Having read Wongo's reacent thread on his Tassy Blackwood Buffet, I noted one of his concerns was the Span Length v Bottom Rail Strength.

Quote Originally Posted by Ticky View Post
Hi Wongo,

I have a similar size project to start soon, also blackwood, & I was reading your thread hoping to pick up a few tips.

I have to match the style of some furniture my customer bought off the floor but incorporate a wine rack (as large as possible was the instruction). While this means the unit will have some veneer board in it, top,back,sides,cupboard bottoms & shelves, & will probably reduce the overall weight between the legs, I am still concerned about the bottom front rail. The legs, top rails & bottom rear rail are 90 x 35 & the front rail is 54 x 35.

I recon the rear of the unit will be ok, as the rear will be 18 x Veneer, probably MDF, & with the heavy legs & rails, it will be a bit like a fabricated RSJ (or UIB for you young blokes), but I have already increased the bottom front rail from 40mm to 54mm. As the matching furniture is in a pretty big room, I don't think this will be too noticable, as I have kept the bottom edge at the same level.

I know this all sound pretty beefy, but here comes the problem. I recon a 35 bottle wine rack will weigh about 27 - 30 odd Kg plus the blackwood winerack, about 30 meters of 19 x 19

I have an Idea, but I am not sure if it will work & would like your opinion. this all takes place behind the front rail... What if I got a piece of say 90 x 35 and fixed it on the flat, with glue & screws,but only in the centre. Then driving in wedges on each end, bent that beam so it bowed up in the centre.

Do you feel this would effectivly transfer the weight out to the legs & hold the centre up?

Thanks

Steve


I kinda Hijacked Wongo's thread. Sorry bout that mate.


So, I thought it best, to start a new thread. There has already been some discussion on this problem, & i believe that there has been a lot of good information come out of it. It would appear there are a few really good, tried & tested methods that would work just fine, but my original question to Wongo was, would my proposed method work. Well, I believe it will, & now, I have to find out if I am right or wrong. I can always add a bow string if it doesn't, or & could add some steel... NAH! We're woodies here!


Steve