My client wants me to build a bookcase that will fit into an opening framed for a 5-0 6-8 bi-hinge door. the case is to be a bifold configuration so that when it is open the back will fold against itself and the books will still be accessible. the floor is un-even so if I use wheels the hinges would have to be tolerant of that so I was thinking of using an open top shutter hinge between the two 2′-6″ cases and skate board trucks under with a floor and ceiling pivot on the wall side so the cases pivot open and fold to leave a 2-6 clear opening to access the electronic gear that will be concealed in the closet behind the case.
Any warnings, thoughts, recommendations for parts suppliers?
Thanks
Michael
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“You cannot work hard enough to make up for a sloppy estimate.”
Replies
I have never built a bookcase door but I think your first step is to weigh the books that are intended to go into the case. Doesn't make sense buying the parts you need based on a guess.
Second I wouldn't recommend a low tolerance hinge for such high weight; it seems that would just make it more difficult.
If the floor is out, then my thought would be to suspend the case from a HD steel track like those used for sliding barn doors. Probably use something like a piano hinge for strength over the length and some decent quality poly casters for when it is in contact with the floor.
It may be necessary to do some reframing...the standard stud framing for a bi-fold closet door is usually pretty weak.
good luck and please keep us informed of whatever path you take (post pictures too!)
DC
I've never seen a bi-fold bookcase door. The weight would be a real problem, especially if the floor isn't level and perfectly square to the hinge jamb. I know you can get wheels that are spring-loaded, which would take up some of the 'slack' but.... I've always hung them on pivot hinges, without wheels.
Gary
http://www.garymkatz.com/TrimTechniques/hidden_pivot_bookcase_install.htm
Never seen that either, but did hang some heavy bifolds on Johnson Harware. Part pocket door, part bifold hardware kit. The slabs hung from an inverted u-shaped track. Pain to install, but worked very smoothly. Too light for your application.
Anyway, maybe with the Rixon hinge Gary used, and the heavy heavy duty Johnson I beam pocket door track and hanger on the leading edge, and four or five (or six or eight)ballbearing hinges... and throw in that springloaded wheel, you might be folding.
Or, Hafaell probably makes a kit <G>
We'll have a kid
Or maybe we'll rent one
He's got to be straight
We don't want a bent one
He'll drink his baby brew
From a big brass cup
Someday he may be president
If things loosen up
"Any warnings, thoughts, recommendations for parts suppliers? "
Get a ten K deposit on the job
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Re: weight of books --
30 years ago I came across the rule-of-thumb, "30 inches, 30 pounds," as the average weight, and the span limit for 1x stock. I tested it out by hopping on the scales with 30 inches of books in my arms, and the ROT held up.
Of course, some books are larger than others -- I installed a 2-foot-long shelf to accommodate a row of cookbooks the size of Larrouse Gastronomique and found that 3/4” hardwood ply sagged too much, and soon had to be replaced.
But those cookbooks were twice as tall as regular books, so you can still use that ROT by figuring from the space that average books take up:
99% of standard trade books are less than 11" tall, so you’ll have 6 or 7 shelves-worth
of books in 6’- 8” of height.
2 x 30” x 7 = 420# of books in 5’. I’d engineer for 500#.
AitchKay
The campus library at Carleton University in Ottawa ended up being capped at 5 stories rather than the 8 it was originally designed to be when the engineers realized during construction that they had underestimated the live load of books.
Luckily in the long run it didn't matter because now we have the Internet and can read Twitters and Blogs rather than that troublesome book-learning stuff. Silly Tolstoy.