Shelving??

I

imported_kgb

New member
Ok, I have a little problem. I need some heavy duty shelves for my basement (I know this is for garages but in the winter time my basement is my storage area ;) ). The cheap old ones I have now are all bowed an tipsy. I would like a nice heavy duty shelving unit. Nothing fancy like doors and stuff, just good old fashioned sturdy shelves.



Thanks.



EDIT: It can not attatch to the walls. It has to me free standing.
 
Ya might try searching online or the phone book. Guy I know found several "Heavy Duty" vendors locally in the Yellow pages.
 
Thanks!

I have been searching online but not having much luck finding vendors. Most are just wholesalers that supply to warehouses and stuff.
 
I don't know if they still have them, but a couple years back IKEA had these storage shelves. They were metal frames and had some very rough boards (2x4s or 2x6s) screwed into them. Looked very industrial. Pretty solid, if I remember, and they were under about $30 each. They were maybe 6 feet tall, 3 feet wide and 18 inches deep. Not pretty, but practical. You might try their website.



At all else, I bet you could make something from 2x4s and MDF for less than $50/unit, if you had to.
 
The top end shelves they sell at Home Depot, Lowes, etc. are pretty good. These are the ones that use a piece of plywood or particle board for the shelf and metal for the frame. Personally, I make my own. If I need super heavy duty, I take 2x4s and make a rectangular frame which is topped by a piece of 7/16" MDF cut to fit. I'll build a few of these the same and use 2x4s for the verticle supports at each corner and at 3 to 4' intervals on the sides. My shelves are sturdy enough to put an engine block on without bowing.
 
I am thinking of making my own as well. I am going to head to Lowes this evening an see what all they have to offer. I am thinking either make one out of 2x4 and MDF like you all said or eve out of "L" shaped steel, with the holes in them, (not sure the correct term) and make some shelves with that and that way they would be easily adjustable if I need to.
 
I'm a really big fan of industrial wire shelving. Wire shelving is very rugged, very versatile, easy to keep clean, easy to re-configure and easy to break down and move. You can buy it in pre-packaged shelf units or as pieces to build into any conceivable layout.



The one drawback is that the best quality "Made in USA" products can be a bit pricey. Some of the offshore manufactured versions are actually pretty good quality but only come in a limited number of layouts.



Many department stores, home centers and hardware stores have some version or other.



http://www.industrialhouse.com/Storage/Metro/index.html

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?prodid=10006799&whse=&topnav=&cat=

http://www.griotsgarage.com/catalog.jsp?L1=L1_3000&L2=L2_3010&SKU=92419





PC.
 
2001civicex said:
I am thinking of making my own as well. I am going to head to Lowes this evening an see what all they have to offer. I am thinking either make one out of 2x4 and MDF like you all said or eve out of "L" shaped steel, with the holes in them, (not sure the correct term) and make some shelves with that and that way they would be easily adjustable if I need to.
Click to expand...



Angle iron is a good way to go, but more expensive. My shelves are not adjustable or very portable. What I do is make the bottom shelves with more clearance because you're more likely to put heavier items on bottom shelves.
 
Scott, if you can get Diamond plate sell that stuff on ebay! LMAO!



Pondscum, Thanks for the bigger bottom shelf idea. I did not even think of it but glad you said something cause I will want more room down there. Thanks! I am not sure I will be able to find the 5' sections of angle with holes that i need. I am going to check the local hardware tonight. I think instead of building 10' of shelves I am going to build like 4' of shelves then next to that a 4' bench with shelving on top of it. I need a bench area down there to use for boxing products up and shipping stuff so that will be a good thing to have as well.
 
Hehehe no ebay :) I dont want to take from work and try to make a profit ;) But they dont mind scraps (18"x36or48") strips being taken for use by employees. Would make for some cool shelves.
 
How thick are they? :D and where do you work? LOL



I miss the days of working in a shop and being able to make custom parts and stuff and have all sorts of steel available.
 
I like the indutrial wire shelves too and Target and Lowes have decent pricing.



There is another option: Elfa shelves from The Container Store. They are somwhat economical during the annual 20-30% off sales and they look great when done right and its a modular system that offers baskets for sports equipment, etc.
 
You can go to Menards and get these brackets in there shelving area....they are made to fit 2x4s into them and you can configure your shelves (height/width) as big as you want.



Basically the brackets make up all your corners/ joints....you buy the # of pieces you need to make the shelf the size you want...then all you have to do is get 2x4s and cut them to the lengths you want them. Very sturdy looking....brackets are black steel



MIKE
 
I am going to look at Lowes and Homedepot tonight I think and see what all they have. Thanks for the suggestions and keep them coming!



I think I will have a hard time finding 5' angle to be honest.
 
I bought my shelving from a local home center chain. They hold a lot of wax and don't bend. They are five shelves high and are adjustable. I think they were $30-$40 each.
 
Scott P said:
I bought my shelving from a local home center chain. They hold a lot of wax and don't bend. They are five shelves high and are adjustable. I think they were $30-$40 each.
Click to expand...



That is good to know. I was adding new products to some shelves today at lunch and my girl friend said, "Wow! That shelf almost tipped!" Adn then I noticed it all shifted to one side. LOL
 
Ok, I found some nice heavy duty shelves from Lowes and they can be split in half to use as a work bench too so I am going to buy two of them. One will be my work bench and one a nice shelf.



It's actually just like, except the ones I am getting are 24" deep by 48" wide by 72" tall, this or pretty darned close and they are $69 per unit and I am buying two so it is not a bad deal since mine is even bigger! :D

http://www.brookstone.com/shop/prod...ch_type=subcategory&search_words=&prodtemp=t1
 
they are range from 1/2 thick to 3/4 inch thick. I work in a tool and die shop in GR. I got word today they are practically giving the stuff away :) Now I just have to learn to weld :)
 
Welding is not too hard. It just takes lots of pratice. I used to weld all the time but have not welded in years. My dad is a welder though. ;)
 
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