Shelving Recomendations

**foobar** · 02-12-2015, 03:13 PM

I came across a good number of 2x4's for free, and I've decided that I'm going to build shelves. Up until now, I've used boxes and buckets on the floor. The problem was that where I had floor space was in another room of where I do breakdown. This will be a huge step in efficiency. My buckets are mostly five gallon buckets. I have a few of the rubber maid 18 gallon tubs that I use for motherboards. I'm willing to buy a few more.

I"m struggling with what the ideal shelf height should be. 18 gallon tubs are about 17" tall, and 5 gallon buckets are 15" tall. I'm thinking of making the shelves 18" tall. That would mean that I would need to pull out the tubs whenever I put something in. It would give me a few inches of height for the buckets. I could go 24" on a row or two to give me more space for throwing items in the buckets without pulling them out. But the higher I go to make it easier to put items in, the less space I have for additional rows. I plan to put several shorter shelves on the top - maybe 6" - 10". Maybe I'm over-thinking this, but My construction system isn't going to be very flexible once it's built.

I will say that this will be somewhat of a staging solution. I'll still use my space in other room to hold boxes/buckets/tubs once they are full.

Could I get some input for what you have for shelving height / storage, and if you're happy with it or not? I'm most interested in shelf height, but I welcome any input on your shelving/storage. And how do you work with it?

I recognize the wealth of experience out there, and welcome any insights.

**ryanw** · 02-12-2015, 03:28 PM

I don't store things the same as you, but I from what I experienced, it's always better not to squeeze things in height-wise. Pulling containers out to fill is inefficient if you're breaking down right there next to them, also this will leave some room to overfill if needed. Scrap comes in many sizes. I at least like the 24" height for what you have, but even more would make you happier (would you like to toss something into a bucket, or reach under the shelf and drop it in). Think of being versatile for the future as well.

I tried to squeeze several levels out of some pallet racking, and it ended up being more annoying and time consuming than if i had left ample headroom for what I was loading onto the racks.

Also, consider not having a low bottom shelf. Heaver bucks and bins can just sit on the floor which will free up a few extra inches that that shelf would have taken.

**foobar** · 02-12-2015, 03:34 PM

Great point on containers spilling over.

**Scrappah** · 02-12-2015, 05:33 PM

I'm kind of in the same situation right now. I came by some fairly decent 3/4 T&G OSB awhile back and intend on building cabinets to get my shop better organized.

Depth needs to be 24" for the totes

I think i'm going to go with 24" wide for the shelves. (Once you get a shelf that's three or four feet wide you almost always run into problems with them sagging.)

Height will be around seven feet tall (floor to ceiling.)

It's extra expense but i think i'm going to use shelf standards & clips so that the shelving is adjustable.

**foobar** · 02-12-2015, 06:24 PM

I intend to make mine 7' wide. I'm not worried about sagging, there are going to be plenty of supports.

**Scrappah** · 02-12-2015, 06:52 PM

Yeah, it's different construction technique when you're building with 2 x 4's. Have you ever tried GRK framing screws ? They're a lot faster than nailing and they hold like crazy.

The area i've got is about 10 feet wide. What i thought i'd do is lay down a 2 x 4 platform for the cabinets to rest upon so you have a toe space. After that, it would be two 4' wide x 24" deep x appox 7' high cabinets.

Each of those would be divided in the middle so that the shelves don't have a span of more than 24".

The last cabinet will be built to fill whatever space is left over on the ten foot dimension.

Put doors on the front and it's all neat and tidy.

It's just gonna be a bit of work is all. I got started on them then it started snowing like crazy here a few weeks ago. Had to go off and do snow removal so i'm just getting back to it.

Hopefully, the weather will stay clear for a bit so that something actually gets done.

**Mechanic688** · 02-12-2015, 09:45 PM

Here's how we solved the problem. Went from floor up about 6' with the shelves, made them big enough for totes and buckets using 2x4's and plywood. This was in my garage. Notice the weight marked on some of the totes for the yard. Banana boxes work great also, their heavy duty.

This is a roll around rack we use for extra storage.

**foobar** · 02-12-2015, 10:09 PM

Mechanic, that's very close to what I'm thinking. I was planning on doubling the 2-4 vertical supports with the second layer cut to heights between the shelves to provide support other than screws. Maybe overkill.

So what is the height if your shelves with the 18 gallon tubs? If you could do it again, would you do the same or change height? Looks like what you have holds plenty of weight.

**Mechanic688** · 02-12-2015, 11:03 PM

*So what is the height if your shelves with the 18 gallon tubs? If you could do it again, would you do the same or change height?

