Shelving

[hudlow]

I need some suggestions on building some moderately heavy-duty shelving for my basement workshop/fort/hideout.

I'm not looking for fancy or especially visually delightful, but not junky enough to get the wife concerned. I just need some vertical storage for my stuff like power tools, camping gear, seasonal stuff, toys, hobbies and all that other junk I've accumulated that "I might need some day."

The walls of the basement are poured so I'd prefer these shelves to be self supporting. I could nail 'em off at the top to the floor joists if need be.

I've had my eye out for shelving at the local trade lots and "re-do stores" but apparently so has everyone else. Metal is high these days, wood too, but what isn't? Lowes and Home Depot should be plumb ashamed to ask what they do for the rinky-dink plastic shelves they sell.

I'm guessing I need shelves about 6' high and 18"to 24" deep....as much as the wallet can stand.

Aside from the basic 2x4 and plywood construction, what's worked for you guys?

Thanks,

hudlow

 

[schmism]

2x4 and plywood hear.

but this is some cool stuff

not quite as heavy duty as other steel racking but easy to work with. Likely to be more expensive than 2x4's and 3/4 ply though

 

[weldingisfun]

Take a look at these:
Maxi Rack Steel Shelving Unit

 

[reb]

A few years ago I made several freestanding (4 ft wide, 8 ft hi, 2 ft deep) shelving units for my basement out of 3/4" particle board. Routed grooves in the sides, about 3/16" deep, for the shelves and used 1/4" masonite for the rear. Glued the shelves and nailed the rear. Added 2x2 braces in the middle of front edges of the shelves to prevent sagging. Some cheap latex paint covered them. The big problem with the particle board is it must be kept dry.

 

[texasjohn]

I'm lucky... there is a metal recycling place in Austin where folks bring all kinds of stuff.

This includes both new and used industrial metal racks/shelving systems just like the ones in Home Depot, etc. At $.15 a pound... it can't be beat. And, it can't be beat up

 

[gordon21]

Check around to see who sells metal gondolas in your area. Gondolas are the metal shelving you see in every grocery store in America. Very strong, adjustable shelves, steel pegboard backs and they come in single sided or double sided models. Used ones sell cheap. The backs will typically be 5-6' high and they are completely self supporting and keep the lowest items at least 6" off the floor.

 

[jpierce]

I have used these in my shop and real easy to put together and build. You also can disassemble them if needed

2 x 4 Basics

Good luck!!

 

[CATMAN]

Do you have a Costco or Sam's Club card. Usually they have Gorilla storage racks. I wouldn't recommend those flimsy racks that you see at some places for a work area(12" deep style with thin metal). You need more strenght for stuff that is normally used for tools and such. Also, I wouldn't want anything deeper then 24". "STUFF" seems to get pushed to the back and it becomes harder to find.

 

[hudlow]

Good ideas all around!

I've been scratching through my lumber pile and found some particle board that would do for shelves - looks like I may have to buy some 2x4 for supports -if I go that route.

I'd still like to find some good metal shelving - cheap! Gondolas would work.

I like the "2x4 Basics" info from jpierce. Modular stuff is good. I may have to look at that a little closer. It looks like it could be the answer.

Thanks for all the advice. I need to stretch that dollar as far as I can on this project.

I got a lot of junk!

I'm not a tightwad by any means, I try to buy the best I can and get what suits me - but it's not just shelving, does anyone else have a hard time believing the prices that that they are asking for most anything in general these days....?

Sometimes I am just amazed.

Whatever the market will bear, I guess.

hud

 

[texasjohn]

My scottish blood comes out when I seek to outfit my work shop.

I did "dumpster diving" in the area where new home construction is rampant. You would not believe what gets thrown into the trash piles there.

2X4's, 2X6's, 2X8''s, 2X10's, 2x12's in lengths of 2 feet to 16 feet.... and doors, and extension cords, and tools, and plastic pipe, and insulation, and bags unopened of concrete, and paint, and molding and light fixtures and roof turbines and on and on and on... I dont buy stuff.. I recycle it! I take what looks usable, store it.. and it's amazing how soon I find a use for it.

 

[EddieWalker]

Here is what I build for shelves. I've done a few variations of this over the years and think I have it down now. I frame out the shelf with 2x4's on edge from the front and back the full length of the shelf. In this picture, it's 16 feet long. I set the cross members at 16 inches and cut them to 21 inches. That gives me 24 inches for the shelf.

I attach the 2x4 posts to the ouside edge of the shelf with 3 inch screws. This gives me plenty of strength and allows the shelving material to not have to be notched. Just rip a sheet of OSB or whatever in half and it's ready to install. I regularly store nine 50 pound sacks of corn on one section for weeks or months at a time. That's 450 pounds in just one small 4 ft section, so it's plenty strong!!!

Since these shelves are outside in my covered leanto and resting on the ground, I have a piece of PT wood under the untreated 2x4. It's not attached, but just sitting on top of it.

Eddie