By the way, used to be that the platforms for waterbeds used hardwood plywood. I had four really 
nice sheets salved from dead waterbeds left at the curb. For two of the sheets, the death had 
involved a leak, so I had to cut off about a foot of de-laminated material at the end, but otherwise 
those sheets made very fine workbench tops, still in use today. I'm not sure if waterbed platforms 
are still made that way, it may be cheaper nowadays to put more particleboard or MDF supports 
underneath and use junky material for the platform. However, beds with drawers underneath may still 
require the support of hardwood plywood.

The beauty of hardwood plywood is that 1/2" is plenty strong, so shelves can have a nice thin 
profile. In lieu of hardwood plywood, for records, use 3/4" standard plywood.

-- Tom Fine

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Fine" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 1:48 PM
Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Record (LP) shelving


> We also should probably mention -- although it should go without saying -- that a floor-to-ceiling 
> shelf full of records may be more than a floor can support.  Tall, heavy shelves are best put on 
> the ground floor, and should be bolted to wall studs so as to avoid a Collyer-style demise.
>
> I also have to agree with Cheryl about width between verticle supports, especially for shellac. 
> The metal shelves will sag under extreme weight in the middle.
>
> In the end, if cost isn't a factor, I'd always recommend hardwood plywood custom-built cube-type 
> units like my brother had made. Those things will outlive all of us. He's moved them twice, the 
> last time at least partially filled, and they have survived all of this unscathed. I am probably 
> going to spring for a custom-made wall-sized assembly along the same lines, so I can once and for 
> all have all my records in one place within easy reach, when I build my retirement house.
>
> My parents sprang for a wall-sized custom shelving system when they moved to the suburbs. In 45 
> years of living there, it never filled up completely, so I would call it well-thought-out. The top 
> shelf (which was accessible only by ladder) was for 7" reel tapes, all the way across the room. 
> The rest of the shelves were for LP records and 10" tape boxes. The shelves were built into the 
> wall, and the wall itself was load-bearing, on top of a brick foundation wall. There was an extra 
> beam and support poles attached under the floor in front of the shelving unit. By the time we 
> cleaned out the house after my mother passed, the shelf was about 90% full. That kind of planning 
> is my goal.
>
> CDs are a whole other topic. More and more, as I rip most of my CDs into a networked storage 
> system, I'm leaning toward library-style metal drawer cabinets. Those things co$$t, but they are a 
> super-efficient way to keept a lot of CDs in a thing that is more high and deep than wide. The 
> drawers allow easy access for those times I'd want to look at a booklet or re-rip to fix a bad 
> digital file.
>
> -- Tom Fine
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Cthurb" <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Sent: Sunday, February 23, 2014 1:22 PM
> Subject: Re: [ARSCLIST] Record (LP) shelving
>
>
>>I have thousands of records and books and many shelves. There are two keys to sturdiness. The 
>>width between supports is best at 24" or less, for stronger ones 30" works, but no more and the 
>>shelf sags no matter what material. The other crucial factor is side support of shelf. Little pegs 
>>etc are simply not strong enough to hold weight. The shelf needs to be solidly attached and I 
>>agree with screws, I like them supported rather than just screwed into ends. Solid boxes work but 
>>there are limits to how high they are stacked and they should be connected.
>>
>> My best shelves are wood that I made 30+ Years ago and they have been moved and reassembled. I 
>> made bolted together upright ladders for both ends and spaced between sections, my longest one is 
>> 8 feet, most are 6ft. 4 ladders are best. These are 6ft tall.  For 78s i also add addition 
>> Masonite record support boards in the middle of sections. I will try to take some pictures and 
>> send them later. You are going to live with these for many years go ahead and invest in solid 
>> sturdy shelves.
>> Cheryl Thurber
>>
>>
>> Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>
>
>