How to inspect bookcases for quality
Many things happen under the weight of Shas. Boys become men. Nights turn to day. Shelves sigh and bend into plywood smiles.
The average bookcase will not withstand a Jewish library. And you can’t even test the candidates in the showroom. For tips on examining the quality of ready-made bookcases, I consulted with Yehuda Tropper of Haddar Custom Woodcraft, Menachem Weinstock of A&W Metal Works, and Moshe Rubinstein of MR Woodwork. While these experts give general guidelines, individual bookcases should be assessed by someone knowledgeable.
Solid wood shelves are able to hold the most weight without bowing.
But most “wood” bookcases are actually a thin wood veneer over plywood. Plywood shelves should be at least three-quarters of an inch thick to withstand heavy pressure.
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