Design advice
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I need design/advice/ideas on a display counter. It will display candy and chocolate bars. There are 3 shelves maybe 4. The shelves are plexiglass. What is the best way to hold up the plexiglass? The client wants it open with no supports in the center.
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That's going to be a challenge without any center supports. How about making Plexiglas boxes that are open on the bottom. This would give the effect of the shelves being much thicker than the Plexiglass itself. Maybe you could get by with a rib down the length of the center, too?
If the shelves are going to be covered in merchandise, whatever you do to support the shelves won't really be visible anyway.
You might also consider using tempered glass instead. It would be stiffer and would support the weight of the stock without sagging. Glass would be less susceptible to scratching, too.
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@dave r said:
That's going to be a challenge without any center supports. How about making Plexiglas boxes that are open on the bottom. This would give the effect of the shelves being much thicker than the Plexiglass itself. Maybe you could get by with a rib down the length of the center, too?
[attachment=0:15sdsh6e]<!-- ia0 -->plex.png<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:15sdsh6e]
If the shelves are going to be covered in merchandise, whatever you do to support the shelves won't really be visible anyway.
You might also consider using tempered glass instead. It would be stiffer and would support the weight of the stock without sagging. Glass would be less susceptible to scratching, too.
Would the pexiglass boxes be easy to make?
I'm going towards using Shelf standards on the end http://www.rockler.com/brass-shelf-standards-select-length.
The tempered glass is a good idea.
I dont think it is going to be any good putting 4 shelves because like you say it aint going to be seen if its too packed.
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At my cabinet shop we made lots of plexiglass items, it worked very similar to wood on our CNC's and other equipment. thickness and quality of plexiglass counts...
Tempered glass is outrageously expensive.
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As Kris says, Plexiglas is pretty easy to work. You can cement pieces together with the right glue. But it is soft and will scratch quite easily so it won't take long for it to start looking ugly.
Tempered glass may be expensive but it would be more durable than the Plexiglas and it would be less expensive than a trip to the ER if a piece of regular glass broke and did someone harm.
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@dave r said:
As Kris says, Plexiglas is pretty easy to work. You can cement pieces together with the right glue. But it is soft and will scratch quite easily so it won't take long for it to start looking ugly.
Tempered glass may be expensive but it would be more durable than the Plexiglas and it would be less expensive than a trip to the ER if a piece of regular glass broke and did someone harm.
Yep, I'm thinking that the client would have to clean the Plexglass quite often with there being food sat on them.
I think the box idea is the best so far otherwise the center will sag too much.
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Also, a cleat along the back edge (and/or the front)could potentially help with sagging; though it might not be all that attractive.
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Since you ask for design advice, some design questions: You sure you want the bottom shelf to be transparent? And while I'm asking, why are any of the shelves clear? If they are covered with candy, you won't see through anyway, and if they aren't, then weight is not so much of an issue.
60" is pretty wide for unsupported shelves, generally they are no more than 36" in commercial units. And 24" is pretty deep for candy (candy boxes are around 12" deep, if memory serves, and individual bars would just get lost with the depth). Sometimes displays like this are used to showcase merchandise in front; work, sell or display on top; and have more shelves behind a false back for storage.
If you make all edges stiff, for light loads you shouldn't need to brace the middle of the shelf. It is usually prettier and easier to roll or fold the front of the shelf than to fabricate a box. Experiment first, 60" is untested territory.
Sides and backs can be grooved to hold the shelf if you don't like the look of cleats. A slender molding wrapping the side and back edges of the shelf would allow you to use shelf standards without getting into plastic fabrication, and could be very pretty.
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