What is a wouterman (shelf bearer)?
A wouterman is the Dutch name for a small batten in a cupboard on which a shelf rests. The term is also used for a horizontal batten fixed to a wall to support the end of a shelf.
Types
- Fixed bearer: screwed to the inside of the cupboard or to the wall.
- Adjustable bearer: a short cross-piece that drops into the notches of two vertical notched uprights (sawtooth or ladder shelf supports). Moving it up or down sets the shelf height.
In modern furniture, bearers have mostly been replaced by metal or plastic shelf pins in a row of holes.
Fitting tips
- Level: set both sides at exactly the same height with a spirit level or laser.
- Fixing: at least two screws per batten; use suitable plugs in masonry.
- Sagging: on wide bays, add a bearer along the back wall so the shelf is supported on three sides.
- Notched uprights: clamp them together and cut the notches in one go so they match.
- Front edge: round it off or set it back so it does not catch a cupboard door.
Related terms
- Shelf
- Batten
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