Help me with a shelf solution that is clear underneath

[MikeH]

I want to put a shelf on my garage wall that is clear underneath so that I can store snowblowers, lawn mowers, air compressor, etc under it without having to negotiate too much with supports.
I would like it to be about 20-24 inches deep so that the lawn equipment fits completely underneath.
I can't hang it from the ceiling, because at least half of the length I'm dealing with will be under the garage door path.
I am willing to run supports up to the wall above, but haven't really come up with a design I like, I'm wide open to ideas.
The studs are exposed and available.
It also isn't going to be a workbench (that's on the other side of the garage) and it shouldn't have to bear too much weight, just moderate storage.

What do you suggest? I'm willing to build it, or buy it, but I'm only hoping to be here for another 3-4 years so I don't want to go crazy.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Angle brackets.

John Sterling 0049-20WTH $12.77 Heavy Duty Shelf Bracket, White, 500 Lb | Zoro.com

Order John Sterling Heavy Duty Shelf Bracket, White, 500 Lb, 0049-20WTH at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

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Zoro Select Utility Shelf Bracket, 20 Lx13 In H 1RBY8 | Zoro

Order Zoro Select Utility Shelf Bracket, 20 Lx13 In H, 1RBY8 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

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[LeeG]

Counter top brackets

Countertop support brackets - hidden steel brackets for granite countertops, vanities, shower seating and more.

The Front Mounting Plus countertop support bracket for granite and other solid surface material is designed for use in high traffic or load applications such as commercial environments, vanities, shower benches or free floating desks.

www.countertopbracket.com

or, since this is garage journal, make a 90° bend in some 2”x3/8” flat bar with your 20 ton press.

 

[niget2002]

Just put a vertical 2x4 in each corner. Maybe one in the middle. If you stick it the right way you're only giving up 1.5". Sometimes trying to engineer a solution isn't worth the effort.

 

[MikeH]

Angle brackets.

John Sterling 0049-20WTH $12.77 Heavy Duty Shelf Bracket, White, 500 Lb | Zoro.com

Order John Sterling Heavy Duty Shelf Bracket, White, 500 Lb, 0049-20WTH at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

Zoro Select Utility Shelf Bracket, 20 Lx13 In H 1RBY8 | Zoro

Order Zoro Select Utility Shelf Bracket, 20 Lx13 In H, 1RBY8 at Zoro.com. Great prices & free shipping on orders over $50 when you sign in or sign up for an account.

www.zoro.com

That's definitely the least expensive solution. The only thing I don't like about it is how far down the support reaches. Probably I could work around it, but I'm hoping to keep it more open so that if I want to stuff can roll back and forth along the wall without having to come out and be reoriented.

Counter top brackets

Countertop support brackets - hidden steel brackets for granite countertops, vanities, shower seating and more.

The Front Mounting Plus countertop support bracket for granite and other solid surface material is designed for use in high traffic or load applications such as commercial environments, vanities, shower benches or free floating desks.

www.countertopbracket.com

or, since this is garage journal, make a 90° bend in some 2”x3/8” flat bar with your 20 ton press.

I like those. Unfortunately there's no 20 ton press in my garage, so I'd be stuck just buying them. Good find though. I don't see a weight capacity listed, but I guess if they're intended to hold a granite counter they're probalby going to be fine with anything I intend.

 

[manwithtools]

Lengths of chain on each end and the middle run diagonally to the wall above the shelf. Eye bolts and screw eyes should work nicely. Something like the photo below, but perhaps not so pretty

 

[Voi]

Would any of these give you enough clearance underneath?

Heavy-Duty Steel Shelf Brackets-Black Finish

These black shelf brackets can hold up to 1000 lbs. each.

www.rockler.com

FastCap SB-21X24WH, 21"x24" SpeedBrace Workstation Bracket, White, Packed 1

https://www.architecturaldepot.com/BKTM02X14X05EBCRS.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI8PPX7oyT8QIVeGxvBB22KQeuEAQYBSABEgJZyvD_BwE

 

[CraigStu]

Don't don't forget that you can use the shelf supports on top of the shelf too. Depending on weight you need a fender washer or similar so the bolt doesn't pull through the shelf panel.

 

[rburke65]

Possibly some althread from above....attached to the rafters or trusses.

 

[manwithtools]

I can't hang it from the ceiling, because at least half of the length I'm dealing with will be under the garage door path.

Devil is in the details...

