Sure enough.
The structural ideal would be to center the weight of every shelf-load on the centerline of the posts, so that there are no eccentric loads. This would put zero lateral load at both the top and the bottom of the posts. But I don't believe that some cantilevering of the shelves would put undue (and irresistible) lateral force at the top of the posts, especially when the majority of the load is placed on the lower half of the shelf unit as a whole. The lateral load at the bottom would be resisted by the vertical weight and the grip of a rubber foot, I believe. And any floor would be fine as far as the point load of the combined weight, surely.
(A 47-pound stereo receiver is a whopper -- no ? Could that be a mistake ?)
Yes, 1"x 1 1/2" is too slight to resist bending across one axis of the post. I would go with 1 1/2" square at a minimum.
Nice looking unit of yours
that you posted on the other thread, too, BTW.
Whichever species of wood, It would be advisable to carefully choose boards with relatively straight grain over the entire length. Significant weight can add up quickly, especially when storing things like vinyl records and books. One would certainly want to avoid placing any short grain or grain runout near the bases of the poles.
Matty, That's the exact...
Matty, That's the exact thing I was thinking of for mounting into the ceiling. There would be no lateral movement possible then.
I appreciate all the ideas and wisdom. I've been detailing some of the ideas in a notebook for future reference. I've got to tackle one project at a time, even though I'm always thinking 2-3 ideas ahead of what I'm presently doing. Chair upholstery is currently underway.
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