*I was planning on doubling the 2-4 vertical supports with the second layer cut to heights between the shelves to provide support other than screws. Maybe overkill.

Not sure of the height, been too long. The Back is screwed to the studs in the wall for extra strength. I think the white buckets are what they call 6 gal. buckets.

**Abuilder** · 02-12-2015, 11:17 PM

Nice job Mech
3/4 plywood I take it.

**Sirscrapalot** · 02-13-2015, 12:07 AM

I need sleep, i could've sworn the title said.."Shaving recomendations". /stare

I just have buckets an totes. Lots of both. No shelves in my new place..yet. Maybe when the weather gets warmer I'll build some.

Sirscrapalot - What did the chair say to the door? Stop being shelvish.

**matador** · 02-13-2015, 12:09 AM

The buckets are 5 gallons each. They can hold a lot of weight!

How do the cornets go together, if you don't mind me asking. I'm planning on doing this for our back office.

**DevinThaScrapper** · 02-13-2015, 03:14 PM

I just fixed up my shelf and added more vertical supports but heres the jist of it. Its efficent because your not using plywood, only 2x4's or 1x's

Just cut off the bucket handles and make it the right size for the lip to catch. They are easy to take in and out if you leave significant space.

**NHscrapman** · 02-13-2015, 03:38 PM

Looks like scrap basketball

Very nice that same amount of buckets would take up a lot of floor space.
Did you purposely put it in the corner to be able to support two sides?

**DevinThaScrapper** · 02-13-2015, 04:23 PM

Yes, I actually just added 2x4's between on the left side for a bit more support. This is basically something you can span a whole wall side and get tons of storage. Buckets like these are at lowes for $2 or cl for $1 each. Tear the handles off and wala

**NHscrapman** · 02-13-2015, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Sirscrapalot

I need sleep, i could've sworn the title said.."Shaving recomendations". /stare

I just have buckets an totes. Lots of both. No shelves in my new place..yet. Maybe when the weather gets warmer I'll build some.

Sirscrapalot - What did the chair say to the door? Stop being shelvish.

There is a shaving thread on here somewhere I believe

FooBar that's how I made the shelves in my shed, used short pieces in between the shelves, more because I had a lot of scraps from building the shed that needed to serve a purpose.
But works just as well as a whole 2x4

**junkfreak** · 02-13-2015, 05:55 PM

Originally Posted by DevinThaScrapper

Yes, I actually just added 2x4's between on the left side for a bit more support. This is basically something you can span a whole wall side and get tons of storage. Buckets like these are at lowes for $2 or cl for $1 each. Tear the handles off and wala

Before you spend money on buckets check out you local painting contractors. Which I am. I plenty of buckets for scrap and I give a lot away. And iam a painter who scraps. Think outside the box guys every cent counts.

**foobar** · 02-27-2015, 12:35 PM

Follow up on this. I made my plan, and built the shelves. A few details for anyone who wants to build something. I made the depth 19.5", because that's what I had with room limitations. In hindsight, I don't think the extra 4.5" to go to 24" would have bought me much, the 18 gallon tubs stick out a little on the top, but that makes it easier to add something. The bottom two shelves are 18" high, and the third one is 16". The shelves on the right were added to work around duct work that I didn't want to relocate. Notice that the vertical supports are one solid piece and then doubled up with scrap cut to the height of the shelves that support the shelving frames. I put support "ribs" on the shelves every 12" on center. This is anchored to the right wall with tapcons. The back wall wouldn't give a good hold - the cinder blocks were too crumbly. I used a hurricane tie strap and 10 screws to attach the front middle support to a floor joist in the ceiling. That's more than sufficient to hold this to the wall. For the shelving, I used planks left from pallets.

I made this almost entirely with scraps - had to buy one 2x4 and the anchoring materiel. Total cost was about five bucks. Took me about 2 days. Most of this was because several pieces were warped, and I spent time trying to bend them back to workable shape. I admit I used a few pocket screws, but that was when I realized a few mistakes I made in the build order, and didn't have another way to join them.

This isn't perfect, but it is light years ahead of where I was. Now the scrap containers are in the same room as me - and within arm's reach. They take up minimal floor space. Neither of those two things have happened for me yet. The green and white boxes are vinegar boxes from SAMS. I love them for the smaller E-Waste like floppy drives, finger cards, hard drives, cd boards, etc. I intend to cut a short flap off each tonight to make it easier to add to.

The round table is my primary breakdown area. I have a TV on an unseen wall in the basement. My wife and I spend a few hours together on Fridays watching a show or two after the kids are in bed.

Please forgive a little self bragging. Maybe someone will like this and get an idea or two.

Shelving Recomendations

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