Glass shelves in cabinet

[Dave Malen]

I've designed a cabinet with glass shelves that are approximately 31 by 14 inches. It will be used to display dishes and glasses. Does anybody know how thick this glass should be? I was thinking either 1/4 or 3/8. Also I'm thinking of using standard 1/4 inch pin shelf supports. Are they sufficient or is there a product made especially for glass shelves?

Your help is appreciated,
Dave

[Nissim Avrahami]

Hi Dave

I made this glass cabinet with glass shelves.
It's 39½ x 19½ glass shelves. I used 1/4" thick glass.

As for the shelf pins, I used special ones that have a soft plastic "cup" like and when you put the glass on them, they create a vacuum and hold the glass so it can not move. Sorry, I don't know where to find them in USA....

Of course the shelves are now much more loaded with my wife's "collections" but no problems.

Regards
niki

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb151/matsukawa/Vitrina%20TV/V07.jpg

[Dave Malen]

Nissim,
BTW, nice looking cabinet.
Dave

[Brian Brown]

If you can get a copy of Wood Magazine, Apr 2002 Page 24, there is an article on Buying glass and glass shelving. They give good info on glass edges, and there was an article on load ranges and calculating the weight loading for different thickness of glass, over a specific distance. I searched the article index, but couldn't find it. If you are a subscriber, you might be able to find the issue. I started subscribing in 2002, and the article was published after that. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

[Dave Malen]

Brian,
That's a great tip. - Just what I'm looking for.
Thanks,
Dave

[Dave Malen]

I was able to purchase the wood mag issue on their website.

Thanks again,
Dave

[Gene Michael]

Dave, you might also contact a glass company or two in your area. They shouold be able to tell you load bearing info. Many companies also either carry or can steer you to hardware for glas projects. Good luck with your project!

[Jim Becker]

Dave, thanks for bringing this up...I may do glass shelves in the uppers for our new wet bar in the addition. I'll have to "consult" with you about that in about a month... :D

[Joe Chritz]

How much load? Center loaded or uniform?

This is the only place I go when designing shelves.

http://www.woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator.htm

A 50 pound (uniform) load on your size with .25 glass shows a .10 deflection (.09 would be noticeable) Bump to 5/16 and it is .05, 3/8 is only .03.

Personally with that span I would go with 5/16 at a minimum unless there was some kind of center support available.

Joe

ETA: uniform loading

[Fred Linthicum]

Joe: Thanks for posting the link to the sagulator--I hadn't seen that!

Here is a table of recommended thicknesses from glass fabricators (I own a glass shop). It assumes that the glass is only supported along the two sides.

·Permissible Load (pounds per square foot) for Glass Shelves

The following values apply for annealed glass and are based upon two-side support. The maximum loads shown are calculated less the dead weight of the glass itself. When loaded to the maximum permissible load for long durations (e.g., weeks or months), the probability of breakage is only 3 in 1,000 (0.3%).

Note: Tempered glass is not necessarily recommended for shelves because of the slight possibility of spontaneous breakages from small inclusions or from blows to the edges. If the probability of glass shelf breakage must be kept to the absolute minimum possible, then laminated glass shelves can be considered where either ply alone of the laminate is capable of supporting the design load.

[John Young]

It may be more economical to go with a thinner glass and set it in a wood frame. I like the looks of the wood frame and you can use standard shelf pins.

[Per Swenson]

We use these.

http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/page.aspx?c=2&p=40601&cat=3,43648,43649


http://www.leevalley.com/hardware/graphics/ReturnToSearch.gif (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/Search.aspx?c=2&action=n)
http://www.leevalley.com/images/item/hardware/tablehardware/00u1801s1.jpgPer

[Jim Becker]

Thanks, Per...those look like just the ticket. John Young, I like that idea, too.