Tambour door question...

[Ken Pywell]

If one were to make a shallow cabinet, 6" or 7" deep and 54-55" wide and incorporate a tambour door, would 1/2" or 3/8" slats be enough to get around the bend at the top and still be rigid enough for a span that wide? I would probably use a 1-1/2" - 2" leader strip. Also, is there a set amount of extra height needed to keep the door from coming all the way over the bend, or is it just a guesstimate? Thanks.
Ken

[Dave Richards]

Your slat width is likely to be fine but it depends upon the radius of the corners of the grooves.

As to your second question, I'n not quite sure what you mean. You need a few extra slats beyond the top of the opening but it depends upon how you make the cabinet. If the tambour is exposed over thet top you need to decide how you want it to look. Does the tambour cover the top completely or not? If it runs up insside the top, will there be a rail across the front to hide the top edge of the tambour?

Typically, in the latter case, the rail is made so that it covers the flexxed portion of the tambour so all the lines between slats are closed up.