 3/4" stuff. Also, if you could put a back on the rack, and attach the back to the back side of each shelf, that will help guard against both shelf sagging and the rack going out of square and getting wobbly.

 

[RoflGecko]

Thanks! I'll keep that in mind!

 

[roger]

Im just trying to get an idea as to how big each shelf can be without it starting to bend/flex.
Im thinking about using 5/8 or 3/4 inch melamine, and was just wondering how many inches across I could go, so that the tubs are still able to slide out without difficulty....

this is my rack.its 6' wide X 6 ' high.i use the 2221 rubbermaid tubs. 5/8 melamine.i built it in 2 pcs and put it together.

 

[Northstar Herp]

Nice rack, Roger. Good design all the way around.

 

[RAlbrecht]

Roger, that thing is pretty impressive. I'm trying to decide what to do about my next rack so that I can get some uniformity going on. Any idea generally how much that set you back?

 

[roger]

Roger, that thing is pretty impressive. I'm trying to decide what to do about my next rack so that I can get some uniformity going on. Any idea generally how much that set you back?

Total cost of 3/4 melamine,42 feet X 4" wide heat tape, tubs and a herpstat cost $1000.Its areal solid unit.the heat tape is in a 1/8 " groove so the tub never touches the tape