Book shelves
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 21
Book shelves
Okay, I just had to have a rant about this.
I spend much of my time here doing DIY. I'm such a regular visitor to Leroy Merlin, that I expect them to phone me if I haven't visited for a while to see if I'm okay!
My current project was going to be a simple one - to put some bookshelves into a 120cm wide alcove.
Now, I'll spare you the search for suitable brackets. L.M. have just introduced a copycat version of Spur shelving, which is almost perfect. Only my alcove is 13cm deep, and 13cm deep shelves are fine for most paperbacks, but the smallest brackets from L.M. (unlike Spur) are 170cm deep. Oh well, I can live with shelves that project a bit beyond the alcove.
But where to get the *** shelves? Chipboard isn't very good, as it tends to bow under the weight of books, but even that is sold in rather large boards in L.M. which would make for a lot of waste. Loads of pre-finished shelves 80 cm, and 90cm wide. Saw some nice decking which had potential, but again, only available in packs of 10. There was a 100cm wide shelf which turned out to be one of those 'floating shelf' jobs, which come with a concealed tube fixing - fine for ornaments, definitely not strong enough for books.
So, tried Ikea in Jerez. Ikea do some short narrow shelves, and some long wide shelves. Does nobody other than me ever need long narrow shelves??!! I thought I'd hit on the answer: buy the long wide ones and saw them in half longitudinally. Only Ikea don't have them in stock!
So it's back to the drawing board. Or B&Q, UK. Wonder if 120cm long shelves would go into hand luggage?
I spend much of my time here doing DIY. I'm such a regular visitor to Leroy Merlin, that I expect them to phone me if I haven't visited for a while to see if I'm okay!
My current project was going to be a simple one - to put some bookshelves into a 120cm wide alcove.
Now, I'll spare you the search for suitable brackets. L.M. have just introduced a copycat version of Spur shelving, which is almost perfect. Only my alcove is 13cm deep, and 13cm deep shelves are fine for most paperbacks, but the smallest brackets from L.M. (unlike Spur) are 170cm deep. Oh well, I can live with shelves that project a bit beyond the alcove.
But where to get the *** shelves? Chipboard isn't very good, as it tends to bow under the weight of books, but even that is sold in rather large boards in L.M. which would make for a lot of waste. Loads of pre-finished shelves 80 cm, and 90cm wide. Saw some nice decking which had potential, but again, only available in packs of 10. There was a 100cm wide shelf which turned out to be one of those 'floating shelf' jobs, which come with a concealed tube fixing - fine for ornaments, definitely not strong enough for books.
So, tried Ikea in Jerez. Ikea do some short narrow shelves, and some long wide shelves. Does nobody other than me ever need long narrow shelves??!! I thought I'd hit on the answer: buy the long wide ones and saw them in half longitudinally. Only Ikea don't have them in stock!
So it's back to the drawing board. Or B&Q, UK. Wonder if 120cm long shelves would go into hand luggage?
#2
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: In the middle of 10million Olive Trees
Posts: 12,053
Re: Book shelves
Okay, I just had to have a rant about this.
I spend much of my time here doing DIY. I'm such a regular visitor to Leroy Merlin, that I expect them to phone me if I haven't visited for a while to see if I'm okay!
My current project was going to be a simple one - to put some bookshelves into a 120cm wide alcove.
Now, I'll spare you the search for suitable brackets. L.M. have just introduced a copycat version of Spur shelving, which is almost perfect. Only my alcove is 13cm deep, and 13cm deep shelves are fine for most paperbacks, but the smallest brackets from L.M. (unlike Spur) are 170cm deep. Oh well, I can live with shelves that project a bit beyond the alcove.
But where to get the *** shelves? Chipboard isn't very good, as it tends to bow under the weight of books, but even that is sold in rather large boards in L.M. which would make for a lot of waste. Loads of pre-finished shelves 80 cm, and 90cm wide. Saw some nice decking which had potential, but again, only available in packs of 10. There was a 100cm wide shelf which turned out to be one of those 'floating shelf' jobs, which come with a concealed tube fixing - fine for ornaments, definitely not strong enough for books.
So, tried Ikea in Jerez. Ikea do some short narrow shelves, and some long wide shelves. Does nobody other than me ever need long narrow shelves??!! I thought I'd hit on the answer: buy the long wide ones and saw them in half longitudinally. Only Ikea don't have them in stock!
So it's back to the drawing board. Or B&Q, UK. Wonder if 120cm long shelves would go into hand luggage?
I spend much of my time here doing DIY. I'm such a regular visitor to Leroy Merlin, that I expect them to phone me if I haven't visited for a while to see if I'm okay!
My current project was going to be a simple one - to put some bookshelves into a 120cm wide alcove.
Now, I'll spare you the search for suitable brackets. L.M. have just introduced a copycat version of Spur shelving, which is almost perfect. Only my alcove is 13cm deep, and 13cm deep shelves are fine for most paperbacks, but the smallest brackets from L.M. (unlike Spur) are 170cm deep. Oh well, I can live with shelves that project a bit beyond the alcove.
But where to get the *** shelves? Chipboard isn't very good, as it tends to bow under the weight of books, but even that is sold in rather large boards in L.M. which would make for a lot of waste. Loads of pre-finished shelves 80 cm, and 90cm wide. Saw some nice decking which had potential, but again, only available in packs of 10. There was a 100cm wide shelf which turned out to be one of those 'floating shelf' jobs, which come with a concealed tube fixing - fine for ornaments, definitely not strong enough for books.
