[Red Squirrel]

I want to replicate this shelf in my closet to add more as the closet is used for storage only. I just can't figure out exactly what kind of cut this would be. It is solid enough to not sag with decent weight on it and spans 46 inches, is 11 1/2 " wide and a bit less than an inch thick.

Could it just be some high quality plywood? I would figure it would sag more, same with MDF, and if it was MDF it would not be painted as shiny, I don't think. Now there is support on 3 edges, so maybe that's good enough for plywood to not sag. I don't think they make standard cuts this wide, that would be a seriously big tree. Then again it's not that far off from a 2x10. (except it would be a 1x) So that makes me think it is plywood but wondering if someone could confirm.

 

[Bud Cline]

My guess is it is solid four-quarter. Meaning it was originally rough-milled to one inch thick (four quarters thick) then dressed down slightly during a planing process. It is still available but you probably won't see it at a home center. A real lumber yard could get it for you.

It also could be one inch plywood but it doesn't seem to show a plywood edge unless it may have been capped with a strip of solid. I doubt that's the case since 11-1/2" widths are standard widths in boards.

 

[DannyT]

a lot of the old houses i been in had 1x12 pine for the closet shelves.

 

[WirelessG]

My guess is it is solid four-quarter. Meaning it was originally rough-milled to one inch thick (four quarters thick) then dressed down slightly during a planing process. It is still available but you probably won't see it at a home center. A real lumber yard could get it for you.

It also could be one inch plywood but it doesn't seem to show a plywood edge unless it may have been capped with a strip of solid. I doubt that's the case since 11-1/2" widths are standard widths in boards.

4/4 typically planes out to 3/4. If it's plywood you'll either see a rough, painted edge, or you will see where they nailed on a trim piece to cover up the rough edge. I don't think plywood comes in a that thickness though (1/4, 1/2, 3/4, and 1-1/8 nominal - actual thicknesses are slightly less except for the 1-1/8). You can get a board with the same measured dims from a supply house (probably not from Home Depot though). 11-1/2 isn't really that wide. I don't think the species will matter much either - pine or polar should do. I don't know who your local building supply house would be, but find one and call them and see what they say.

 

[Red Squirrel]

So they do make cuts that are 1x12? Did not figure they could go that wide given the limited size of trees that get that wide before they are cut. I will have to check what home depot has next time I go.

I guess I could always go with like 2 1x6 planks side by side too.

Though if I go with just standard 1 inch plywood is that strong enough for that span, assuming it will carry a load? (possibly computers, batteries, and other heavy enough stuff)

I measured the thickness more precisely, it comes up to exactly 2cm which comes up to 0.78 inches according to Google. My math is rusty on fractions. but 3/4 is 0.75 so it's slightly thicker. There is no trim piece of anything on the edge, but maybe it was just sanded?

 

[DangerMouse]

I'd guess 1X12 pine too, supported on 3 sides?
Plywood would work fine, but I'd groove an oak strip for the edge for added strength.... but that's just me....

DM

 

[user1007]

I am a purist at times when it comes to old houses but at the end of the day this is going to be just a closet shelf. I would cut it out of plywood and trick out the thickness to match with a strip of trim on the front edge as suggested. Prime, paint, done.

 

[Bud Cline]

Though if I go with just standard 1 inch plywood is that strong enough for that span, assuming it will carry a load?

Install a center metal shelf support. The ones used for closets have a loop for supporting a closet pole but you can get the same type of metal support without the loop.:yes:

 

[Millertyme]

home depot around here sells 1x 12 pine boards. Thats what I would go with.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I am a purist at times when it comes to old houses but at the end of the day this is going to be just a closet shelf. I would cut it out of plywood and trick out the thickness to match with a strip of trim on the front edge as suggested. Prime, paint, done.

I'm not too concerned about look, just as long as whatever I use will be strong enough. I think I will do that, I'll use plywood and just add a 2x1 (1x side against the plywood) as extra bracing in the front. I will probably use 1x2 all around for support too, should be strong enough right? I'm not putting 100's of lbs on a single shelf or anything, maybe 70 at the very worse case scenario.

 

[Red Squirrel]

home depot around here sells 1x 12 pine boards. Thats what I would go with.

I'll double check for that, maybe I just missed it, never actually looked for them when I went for wood for another project. I know the 1x6 are usually very curved so not sure how these would be.

 

[WirelessG]

You might even want to put a 1x lengthwise down the middle. Make the shelf and mount it before you paint it. Load it up and see what you thing. If it's too flimsy and second 1x. If not, your ready for paint.

BTW - as far as the width goes, you won't find a 1x20 at Home Depot, but if you go to a saw mill, you can find lumber wider than that. They are called slabs and they can be 4' wide or so. Some make solid table tops out of them. The width that is available depends on the species of the tree, the supplier that is selling it, and the market conditions.

 

[bubbler]

I see 1x12 at Home Depot all the time...

 

[Red Squirrel]

I saw some at home depot and I will go with that. I tend to underestimate the strength of wood, I think I'll be fine especially if I add a 1x2 at the edge. I was handling one just to check it out, and it looks like these are much higher quality then the 1x6's which tend to be bowed and twisted. So I will probably get a few. I'm almost tempted to also build some shelves for the basement too. I bought some 2x6 with intention of building a ladder but then I realized my ladder would end up being WAY too heavy so I think I will use those as the shelf framing. A little overkill mind you.

 

[Leah Frances]

Squirrel - you really should look up your local lumber yard. You will find the coolest stuff! I bought some crazy big slabs of poplar for making molding. I ripped them down from up to 16 inch widths.

I had to buy short lengths because at 2 inches thick the 10 foot lengths were too heavy for me to move them about easily by myself. :laughing:

Plus, not that you would care for a closet shelf, but sometimes they get really cool and different stuff.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Squirrel - you really should look up your local lumber yard. You will find the coolest stuff! I bought some crazy big slabs of poplar for making molding. I ripped them down from up to 16 inch widths.

I had to buy short lengths because at 2 inches thick the 10 foot lengths were too heavy for me to move them about easily by myself. :laughing:

Plus, not that you would care for a closet shelf, but sometimes they get really cool and different stuff.

We used to have lumber yards here but all the mills shut down. We have Home Depot, Rona, Home Hardware, so basically big box stores and that's it. Home depot is the only one where you can physically see the lumber before you buy, the others you order at the cash and they pick/load for you.

 

[Leah Frances]

We used to have lumber yards here but all the mills shut down. We have Home Depot, Rona, Home Hardware, so basically big box stores and that's it. Home depot is the only one where you can physically see the lumber before you buy, the others you order at the cash and they pick/load for you.

Here's one of the pleasures of being a girl :whistling2:. I get lots of help at the lumber yard :blush:. I am all in favor of sexism when it's in my favor. :innocent:

Too bad you don't have one locally. We used to have several in our small town because of the building boom; most have closed, but we still have a good one just five minutes down the road.