Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
On Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:30:22 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) >>wrote:
If the shelving is wood, this handy-dandy tool will calculate the >>>shelf-sag (0.02 or less should be the target) for a specified wood >>>species and book load.
https://woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator/
And so it does ... if you happen to know what wood was used.
Mine are mystery wood with a very nice veneer attached. One of the >>particleboards, I suppose.
I wouldn't consider that wood. A fine shelf would use a void-free
plywood and real wood veneer. An Ikea shelf would use particle board
and vinyl veneer. The fine shelf would have greater resistance to sag
than any hardwood of the same thickness[*]. The Ikea shelf would have
a very small load capacity as particle board has no ability to resist
sag.
OSB will be somewhere between particle board and plywood in sag
resistance.
[*] Such a shelf often has a strip of real hardwood glued to the--
visible front edge of the plywood, this is often thicker than
the plywood and will provide further sag resistance.
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> wrote:they were
On 12/5/2025 6:44 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
What is most incredibly dated are the original Tom Swift books, and
areincredibly dated when I read them in the sixties. Swiftboats that
Flyingpropelled by electromagnets that repel the earth's magnetic field!
wasmachines that operate by electrical repulsion! This is the world I
hoping to someday live in.
I read those too, but remember, this is Tom Swift <Jr.>
No, the Tom Swift Jr. books are far more up to date, with spaceships and
so forth instead of high powered river craft and long distance radio.
They didn't seem anywhere near as interesting as the originals to me as
a kid because the originals predicted future technology and got it all
so wrong.
The original Tom Swift appeared in 1910, with "Tom Swift
and His Motorcycle".
Yes. As the former owner of a Moto-Guzzi let me say that the motorcycle >offers just the kind of freedom that Mr. Appleton predicted, but at a
cost he did not forsee.
On Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:30:22 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
wrote:
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
On Fri, 5 Dec 2025 01:41:24 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/2/2025 9:05 AM, James Nicoll wrote:https://reactormag.com/things-i-wish-id-known-when-starting-a-book-collec= >>> tion/
Things I Wish I'd Known When Starting a Book Collection
=20
Handy advice for overly enthusiastic bookworms (you know who you are) >>>>> =20
=
I only have 4,000 books at the moment. Plus 500 books in my SBR=20
(strategic book reserve). I keep them in seven 6 ft tall by 3 ft wide=20 >>>> bookcases, triple stacked, in my bedroom. Triple stacked is a front=20 >>>> row, a back row, and a top stuffing of books on each shelf.
If they are vertical, you might be able to save some space by stacking
them horizontally. Depending on how much space there is between the
shelves and the size of the books, of course. Doing two rows like this
can cause loading problems on the shelves (ie, if they are adjustable,
they may bend enough to come loose; if not, then the shelf might bend
or even break).
If the shelving is wood, this handy-dandy tool will calculate the
shelf-sag (0.02 or less should be the target) for a specified wood
species and book load.
https://woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator/
And so it does ... if you happen to know what wood was used.
Mine are mystery wood with a very nice veneer attached. One of the particleboards, I suppose.
On Sat, 6 Dec 2025 14:38:44 -0500 (EST), kludge@panix.com (Scott
Dorsey) wrote:
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/5/2025 6:44 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
What is most incredibly dated are the original Tom Swift books, and they were
incredibly dated when I read them in the sixties. Swiftboats that are >>>> propelled by electromagnets that repel the earth's magnetic field! Flying >>>> machines that operate by electrical repulsion! This is the world I was >>>> hoping to someday live in.
I read those too, but remember, this is Tom Swift <Jr.>
No, the Tom Swift Jr. books are far more up to date, with spaceships and
so forth instead of high powered river craft and long distance radio.
They didn't seem anywhere near as interesting as the originals to me as
a kid because the originals predicted future technology and got it all
so wrong.
The original Tom Swift appeared in 1910, with "Tom Swift
and His Motorcycle".
