DIY Builds
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Is pine strong enough for shelves?

Pine. For short length bookshelves, pine is a good material to work with. If you're planning on building bookshelves in an alcove or with intermediate support, its strength comes into its own in plank form. Varnishing is recommended.

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A look at the timber varieties that are good for bookshelves

Even with the rise of e-books and digital tablets, there is still a place for well made bookshelves. For many people, this means grappling with Billy or whatever Argos’ equivalent to IKEA’s bookshelf may be. Cheap and cheerful they may be, they are virtually disposable if you have an extensive library. They tend to use chipboard with a wood effect, which is all right for paperbacks and little else. You might prefer to make your own bookshelf, or have a custom-built one. If you choose to take the former route, you can create a shelving system which not only suits your personal library. One that also best fits your room, regardless of size.

Which timber varieties?

For short length bookshelves, pine is a good material to work with. If you’re planning on building bookshelves in an alcove or with intermediate support, its strength comes into its own in plank form. Varnishing is recommended.

Cherry

As hardwoods go, Cherry is lightweight yet easy to use. This makes the wood an easy material to work with for beginners.

Mahogany

For bookshelves, this is a most robust wood. This makes mahogany an ideal wood for storing hardback books and heavy audio equipment. For absolute beginners, this is the toughest wood to work with.

Other wood types

Plywood

As an alternative to softwood and hardwood, plywood is a good material for budding DIY shelf builders.

Particleboard

Best used with a laminate coating on the top, bottom and front of each shelf.

Other ideas

You could consider sourcing your wood from architectural salvage companies. The SalvoWEB site is a useful source not only for wood, but also for fireplaces and other items. For inspiration, why not sign up to Pinterest? This social networking site offers a lot of inspirational ideas for DIY shelving fanatics.

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Which is better white or yellow pine?

Yellow pine is stronger and heartier, but warps more than white pine. White pine tends to stay truer to its form, but is softer and weaker than yellow pine.

As anyone who has looked into installing a wood fence can tell you that there are several different types of wood you can choose from. Yellow pine and white pine are two of the most common and affordable options. White pine is a softwood with a low density and even grain. White pine is prone to developing long vertical cracks called “checks.” Checks will not threaten the strength or integrity of the wood. They are simple the result of the post relieving the pressure from the pressure-treated applied chemical.

Affordability

Less twisting and bowing than yellow pine

Almost impenetrable when treated with ACQ2 treatment

More expensive than yellow pine

Does not stain well due to treatment

It tends to crack versus twist. Cracks are fine but if you don’t like these. Yellow pine is a hardwood that has a very high density and has an uneven grain. Yellow pine also develops checks. Setting yellow pine posts as soon as you get them will help curb some of the bowing and twisting.

Affordability

Almost impenetrable when treated with ACQ2 treatment

Excellent strength-to-weight ratio

Extra longevity in soil

Prone to some bowing and twisting

Does not stain well due to treatment

Green tint does not fade

When it comes right down to it, white pine and yellow pine are still similar woods. Pine in general is a more economical wood and is prone to some slight warping. Yellow pine is stronger and heartier, but warps more than white pine. White pine tends to stay truer to its form, but is softer and weaker than yellow pine. Go to America’s Fence Store to explore our variety of wood fencing products today.

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