Too Short Shelves

I would do as you want to do. Glue is strong.

-- Thor and Odin are the greatest of Gods.

Since it’s for your home, I would do what you’re thinking and rip a thin strip for each side, biscuit, glue and clamp and call it part of the plan.

-- Dale Manning, Carthage, NY

You could put a couple of screws in for good measure and plug them.

-- Do or do not, there is no try

put alot of dowels in the extra part together with glue maybe?

-- -Thomas -

cut the new plywood … a liability for future generations

-- keeping myself entertained

plywood stretcher. That’s the only legal way!

-- Improvise.... Adapt...... Overcome!

rhybeka,

How are you finishing the front edge of your plywood shelves? If you ripped a little of the depth of your shelves, you could make a solid wood edge for the front and each end of the shelves. Miter the corners, glue and clamp. Your shelf will be plenty strong and would look finished on the front edge and ends.

Good luck.

-- John @ http://www.thehuffordfurnituregroup.com

Yep, edge band the three sides, even if you need to redimension one side.

-- Randy-- I may not be good...but I am slow!

Amen to edge banding (half inch on each end) three sides.

Thanks all :) as soon as it warms up a bit I’ll be breaking out the table saw. I need to figure out how to make up a shelf pin jig too – off to search the forums :)

-- aspiring jill of all trades

An easy fix. Rotate your shelves 90° and re-cut to 18-1/2”. The 17-1/2” width now becomes your depth. Add a 2-1/4”x18-1/2” filler piece to bring the depth out to 19-3/4”. You can place the filler strip either at the back or the front. This will be a much stronger shelf.

Three biscuits would be strong and fast.

-- Chris K

Huh thanks Ron! I hadn’t thought of that! The shelves aren’t face framed, just edge banded from the look of it, so adding to the back may be my best option. Got a new to me craftsman table saw from my dad last night I’m itching to get cleaned up!

-- aspiring jill of all trades

Remember; there is always more than one way to skin a cat.