Acrylic Shelve Help

Aly100 · Post by **Aly100** » Sun Aug 09, 2020 10:28 pm

Hi! I am trying to build some acrylic shelving but I am struggling with the right support. I have three shelves and used 4 chrome clamp brackets for each shelf however the middle of the acrylic is dropping due to insufficient support. Does anyone have any tips on how to support the shelves?? Shelf dimensions are 860x600mm and 5mm thickness.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sun Aug 09, 2020 10:38 pm

More (Different style) brackets or thicker acrylic.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Sun Aug 09, 2020 11:41 pm

you may get away with a central support at the back and a lip or support across the front :dunno:

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:04 am

Sorry big-all, but where will he put the support at the front? (Do bear in mind the picture is on its side and should be turned left 90 degrees) just like............

: shelf.jpg (60.3 KiB) Viewed 5323 times

I think the acrylic is just too thin, it can't even support its own weight.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 12:13 am

a lip or angle added either on top or under neath or attached underneath and as a say 12mm lip upwards as an example

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 6:41 am

It looks to me as though the acrylic may be a bit tight (large) for the opening, the bend doesn't look like a natural sag.

I do think it will need something considerably thicker, or to be stiffened up on the front and back edges to span 860mm without bending.

Is there much heat coming from the light fitting?

Cannyfixit · Post by **Cannyfixit** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 7:23 am

I noted sockets at the top ,what are you planning to use the shelf’s for ?
As said the acrylic is just to thin, even if Batons were used all round it would still sag even before you load the shelves

dewaltdisney · Post by **dewaltdisney** » Mon Aug 10, 2020 7:43 am

You would need 15mm acrylic to act as shelving and at £200+ per sheet, it would probably be too expensive. Would 6mm glass with tinted foil applied work? The glass would be stronger as shelving.

DWD