Thread: Microwave stand

Going back to my days as a facilities manager I can give you one very important tip.

Look on the side, to the side of the controls. There is an vent grill with a fan behind it.

If the airflow through this is constrained in any way, the microwave will overheat very quickly and the thermal cut-out will operate.

It took us weeks to work out what was wrong (and stop changing microwaves!)

Thank you for your advice - despite the fact that there is no hole in the image, I had considered that and intend to either make the whole top shelf shorter, or cut a hole (with guards to stop stuff falling int) into it to allow for the vent in the microwave

From my personal perspective I would use chipboard/melamine and I think the 19mm size. I would look at making a grove and placing the shelf into this grove with screws counter sank. The backing might be ok for a little thiner size.

If you are going to paint this then you will need to seal the exposed edges with non shrink filler/putty. Sorry not sure which type would be best. Or could add a timber strip to the edge.

Melamine coated particle board will be fine for this; it's what modern kitchens are made of. The only snag will be the weight of the mocrowave and the width of the shelf it sits on. If you are going for greater than 600mm wide shelving I would suggest adding a brace to the front of the shelf.

I'm dubious about using screws to hold it together though; when I've made kitchen cabinets I always biscuit or dowel them together with the shelves and rear panel "trapped" in the carcase. Professional European kitchen manufacturers (like Schrieber) supply their carcases ready made, not a screw to be seen. Cheaper Australian flatpack stuff uses screws but these are a very deep thread, quite long and accurately pre-drilled.

Another alternative is to use knock-down fittings but again these have to be accurately positioned, you will spend the best part of a day just making the jigs for this!

Thanks guys. I am only looking at 600 wide, so i should be fine, but if i have any scrap i'll add some reinforcing.

In regards to joining them , i'll have a look at the knock down fittings or the heavy thread screws.

BTW, I have updated the design. Please see attached for a better view in this order:
2nd shelf (the one above the microwave), on the bench, front, side.

I intend to put a tanbour door in at the bottom, but could not be bothered doing it in sketchup again.

I will also prolly add a thin MDF backing , held in by grooves routed into the wood, or nailed on the back

I agree, needs backing to prevent it from racking.