Yes. As the former owner of a Moto-Guzzi let me say that the motorcycle
offers just the kind of freedom that Mr. Appleton predicted, but at a
cost he did not forsee.
One of HG Well's social novels explored how the bicycle was opening
the world up to the lower classes.
On 12/6/2025 11:50 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:30:22 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
wrote:
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
On Fri, 5 Dec 2025 01:41:24 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/2/2025 9:05 AM, James Nicoll wrote:https://reactormag.com/things-i-wish-id-known-when-starting-a-book-collec= >>>> tion/
Things I Wish I'd Known When Starting a Book Collection
=20
Handy advice for overly enthusiastic bookworms (you know who you are) >>>>>> =20
=
I only have 4,000 books at the moment. Plus 500 books in my SBR=20
(strategic book reserve). I keep them in seven 6 ft tall by 3 ft wide=20 >>>>> bookcases, triple stacked, in my bedroom. Triple stacked is a front=20 >>>>> row, a back row, and a top stuffing of books on each shelf.
If they are vertical, you might be able to save some space by stacking >>>> them horizontally. Depending on how much space there is between the
shelves and the size of the books, of course. Doing two rows like this >>>> can cause loading problems on the shelves (ie, if they are adjustable, >>>> they may bend enough to come loose; if not, then the shelf might bend
or even break).
If the shelving is wood, this handy-dandy tool will calculate the
shelf-sag (0.02 or less should be the target) for a specified wood
species and book load.
https://woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator/
And so it does ... if you happen to know what wood was used.
Mine are mystery wood with a very nice veneer attached. One of the
particleboards, I suppose.
I built mine out of poplar, about 25 years ago. About 3 feet long,
5 or 8 inches wide (PB vs HB), 3/4 inch thick.
No sign of bending to this day.
Things I Wish I'd Known When Starting a Book Collection
On Sat, 6 Dec 2025 14:38:44 -0500 (EST), kludge@panix.com (Scott
Dorsey) wrote:
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/5/2025 6:44 PM, Scott Dorsey wrote:
What is most incredibly dated are the original Tom Swift books, and they were
incredibly dated when I read them in the sixties. Swiftboats that are >>>> propelled by electromagnets that repel the earth's magnetic field! Flying >>>> machines that operate by electrical repulsion! This is the world I was >>>> hoping to someday live in.
I read those too, but remember, this is Tom Swift <Jr.>
No, the Tom Swift Jr. books are far more up to date, with spaceships and
so forth instead of high powered river craft and long distance radio.
They didn't seem anywhere near as interesting as the originals to me as
a kid because the originals predicted future technology and got it all
so wrong.
The original Tom Swift appeared in 1910, with "Tom Swift
and His Motorcycle".
Yes. As the former owner of a Moto-Guzzi let me say that the motorcycle
offers just the kind of freedom that Mr. Appleton predicted, but at a
cost he did not forsee.
One of HG Well's social novels explored how the bicycle was opening
the world up to the lower classes.
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
On 12/6/2025 11:50 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:30:22 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
wrote:
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
On Fri, 5 Dec 2025 01:41:24 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/2/2025 9:05 AM, James Nicoll wrote:https://reactormag.com/things-i-wish-id-known-when-starting-a-book-collec=
Things I Wish I'd Known When Starting a Book Collection
=20
Handy advice for overly enthusiastic bookworms (you know who you are) >>>>>>> =20
=
tion/
I only have 4,000 books at the moment. Plus 500 books in my SBR=20 >>>>>> (strategic book reserve). I keep them in seven 6 ft tall by 3 ft wide=20
bookcases, triple stacked, in my bedroom. Triple stacked is a front=20 >>>>>> row, a back row, and a top stuffing of books on each shelf.
If they are vertical, you might be able to save some space by stacking >>>>> them horizontally. Depending on how much space there is between the
shelves and the size of the books, of course. Doing two rows like this >>>>> can cause loading problems on the shelves (ie, if they are adjustable, >>>>> they may bend enough to come loose; if not, then the shelf might bend >>>>> or even break).
