2x4 shelves

[rathersmart]

Hi everyone!

I am planning to make some shelves out of 2x4s in the garage.

The first set of shelves is 4' wide and only 12" deep.

I will use a 2x4 on the near side of the shelf for support vertically from floor to ceiling, but I would like to use the wall studs as the support on the far side of the shelf.

Obviously bigger hardware is better, but do you think I am ok using #9 or #10 3.5" screws to attach the shelves to the wall studs, or do you think I need to go with a lag bolt? If a lag bolt, what size do you think is appropriate?

The shelves will hold various parts and car related fluids so they will probably see some good, not crazy, weight.

 

[3rdgendslmech]

I built mine this way except I made mine 24" deep, used 7/16 osb for the shelf. 3" screws. A few of the shelves that carry more weight I had to had some short pieces of 2x4 for support

 

[doublearon98]

Deck screws are fine

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[lkempf]

Those screws will be fine.

 

[GirlnAgarage]

I use 3.5" deck screws into studs.

 

[rathersmart]

thank you guys!

 

[XLR99]

Here's my solution - I have a bunch of shelves like this around the garage, 24" deep. I use lag screws into the studs, as well as the heavy duty shelf supports from Home Despot. The 2x4 frame is held together with 3" deck screws, with 1 5/8" screws to hold down the plywood.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Here's my solution - I have a bunch of shelves like this around the garage, 24" deep. I use lag screws into the studs, as well as the heavy duty shelf supports from Home Despot. The 2x4 frame is held together with 3" deck screws, with 1 5/8" screws to hold down the plywood.

By far the best solution ! I use similar bracket across the back of my garage to hold my spare lumber. Mounted about 18" below the top plate.

 

[kbs2244]

2x4 = 1.5 thick
0.5 for wall sheathing
= 2 total
3.5 screw =1.5 penetration.
That is plenty

Screwing two 2x4s together = only 3 inches
You will need to go to 3 inch screws'

Go with the gold deck screws.
The black drywall ones are too brittle in shear.

 

[rathersmart]

I ended up buying these t-star lags for the wall/stud side:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/SPAX-1-...Zinc-Coated-Lag-Screw-4581020700767/202041026

and #9 3" construction screws for the 2x4s

 

[hake]

Here's my solution - I have a bunch of shelves like this around the garage, 24" deep. I use lag screws into the studs, as well as the heavy duty shelf supports from Home Despot. The 2x4 frame is held together with 3" deck screws, with 1 5/8" screws to hold down the plywood.

Can you post another picture please? That one is not showing.


Sent from my iPhone using Garage Journal

 

[Farmallboy15]

Deck screws are fine. I prefer the ones with torx heads. 2.5-3" long. Here is what I did.

 

[Brown Dog ADV]

Deck screws are fine. I prefer the ones with torx heads. 2.5-3" long. Here is what I did.

I like the open storage bins on the end. Great idea!

 

[tthornto]

I've built a few sets of shelves like that at a previous house. Heres a few of the little things I learned.

For the shelves and the ledger board attached to the wall I like to use 2x3 instead of 2x4. Not only is it a little cheaper but it keeps the shelves thinner and maximizes the vertical space. If you want it to be sturdier or if you are making deeper shelves with 4' or longer between verticals, or if you just like the beefier look of a 2x4 then you can add a 2x4 to the face of the shelf so that it completely covers the 2x3 and the edge of the plywood.

If you don't have a table saw or even if you don't feel like setting up a table saw for this job I would suggest having the Plywood cut for you when you buy it. Both the Orange and Blue Box stores will cut it for free on a track saw. The track saw results in a much straighter cut than I can do with a circular saw.

Unless you are absolutely certain that your walls are perfectly flat build it with a planned 1/8" - 1/4" gap between the plywood and the wall, that way a bow in the wall won't make you have to scribe and rip the edge off the plywood to get it to fit. Fill that gap with a bead of caulk so that small items don't fall into the crack and get stuck.

 

[budget76]

to agree with others, i use deck screws for 95% of my shelves. Specifically, some of the 200lbs i got on the Home Depot Deckmate bazaar

I agree with above that my preference is to use 2x3's for the smaller shelves. they are plenty sturdy, and offer more vertical space. Also helped I had about 20 from superficial walls I tore down during a reno.

in the shed I built my workbenches exactly the same as some of the shelves above: 2x4 rectangle + plywood top, screwed into the studs and 1 or 2 diagonal supports underneath. No lags, only deck screws. They're I think 20" deep, and I stand on them with no issues to get up in the rafters.

 

[dogdog]

I built mine this way except I made mine 24" deep, used 7/16 osb for the shelf. 3" screws. A few of the shelves that carry more weight I had to had some short pieces of 2x4 for support

Same... mine is 24" (shelves) or 36" (table top) I just build them with supports (like studs for walls) of 24" center and top it with 5/8 plywood... mounted to the wall with 1/2"x6" concrete expanding bolts (redhead brand I think).. , hang with those threaded rods on the other side with a custom threaded bracket.... . It will hold 4x of me no problems..

 

[Krang]

My entire space is built out this way, great, sturdy shelving.

Because I was running 8’ shelves I put a support at 4’ to keep everything tight. In retrospect I probably didn’t need to, but it works.

I also doubled up on the shelving support and used 2x6 so I could pre-build the shelves and just slide them into place on the 2x6 uprights. Also, this allows me to change height whenever I want by RE-sizing the spacer blocks.






Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Bretny]

I have a fluids shelf loaded with gallon jugs. Its prob 10ftx12in. I just used the standard punch pressed shelf brackets every 4ft or so with no special hardware.

You will be fine with 3in screws. You could even make the vertical legs out of 2x3 and be perfectly fine as long as your now putting engine blocks on it.

 

[6PKRTSE]

I have the rivet adjustable shelving in my garage which I like for the ease of adjust-ability since I am always adding more junk or moving stuff around to gain more room for something else.

 

[Grimpala]

I have the rivet adjustable shelving in my garage which I like for the ease of adjust-ability since I am always adding more junk or moving stuff around to gain more room for something else.

You need a few more NOS bottles and black totes.

 

[goodboy]

Some good stuff in this thread...

I've done several 2x4 shelving projects... and my new favorite tool for doing them is the kreg pocket tool for pocket screws..

I personally find the pocket screw connection stronger than alot of other ways I've done it in the past.... but I'm not a really good carpenter lol...

Anyway thought I'd share

Edit: I should add that I don't use them everywhere lol... just where they make sense