Strengthen parcel shelf???

Chaps… I have an original parcel shelf that looks pretty good however the edges that rest on the supports are very bendy. There is also a slight bow to the whole shelf.

how have other people stiffened their shelf? Especially the support edges?

any ideas welcome.

cheers

Someone who had the car before me has cut big 6 x 9 holes in mine  - I'm on the look out for a new one to and hopefully can get one without a bow in it to !

I made a new one from 6mm exterior ply (B & Q) use the old one as a template, reattached the bars using 15mm copper pipe brackets and drywall plaster screws, grind off the excess screw length, recovered mine in new material as the old material was shot, looks great and only cost a few pounds.
Cheers 

Have a look at Pipsical's build thread, I think he has done something similar with his parcel shelf recently mate.

 

thanks for replies chaps….

i should have mentioned i have an original shelf that is slightly bowed and frayed at the edges….. i am thinking something like this along the centre length to sort out the bow….

http://www.diy.com/nav/build/building-materials/materials/builders_metal_work/-specificproducttype-joist_strut/Expamet-Herringbone-Joist-Strut-Zinc-660mm-9273335

and then along the support edges..

http://www.diy.com/nav/build/building-materials/materials/builders_metal_work/Expamet-Heavy-Duty-Zinc-1000-x-27-5-x-5mm-Straight-9273336

I did this to mine, to prevent the edges ripping further.

r_chez_08 said

I did this to mine, to prevent the edges ripping further.

Looks interesting mate. What did you use for the corners?

Acrylic sheet, cut on a laser cutter. 

coxi said

I made a new one from 6mm exterior ply (B & Q) use the old one as a template, reattached the bars using 15mm copper pipe brackets and drywall plaster screws, grind off the excess screw length, recovered mine in new material as the old material was shot, looks great and only cost a few pounds.
Cheers 

Any images of this and the fixings

My how-to's are in my signature, and the link it points to is below.

https://www.volkswagenownersclub.com/threads/remaking-your-cabriolet-parcel-shelf.33293/