If the shelving is wood, this handy-dandy tool will calculate the
shelf-sag (0.02 or less should be the target) for a specified wood
species and book load.
https://woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator/
And so it does ... if you happen to know what wood was used.
Mine are mystery wood with a very nice veneer attached. One of the
particleboards, I suppose.
I built mine out of poplar, about 25 years ago. About 3 feet long,
5 or 8 inches wide (PB vs HB), 3/4 inch thick.
32" is a common shelf length, as an integral multiple of 96"
(which is the typical length of hardwood lumber).
No sign of bending to this day.
Poplar is a hardwood, albeit on the softer end of the hardwood
scale. It was very common as a secondary wood[*] in fine furniture
in the 18th, 19th and 20th century.
[*] generally not visible, i.e. drawer sides/backs and non-visible
structural elements.
Due to the typical greenish hued stripes in the lumber, it is often
painted rather than finished with a clear finish (oils, varnish, shellac
or the urethanes).
On 12/7/2025 1:31 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
On 12/6/2025 11:50 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:30:22 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal)
wrote:
Paul S Person <psperson@old.netcom.invalid> writes:
On Fri, 5 Dec 2025 01:41:24 -0600, Lynn McGuire
<lynnmcguire5@gmail.com> wrote:
On 12/2/2025 9:05 AM, James Nicoll wrote:https://reactormag.com/things-i-wish-id-known-when-starting-a-
Things I Wish I'd Known When Starting a Book Collection
=20
Handy advice for overly enthusiastic bookworms (you know who you >>>>>>>> are)
=20
=
book-collec=
tion/
I only have 4,000 books at the moment.ÿ Plus 500 books in my SBR=20 >>>>>>> (strategic book reserve).ÿ I keep them in seven 6 ft tall by 3 ft >>>>>>> wide=20
bookcases, triple stacked, in my bedroom.ÿ Triple stacked is a
front=20
row, a back row, and a top stuffing of books on each shelf.
If they are vertical, you might be able to save some space by
stacking
them horizontally. Depending on how much space there is between the >>>>>> shelves and the size of the books, of course. Doing two rows like >>>>>> this
can cause loading problems on the shelves (ie, if they are
adjustable,
they may bend enough to come loose; if not, then the shelf might bend >>>>>> or even break).
If the shelving is wood, this handy-dandy tool will calculate the
shelf-sag (0.02 or less should be the target) for a specified wood
species and book load.
https://woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator/
And so it does ... if you happen to know what wood was used.
Mine are mystery wood with a very nice veneer attached. One of the
particleboards, I suppose.
I built mine out of poplar, about 25 years ago. About 3 feet long,
5 or 8 inches wide (PB vs HB), 3/4 inch thick.
32" is a common shelf length, as an integral multiple of 96"
(which is the typical length of hardwood lumber).
No sign of bending to this day.
Poplar is a hardwood, albeit on the softer end of the hardwood
scale.ÿÿ It was very common as a secondary wood[*] in fine furniture
in the 18th, 19th and 20th century.
[*] generally not visible, i.e. drawer sides/backs and non-visible
structural elements.
Due to the typical greenish hued stripes in the lumber, it is often
painted rather than finished with a clear finish (oils, varnish, shellac
or the urethanes).
I used a cherry stain, and polyurethane. They look great. I'll have
to measure to say the exact lengths (there's more than one).
pt
On 12/7/2025 7:20 PM, Cryptoengineer wrote:
On 12/7/2025 1:31 PM, Scott Lurndal wrote:
Cryptoengineer <petertrei@gmail.com> writes:
On 12/6/2025 11:50 AM, Paul S Person wrote:
On Fri, 05 Dec 2025 17:30:22 GMT, scott@slp53.sl.home (Scott Lurndal) >>>>> wrote:
If the shelving is wood, this handy-dandy tool will calculate the
shelf-sag (0.02 or less should be the target) for a specified wood >>>>>> species and book load.
https://woodbin.com/calcs/sagulator/
And so it does ... if you happen to know what wood was used.
