Steel or Wood Shelves for Kitchen Cart?

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This isn't exactly a welding question, but it's related.I'm making a three-tier kitchen cart with a wood top. I was thinking of putting two wooden shelves in as well, but wood is unbelievably expensive. The butcher block top I was considering is nearly $200 by itself.I could get myself some 11-gauge sheet and make two shelves, and it would be cheaper than buying maple boards. I guess what I want to know is whether it's a good idea. They would have to be painted, and I don't know if it's intelligent to trust paint to stand up to having things moved onto and off of it for years. Maybe farm implement paint would work.If the shelves were wood, I could just throw some Danish oil on them.I was socially distant before it was cool."A man who can't handle tools is not a man. You're disgusting." -- Willy Loman
Reply:Wood is a  NO-NO because you can not stop bacteria from living in the wood.There is no coating that can stop bacteria in wood.Steel will scratch,, then you have rust.The only answer is stainless steel sheet,, period, even plastic does not cut it in commercial applications, around food.As they say,, "Go Stainless,, or GO HOME!!"  LOL!!


Reply:I should have pointed out that this is for my house, not a commercial kitchen.I was socially distant before it was cool."A man who can't handle tools is not a man. You're disgusting." -- Willy Loman
Reply:If it is just for storage you'll be fine with wood.Paint is ok too BUT  if you rattle can it,  be patient. That stuff takes forever to really dry/harden. Follow the directions on the can for re-coat times.You could try an appliance epoxy.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:I got myself a Ronco rotisserie oven, a big Italian ice cream maker, a deep fryer, and some other stuff. It's suffocating my counters. These things are what motivated me. I don't think I would actually cut food on it, but butcher block looks nice.I was socially distant before it was cool."A man who can't handle tools is not a man. You're disgusting." -- Willy Loman
Reply:I built a cart for my large-ish food dehydrator & put 2 wood shelves for storage of my sauces & rubs I use for jerky.UNITWELD 175 AMP 3 IN1 DCMIDSTATES 300 AMP AC MACHINELET'S GO BRANDON!"INFLATION-THAT'S THE PRICE WE PAY FOR THOSE GOVERNMENT BENEFITS EVERYBODY THOUGHT WERE FREE."RONALD REAGAN
Reply:I should have made it big enough for my dehydrator.I was socially distant before it was cool."A man who can't handle tools is not a man. You're disgusting." -- Willy Loman
Reply:I say go with wood. I like the look better. My wife wanted a "folding table" for the laundry. It had to be wide enough to accommodate two laundry baskets on the bottom shelf. I went with cabinet grade plywood and polyurethane. Its held up very well, despite many laundry baskets being scraped across it for years. Because its not furniture and just sits in the laundry room, I didn't finish the edges of the plywood.

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Reply:SweetMK is correct about the stainless but for personal use I would prefer the softer look and feel of wood. SS is just too sterile and just “thinking” of items rattling on it doesn’t exactly evoke a sense of calmness.   IMO of course. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk:
Reply:Butcher block is nice…..

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Reply:

Originally Posted by SweetMK

Wood is a  NO-NO because you can not stop bacteria from living in the wood. There is no coating that can stop bacteria in wood.  Steel will scratch,, then you have rust.  The only answer is stainless steel sheet,, period, even plastic does not cut it in commercial applications, around food.
Reply:In the kitchen?   WOOD!  Oil em up.  Put the $ into the wood - will look warmer as all have mentioned.
Reply:If you are gonna build, and then PARK it,,, there is another option,,you could top it with granite.Small pieces are almost "give-away" priced at kitchen counter shops.I am amazed how many of those shops have popped up since 2008,,,When we did our counters, I ended up picking out two "drops" that they made into bathroom counters.They were cheaper than anything that Lowes sells.We also have a black coffee table, and we found a mostly green piece that made a perfect top for the table.That piece was cheaper than buying a cut and edge ground glass top. (we priced "safety" glass,, it was expensive!!)
Reply:

Originally Posted by SweetMK

If you are gonna build, and then PARK it,,, there is another option,,you could top it with granite.Small pieces are almost "give-away" priced at kitchen counter shops.I am amazed how many of those shops have popped up since 2008,,,When we did our counters, I ended up picking out two "drops" that they made into bathroom counters.They were cheaper than anything that Lowes sells.We also have a black coffee table, and we found a mostly green piece that made a perfect top for the table.That piece was cheaper than buying a cut and edge ground glass top. (we priced "safety" glass,, it was expensive!!)
Reply:I like birch plywood with solid 3/4" maple edging. A little honey colored stain, and a few coats of food safe polyurethane finish for table tops, is what Ive used in the past. Oak laminiated plywood , with oak edging looks pretty nice too. The give the impression of solid wood, are very stable when finished, and will hold a fair amount of weight. Good luckAirco 250 ac/dc Heliwelder Square waveMiller Synchrowave 180 sdMiller Econo Twin HFLincoln 210 MPDayton 225 ac/dcVictor torchesSnap-On YA-212Lotos Cut60DPrimeweld 225 ac/dcPrimeweld mig180Miller AEAD-200
Reply:I've also seen laminated counter tops go cheap at supply outlets if somebody ordered them and didn't pick them up. Not as tough as granite, but another option to consider.The harder you fall, the higher you bounce...250 amp Miller DialArc AC/DC StickF-225 amp Forney AC Stick230 amp Sears AC StickLincoln 180C MIGVictor Medalist 350 O/ACut 50 PlasmaLes
Reply:Yeah, I can't have plywood in my kitchen. If I were going to do that, I would just get cinderblocks and more plywood and make me a dinner table.I guess the best thing is 11-gauge steel and a wood top.I was socially distant before it was cool."A man who can't handle tools is not a man. You're disgusting." -- Willy Loman
Reply:

Originally Posted by Guy Caballero

Yeah, I can't have plywood in my kitchen. If I were going to do that, I would just get cinderblocks and more plywood and make me a dinner table.I guess the best thing is 11-gauge steel and a wood top.
Reply:That's great for a shop, but this is indoors, and I have a wife.I was socially distant before it was cool."A man who can't handle tools is not a man. You're disgusting." -- Willy Loman
Reply:

Originally Posted by Guy Caballero

That's great for a shop, but this is indoors, and I have a wife.
Reply:That lift looks wonderful.I was socially distant before it was cool."A man who can't handle tools is not a man. You're disgusting." -- Willy Loman
Reply:What is birch plywood used for?Birch plywood is extremely strong and quite beautiful, so it’s common to see it used for shelving, doors and paneling. You’ll also find Lauan, or Luan, plywood in this category.Birch Plywood at Lowes.comhttp://www.lowes.com/pl/Birch--Plywo...hing-Lu…What are the different types of plywood?It comes in a range of sizes, thicknesses and grades. You can even use softwood plywood outside of the home, like for building a doghouse or outfitting your work bench with a new top. Hardwood plywood, like Baltic birch plywood, is commonly used for cabinetry and furniture making.Birch Plywood at Lowes.comhttp://www.lowes.com/pl/Birch--Plywo...hing-Lu…

Yeah, I can't have plywood in my kitchen.
Reply:Thanks. I know what Baltic birch is. It's basically one step above IKEA. Some people like it, but it's not for me. Nicely finished steel looks better.