Melamine vs. plywood for sliding shelf bottoms
 

I'm in the all-important "thinking about it" stage and I'd appreciate
some of the good advice I have seen posted here. I want to install
sliding shelves in a kitchen cabinet for pots and pans. The cabinet
is run of the mill builders special 22" deep (I haven't measured the
clear opening at the front yet) with wood frame (not particle board).
There's a half shelf about halfway up.

I want to install two sliding shelves, one supported by the bottom of
the cabinet and one supported by the half shelf and face frame. I'll
probably buy them online ready to install but I'm not afraid to buy
the materials and make them myself if it saves a ton of money (like
half of what they cost pre-assembled and ready for installation). My
skill level is "weekend warrior" at best.

What say you about the shelf material? Melamine? 1/4 inch oak
plywood? Other? The (stronger)bottom shelf will hold the heavy
corningware, large ceramic bowls etc, while the top will get the
lighter pots and pans.

Thanks for your advice.

Mike

Hi Mike,

I did the exact same thing about a year ago in
our kitchen island - it was a real PITA to get
pots & pans out of it - especially the bottom.
Had to get down on your knees, drag out the
front pots to get to the one you want - I know
why you're thinking of doing this.

I made 5 trays using 1 x 2 poplar sides and
1/2 inch plywood bottoms. They were approximately
22 deep x 14 wide. I mounted them with full extension
100 lb drawer slides - using a bracket to mount them
to the cabinet back and the front attached to the face frame.

This set-up has been great - it will support much more
weight than we could fit on it.

I thought about melamine for the bottom too, but did not
want to use the 3/4 inch thickness and could not find
any 1/2 inch around here. I was trying to save every
inch of space for clearance of our tall pots etc.

Anyway, it is definitely a worthwhile project - one
that will save your back and knees for years to come!

Good luck!

Lou

In article , mycroftt
wrote:

I'm in the all-important "thinking about it" stage and I'd appreciate
some of the good advice I have seen posted here. I want to install
sliding shelves in a kitchen cabinet for pots and pans. The cabinet
is run of the mill builders special 22" deep (I haven't measured the
clear opening at the front yet) with wood frame (not particle board).
There's a half shelf about halfway up.

I want to install two sliding shelves, one supported by the bottom of
the cabinet and one supported by the half shelf and face frame. I'll
probably buy them online ready to install but I'm not afraid to buy
the materials and make them myself if it saves a ton of money (like
half of what they cost pre-assembled and ready for installation). My
skill level is "weekend warrior" at best.

What say you about the shelf material? Melamine? 1/4 inch oak
plywood? Other? The (stronger)bottom shelf will hold the heavy
corningware, large ceramic bowls etc, while the top will get the
lighter pots and pans.

Thanks for your advice.

Mike

"mycroftt" wrote in message
om...


I'm in the all-important "thinking about it" stage and I'd appreciate
some of the good advice I have seen posted here. I want to install
sliding shelves in a kitchen cabinet for pots and pans. The cabinet

Our Canac cabinets all came with sliders. "Melamine-eqse" material (perhaps
just a plastic coating over something). Does make it easy to clean and I
don't worry about putting in wet/damp pots.

Of course, shelf-liner might have the same effect.

I've had good results using 1/2" plywood framed by hardwood, with
polyethylene sheeting (about 1/16") cut to sit on the plywood. Cost me
$5 for a 24"x47" sheet at Tap Plastics. Works better than that shelf
liner. If you do a good job of making a rectangular tray, you can turn
the polyethylene over if and when it starts becoming irretrievably
dirty.