Replies

1. 
   MikeHennessy | Apr 16, 2009 08:06pm | #1

   Me, I'd ask the glass shop. Using tempered, you should be able to do that without any ply at all, but the glass guys will know for sure and will help spec thickness as well.

   Mike Hennessy
   Pittsburgh, PA

1. 
   FR | Apr 16, 2009 08:23pm | #2

   Mike,

   For looks purposes, these shelves have to appear from the front to be wood.  We only want the glass to pass the light.  Otherwise, we want them to look like wood shelves.     

   FR

1. 
   saschafer | Apr 16, 2009 09:50pm | #4

   I think the strongest construction in that case would be a solid glass shelf that's a couple of inches shallower than the front-to-back depth of the case, coupled with a wood strip at the front. You could set the front edge of the glass into a rabbet in the wood strip, or something similar.

   The reason that I say this is that any design where the glass occupies less than the full side-to-side width of the case has a built-in "hinge" at the glass/wood transition, which is inevitably going to be the weakest link.

   -Steve

    

2. 
   MikeHennessy | Apr 17, 2009 02:07pm | #6

   "For looks purposes, these shelves have to appear from the front to be wood. "

   Yeah, I got that. My point, albeit poorly expressed, was that the glass should be strong enough to support itself without any help from the wood -- so the wood can be as thick, or thin, as you wish.

   I still think a chat with the glass shop will be helpful.

   Mike HennessyPittsburgh, PA

1. 
   FR | Apr 17, 2009 04:33pm | #7

   Thanks Mike.   I'll explain to the glass guy what I'd like to do and see if they have any concerns.   I agree the glass should probably be able to stand on its own - especially if I add a mid-support bracket onto the back of the cabinet- with a wood strip along the front.

   FR

2. 
   integrity_woodworks | Apr 16, 2009 09:26pm | #3

   FR,    I would likely route out the center leaving a couple of inches of bearing at each end/then route a rabbit to receive the glass. great idea you have there. I did something like that for a back bar in a restaurant I did, the shelves where 12" deep by 48"long and the glass was 8"by 42".they have had no problems in 12 years and they are loaded with liquor bottles.

   Dan

3. 
   oldusty | Apr 17, 2009 06:19am | #5

     You can do it with wood frames that the glass sets down into , a 2" frame will work so if you cut out the plywood the same idea would work fine .
      

     For me cutting the plywood out for the glass then edge banding the face and possibly the cutout around the glass , is more work for a lesser look .   

     You can use glass of the proper thickness but the wood frame will eliminate or largely reduce any deflection more so on longish spans .

       regards            dusty