Melamine thickness?

[zoologist]

I know alot of people (including me) have built racks using 3/4 melamine. My question is: what is the thinest someone has gone and still had a sturdy rack?

[llovelace]

If I'm not mistaken, in Canada they have 1/2".

[2kdime]

Depends on what size spans your going to be bridging

A shoe box rack might be ok with 1/2"

But something like a 41qt would certainly benefit from 3/4"

[zoologist]

My plan is to build some new CB-70 racks and I can get it as small as 1/4". I was going to have a rack out of metal but it's going to be too expensive. With that said, thinner is cheaper and lighter. Has anyone attempted 1/4"?

[Hyper Joe]

Most everyone goes with 3/4 inch due to sturdiness. Any thinner will make the cage/rack bow and be weaker. It is pretty easy to break, bend, crack, warp ... 1/4 inch. The only plus on the thinner ones is definitely the weight. Huge difference.

[2kdime]

No way 1/4" would hold up

[zoologist]

I feel like 3/4 is too thick, it seems to get brittle around the corners. I think I can go smaller if I use some metal bolt/screw receivers or by using biscuits.

[Hyper Joe]

I feel like 3/4 is too thick, it seems to get brittle around the corners. I think I can go smaller if I use some metal bolt/screw receivers or by using biscuits.

If your not making anything big I am sure the 1/4 inch may work fine. But if your making like a 10 level 28+ quart tub rack then tell us how it goes...

[Hyper Joe]

No way 1/4" would hold up

For how long...

[zoologist]

lol. I'm going to think about it. 1/4" may be a stretch but I think I can definitely pull it off with 1/2". I'll let you guys know how it works out.