So, tried Ikea in Jerez. Ikea do some short narrow shelves, and some long wide shelves. Does nobody other than me ever need long narrow shelves??!! I thought I'd hit on the answer: buy the long wide ones and saw them in half longitudinally. Only Ikea don't have them in stock!
So it's back to the drawing board. Or B&Q, UK. Wonder if 120cm long shelves would go into hand luggage?
if u buy in UK then try Screwfix they deliver most things to Spain, great service
hth
#3
Re: Book shelves
It is a long time since I have had this problem but like you wanted specificly sized shelving. We used to live in LM too but for the shelving we ended up going to a Brico place and having them made to measure and it was cheaper than any other option. These were not pre cut widths but were cut from a large sheet and then the edges put onto them. Also you could try a local carpenteria as they will normally cut things to the correct size.
Rosemary
Rosemary
#4
Re: Book shelves
Okay, I just had to have a rant about this.
I spend much of my time here doing DIY. I'm such a regular visitor to Leroy Merlin, that I expect them to phone me if I haven't visited for a while to see if I'm okay!
My current project was going to be a simple one - to put some bookshelves into a 120cm wide alcove.
Now, I'll spare you the search for suitable brackets. L.M. have just introduced a copycat version of Spur shelving, which is almost perfect. Only my alcove is 13cm deep, and 13cm deep shelves are fine for most paperbacks, but the smallest brackets from L.M. (unlike Spur) are 170cm deep. Oh well, I can live with shelves that project a bit beyond the alcove.
But where to get the *** shelves? Chipboard isn't very good, as it tends to bow under the weight of books, but even that is sold in rather large boards in L.M. which would make for a lot of waste. Loads of pre-finished shelves 80 cm, and 90cm wide. Saw some nice decking which had potential, but again, only available in packs of 10. There was a 100cm wide shelf which turned out to be one of those 'floating shelf' jobs, which come with a concealed tube fixing - fine for ornaments, definitely not strong enough for books.
So, tried Ikea in Jerez. Ikea do some short narrow shelves, and some long wide shelves. Does nobody other than me ever need long narrow shelves??!! I thought I'd hit on the answer: buy the long wide ones and saw them in half longitudinally. Only Ikea don't have them in stock!
So it's back to the drawing board. Or B&Q, UK. Wonder if 120cm long shelves would go into hand luggage?
I spend much of my time here doing DIY. I'm such a regular visitor to Leroy Merlin, that I expect them to phone me if I haven't visited for a while to see if I'm okay!
My current project was going to be a simple one - to put some bookshelves into a 120cm wide alcove.
Now, I'll spare you the search for suitable brackets. L.M. have just introduced a copycat version of Spur shelving, which is almost perfect. Only my alcove is 13cm deep, and 13cm deep shelves are fine for most paperbacks, but the smallest brackets from L.M. (unlike Spur) are 170cm deep. Oh well, I can live with shelves that project a bit beyond the alcove.
But where to get the *** shelves? Chipboard isn't very good, as it tends to bow under the weight of books, but even that is sold in rather large boards in L.M. which would make for a lot of waste. Loads of pre-finished shelves 80 cm, and 90cm wide. Saw some nice decking which had potential, but again, only available in packs of 10. There was a 100cm wide shelf which turned out to be one of those 'floating shelf' jobs, which come with a concealed tube fixing - fine for ornaments, definitely not strong enough for books.
So, tried Ikea in Jerez. Ikea do some short narrow shelves, and some long wide shelves. Does nobody other than me ever need long narrow shelves??!! I thought I'd hit on the answer: buy the long wide ones and saw them in half longitudinally. Only Ikea don't have them in stock!
So it's back to the drawing board. Or B&Q, UK. Wonder if 120cm long shelves would go into hand luggage?
Obviously it helps if you have a vice or similar to hold the wood, plus saw, etc, but much better than MDF/chipboard which have little strength & sag in the middle in time.
#5
#6
Forum Regular
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 259
Re: Book shelves
Hi
Just save yourself the bother and buy IKEA Billy Bookcases?
Or maybe they wont fit but they come in different sizes.
I love them, I have them at home in England and in my Spanish home and they are not expensive.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/ca...ng_room/11683/
Just save yourself the bother and buy IKEA Billy Bookcases?
Or maybe they wont fit but they come in different sizes.
I love them, I have them at home in England and in my Spanish home and they are not expensive.
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/ca...ng_room/11683/
#7
Account Closed
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 1,176
Re: Book shelves
Choose your wood in Aki and have them cut it to size. A free service they offer.
#8
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 21
Re: Book shelves
Thanks for all your helpful suggestions. Aki? Don't think we have that here (Costa de la Luz).
I have a Kindle, of course, but this doesn't mean I want to throw away all my books. And yes, Billy's are great. They just fit my alcove!
I have a Kindle, of course, but this doesn't mean I want to throw away all my books. And yes, Billy's are great. They just fit my alcove!
#11
Joined: Jun 2011
Location: In the middle of 10million Olive Trees
Posts: 12,053
Re: Book shelves
It is a long time since I have had this problem but like you wanted specificly sized shelving. We used to live in LM too but for the shelving we ended up going to a Brico place and having them made to measure and it was cheaper than any other option. These were not pre cut widths but were cut from a large sheet and then the edges put onto them. Also you could try a local carpenteria as they will normally cut things to the correct size.
Rosemary
Rosemary
we wanted some fitout in the bare wardrobe shells in our house, found a local guy who specialised in armario, he visited, stuff arrived in kit form, his guys installed - an absolutely outstanding job.
small wonder he also does alot of hotel refurbs in the area
and price was very good, I may have made a hash of it, but would have tried but time outweighed cost and the guys even cleaned up after themselves.