Hey everyone! I'm in the middle of a project where I'm building a shelf to hold a bulky projector. The shelf will span around 50 inches and be supported by four heavy-duty L brackets anchored into metal studs with toggle bolts. The projector weighs about 40lbs, and I really want to make sure it's secure. I need the shelf to be around 14-15 inches deep, but I can't find solid wood wide enough. A friend suggested using butcher block and trimming it down, but I'm worried about its structural strength since it's made of glued pieces. Will butcher block hold up under that kind of weight? Or should I be looking for solid wood somewhere? Thanks for any help!
1 Answer
Butcher block is actually quite strong! The glue joints should hold up better than the wood itself in many cases. I've built hundreds of them, and they can easily handle heavy loads. Just focus on the brackets and wall attachments for additional support.
That’s reassuring! So you think the individual pieces won't fail under the weight? I'm a bit anxious about the glue holding everything together with the projector mount being supported only by those pieces.