Shop Shelving

[chanle51]

Hi all:

I'm moving my tools, etc into the basement of my new house and am planning on installing some open shelving on which I'll be storing everything from plumbing tools to steel wool to finishing supplies.

I unfortunately don't have wide expanses of space in which I could install a wall to ceiling unit - rather have to use "here and there" banks of shelves on the wall.

Do any of you have any experience with the metal shelf standards/clip rail systems they sell at hardware stores and big boxes? Are there any other different types of "flexible" shevling systems you can recommend (that can hold a moderate amount of weight?)

Thanks in advance for any insight.
Chad

[BradTheDog]

in one of the homes I renovated a few years ago, I used 2x4's which I evenly dados to use as posts on 3/4" plywood shelves. I secured the posts togeather both depth and width so they were stable then I could slide the shelves in and out for quick adjustments. The shelves were just shy of 24x32 inches and could hold quite a bit of stuff, any longer than 32 inches and you would probably want another support or 2 in the back, but for 24x32 I had was adequately able to store a heavy dewalt portable tablesaw, without it flexing too much. Also it helps to oversize the dados by about 1/8 of an inch for easy removal.

[Super Ry]

I scored some Madix shelving units from a remod warehouse (same stuff you see in sears). They are a bit pricey BUT if you can find em - store display shelving is 100% adjustable and has to be able to hold GOBS of weight. Thinkin you might have luck with closed up / goin out of business places.

[fifo28]

When I finished my basement I made a bunch of closets. For a large closet I used the stuff from HD. I forget the manufacturer, but it has a white finish and is pretty beefy. You can adjust the height and add as many supports as you need. That closet has 4 plywood shelved 2 feet wide by 8 feet long and they are loaded with stuff. So far no sagging. I used 3 supports for those shelves.

[kayounkin]

I've used the metal shelving standards that have a double set of slots up and down the standard. The standards are about 1" x 1" square and made out of heavy gage steel. The shelf bracket slides in so that 4 slots are holding up each bracket. I space them at 24" centers and then pile the lumber on them. I know I've had several hundred pounds of lumber on these without any problems.

Of course the standards have to be fastened to the wall with some heavy screws (#12 screws).

[chanle51]

Thanks all for the feedback. I'm going to check out what the local HW store/boxes have for heavy duty shelf standards - if what I need is not available, I may build them out of dimensional + MDF. Much appreciated