Mine are mystery wood with a very nice veneer attached. One of the
particleboards, I suppose.
I built mine out of poplar, about 25 years ago. About 3 feet long,
5 or 8 inches wide (PB vs HB), 3/4 inch thick.
32" is a common shelf length, as an integral multiple of 96"
(which is the typical length of hardwood lumber).
No sign of bending to this day.
Poplar is a hardwood, albeit on the softer end of the hardwood
scale.ÿÿ It was very common as a secondary wood[*] in fine furniture
in the 18th, 19th and 20th century.
[*] generally not visible, i.e. drawer sides/backs and non-visible
structural elements.
Due to the typical greenish hued stripes in the lumber, it is often
painted rather than finished with a clear finish (oils, varnish, shellac >>> or the urethanes).
I used a cherry stain, and polyurethane. They look great. I'll have
to measure to say the exact lengths (there's more than one).
pt
I checked. The HB shelves are about 28 inches, the PB 34. Non-standard,
I know, but I was custom fitting specific spaces.
What do you do with a 60+ year old complete set of the Hardy Boy books ?
If they are vertical, you might be able to save some space by stacking
them horizontally. Depending on how much space there is between the
shelves and the size of the books, of course. Doing two rows like this
can cause loading problems on the shelves (ie, if they are adjustable,
they may bend enough to come loose; if not, then the shelf might bend
or even break).
I wouldn't consider that wood. A fine shelf would use a void-free
plywood and real wood veneer. An Ikea shelf would use particle board
and vinyl veneer. The fine shelf would have greater resistance to sag
than any hardwood of the same thickness[*]. The Ikea shelf would have
a very small load capacity as particle board has no ability to resist
sag.
Things I Wish I'd Known When Starting a Book Collection
Handy advice for overly enthusiastic bookworms (you know who you are)
https://reactormag.com/things-i-wish-id-known-when-starting-a-book-collection/
On 2025-12-02, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:
Things I Wish I'd Known When Starting a Book Collection
I think the typical issue is that people don't start out to make a collection. It sneaks up on you. You buy books or calculators or
whatever and suddenly, OMG, they are everywhere, I'm caught in
Stanis?aw Lem's "Ciemno?? i ple??", what do I do now?
On 8/12/25 10:44, Christian Weisgerber wrote:
On 2025-12-02, James Nicoll <jdnicoll@panix.com> wrote:
Things I Wish I'd Known When Starting a Book Collection
I think the typical issue is that people don't start out to make a
collection. It sneaks up on you. You buy books or calculators or
whatever and suddenly, OMG, they are everywhere, I'm caught in
Stanis?aw Lem's "Ciemno?? i ple??", what do I do now?
The television show, "Hoarders" (or something similar), shows the
results of obsessive people who are not obsessive about WHAT they
collect and when they are threatened with downsizing their collections, become extremely agitated because of the emotional attachment they have
to their variety of possessions. Is book collecting any different or
just another obsessive compulsive disorder?
Oh yes and before I stop writing has anyone else ever read Thorne
Smith from pre-War II? I read manga and it seems to me that a lot of
the stories draw on Thorne Smith's work so I guess he was popular
in Japan.
I have a complete set of the Chess Informant series which has been
publishing first 2 a year now 3 a year since 1966 with the latest
beeing #164. I have a document attached to my will (e.g. advice to my
kids as opposed to the will proper) telling them that the collection
is likely to be valuable and that I wanted it donated to a well known
local chess book collector. On the other hand, my eldest daughter (an
honors history graduate) will be getting my first edition Churchill's
WW2 history (six volumes) which my late wife gifted me during a rather
dark period in my life.
She left me a large (but non-complete) set of more than 20 Time-Life
Cooking books which I'm trying to figure out what to do with (so are
still on the bookshelf on what was her side of our bedroom)
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