PVC Floating Shelf

[kaigoss69]

Hi Folks,

I'm getting quite bored with my rockscape, and am toying with the idea of mixing things up and building a floating rock shelf. I love the look and functionality of floating shelves, and I want build my own. A local LFS employee told me she built hers with Plexiglass sheets, in a C shape, and it worked well. I would like to do the same, but using cheaper and easier to work with materials, such as PVC. I made a sketch below of how I envision it to look like. Basically, two C shaped pieces, one on each side of the overflow, and interconnected with more PVC for rigidity and surface area to support the rocks. What I am struggling with is the type and size of PVC I should use. I guess I could just go to Lowes and buy some and try it out, but I'm also thinking about the long-term viability of PVC in such an application. Anyone have any ideas, tips, experiences they can share in this regard, so that at least I can start off not completely from scratch?

Also, as the most bending force will be on the vertical sections, is there a way to stiffen the pipes perhaps by filling it with some sort of cement or epoxy? Thanks in advance! :)

 

[GThompson]

Hi Folks,

I'm getting quite bored with my rockscape, and am toying with the idea of mixing things up and building a floating rock shelf. I love the look and functionality of floating shelves, and I want build my own. A local LFS employee told me she built hers with Plexiglass sheets, in a C shape, and it worked well. I would like to do the same, but using cheaper and easier to work with materials, such as PVC. I made a sketch below of how I envision it to look like. Basically, two C shaped pieces, one on each side of the overflow, and interconnected with more PVC for rigidity and surface area to support the rocks. What I am struggling with is the type and size of PVC I should use. I guess I could just go to Lowes and buy some and try it out, but I'm also thinking about the long-term viability of PVC in such an application. Anyone have any ideas, tips, experiences they can share in this regard, so that at least I can start off not completely from scratch?

Also, as the most bending force will be on the vertical sections, is there a way to stiffen the pipes perhaps by filling it with some sort of cement or epoxy? Thanks in advance! :)

 

[328 reef]

I've used clear acrylic rods 1" and glued the ends together to make a shelf.

 

[kaigoss69]

I've used clear acrylic rods 1" and glued the ends together to make a shelf.

Hi, how would you join them at 90 degree angles?

 

[kaigoss69]

Are there other/better materials I can use for this? How about using stainless steel material, and applying a coating for corrosion protection?

 

[Reef-junky]

I wouldn’t make it that way. I would make a small 3D rock wall if possible.