re: TIPS: building a shelf

The biggest potential problem with shelves (besides them falling over on you) is sagging. No matter how well secured or supported shelves are on the ends, a shelf that is too thin and/or not strong enough for it’s intended use will sag and look terrible. Sagging can also be caused by a too wide shelf that is inadequately supported. Book shelves are perhaps the most demanding when it comes to strength and I think that many underestimate the tremendous weight of books or magazines and the stress they put on shelves and I think this also holds true, though to a lesser extent for dinnerware storage for our fine chinaware which can also be pretty heavy. So if you are building a bookshelf or china cupboard it is better to error on the safe side with thicker stronger stock than needed than too thin. Ianwater’s shelves are an excellent example of proper thickness and widths for books.