 

[Steve in UT]

These are awesome!! I have them everywhere. I set a 24" shelf on the 20" brackets and a 16" shelf on the 14" brackets. Allows 2 and 3 shelves from a 48" sheet of particle board. I get 5 shelves per standard. I start with a 16" shelf on the bottom around 16" off the floor, or enough room for a bucket on the floor. The next one up is a 24" that I set at workbench height. Next a 16" for face room while standing at the work bench shelf and then 2 24" shelves starting at 6' (over my head) and the last shelf at the top. The shelves in the pic are mess (still moving in) but might give an idea what I am talking about. You can also get brackets without the brace.

https://www.menards.com/main/storag...-c-12657.htm?tid=-4683584127267039155&ipos=28

https://www.menards.com/main/storag...2-c-12657.htm?tid=-8371125586395372820&ipos=1

 

[theoldwizard1]

I have a 48" shelf the width (20') of my garage. It is about 54" off the floor. The beams underneath are full width (20') 2x6 12"O.C. the back one is lagged to the wall, but the others rest on 2x6 lagged to the side walls. There is ONE support in the center that runs at about a 45 from the footer.

I would not store a SBC up there but it easily holds my massive weight !

 

[nadogail]

Lots of great options have been posted here. Now your problem will be picking one that is best for your individual situation.

 

[MikeH]

Lots of great options have been posted here. Now your problem will be picking one that is best for your individual situation.

Yes indeed. Thanks for all the ideas, a lot of them look very viable for my particulars. I’ll sketch out, and price out a few of the options and will be doing something within the week. Thanks to all!

 

[tjpavlov]

Check out the Fastcap Speedbrace. They aren't cheap but I think they would be perfect for your application.

 

[Lynden]

Don't forget that you can use the shelf supports on top of the shelf too. Depending on weight you need a fender washer or similar so the bolt doesn't pull through the shelf panel.

For my shelves I used Everbilt 20"x 13" heavy-duty brackets from Home Depot but I mounted the brackets upside down with the 20" leg horizontal and 13" leg (pointing up) lagged to the stud.

Everbilt 20 in. x 13 in. White Heavy-Duty Shelf Bracket 14825 - The Home Depot

Visit the Home Depot to buy 600 lb. 20 in. x 13 in. White Steel Heavy-Duty Shelf Bracket 14825

www.homedepot.com

If you're going to use these brackets upside down you need to put a spot of weld on the backside where the little tenon(?) at each end of the angled part of the bracket comes through the hole in the 13" and 20" legs.

My shelves are built in 48" long sections. Each section has a 3/4" plywood shelf (21"x 48") which is attached at each end to the top of the 20" leg of the bracket and is notched around the angled part of the bracket. The shelf is supported in the back by a 1"x 3" ledger. At each of the two studs between the ends of each shelf section I used the bracket below (14" leg horizontal) mounted under the shelf for additional support.

Everbilt 12 in. x 14 in. White Shelf Bracket 15255 - The Home Depot

Crown Bolt's White Shelf Bracket is ideal for closets, garages, sheds or any shelving needs. Compatible with wood, plastic or metal shelving.

www.homedepot.com

 

[alex71]

Pallet rack!

 

[jetnow1]

I took some old kitchen cabinets that were good faces, but rotted particle board bodies. Built new boxes of plywood the depth I wanted, mounted the nice oak faces to them and mounted them to the wall. gives me storage that hides and keeps the dust off
at an affordable price. I ended up painting them to match the other details in my garage.

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

These are awesome!! I have them everywhere. I set a 24" shelf on the 20" brackets and a 16" shelf on the 14" brackets. Allows 2 and 3 shelves from a 48" sheet of particle board. I get 5 shelves per standard. I start with a 16" shelf on the bottom around 16" off the floor, or enough room for a bucket on the floor. The next one up is a 24" that I set at workbench height. Next a 16" for face room while standing at the work bench shelf and then 2 24" shelves starting at 6' (over my head) and the last shelf at the top. The shelves in the pic are mess (still moving in) but might give an idea what I am talking about. You can also get brackets without the brace.

https://www.menards.com/main/storag...-c-12657.htm?tid=-4683584127267039155&ipos=28

https://www.menards.com/main/storag...2-c-12657.htm?tid=-8371125586395372820&ipos=1

These are what I use also. Has anyone found them besides at Menards?

 

[charbar]

What about a floating shelf design. Like what you'd see in a house, or a mantle type thing. Might not be sturdy enough though, depends what's on it.

Personally I'd either do the chains angled back the the wall studs or run 2x4s to the floor. I know you don't want anything down to the floor, but if you're putting mowers, blowers, compressors etc under it, then a 2x4 on the floor really isn't going to be in the way that much. Especially if you plan where you want them.

 

[Gunfixr]

You ever hear of uline? They have a website, they are a commercial/industrial supplier. They have lots of shelving types, might be worth checking out.
I know they should have some wall mount track with brackets systems.

 

[MikeH]

I ended up doing the Rubbermaid “Tough Stuff” track shelving. Similar to their fast track, but the brackets don’t extend as far down. (Fast Track doesn’t have 20” brackets without support, as far as I can tell). I liked the chain support idea a lot, but as my wife pointed out, the tracks will allow a second shelf above more easily. One ridiculously expensive sheet of plywood later and we’re in business. Thanks all!