Alternative Rail for Akro-bins

[Don Hendrix]

Hi, I'm new to the forum and have been reading for a few days. Thanks for all the info posted here.

I recently picked up some inexpensive Akro-bins. Now I would like to do a wall mount system but don't want to pay the $5.50/LF for the commercial rails. What is an alternative rail that is functional and "cheap"?

Thanks,

Don

 

[Steevo]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

What size bins, and for how much weight per bin?

 

[Don Hendrix]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

Steevo, I have 7-1/8"L X 4-1/8"W X 3"H,
10-7/8"L X 4-1/8"W X 4"H, and
10-7/8"L X 5-1/2"W X 5"H
5-8 lbs max per bin, well under rated capacities. Probably will use about a 48" long rail, depending on my material source.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

Do you weld?

 

[Don Hendrix]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

No, Jack, I do not.

 

[PCO6]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

I used lengths of 1"x3" pine with aluminum angle screwed to the top face of the wood. The angle I used is for drop ceilings - purchased at Home Depot - comes in white. You can make it in lengths to suit where you want to put it.

The back lip of the bin clips onto the angle and the back bottom face of the bin rests on the pine.

 

[darkk]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

Akro Bin makes a mounting plate that would hold a car on it. Very sturdy for the heavier larger bins. These can be had for about 20-25 dollars each on line.

 

[Mattlt]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

Wire closet shelving from the big-box stores. Really cheap.

 

[Zeke]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

Wire closet shelving from the big-box stores. Really cheap.

That's damn clever.

 

[Flamingomtn]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

Wire closet shelving from the big-box stores. Really cheap.

BRILLIANT! Thank you!

 

[matt_i]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

I was thinking something like a "panel flanger" I think I have seen at Eastwood, basically two rollers in a "dieset" configuration, where it roll-forms a little offset "Z" shape in the edge of a sheetmetal strip. I can't tell you what its capacity is, but I'd think 16ga steel x 1-1/2" wide strip would hold up a lot of stuff if supported @ 16" oc.

 

[pcmeiners]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

Matt....
Damn cool idea, cheap and easy to obtain wire rack.

 

[The Cobbler]

Wire closet shelving... damn, I tossed all kinds of off-cuts that I figured I had no use for.

 

[rslaback]

My preferred method is shelving standard and 1x strips.

 

[gungatim]

Re: Alternative Rail for Akrobins

I was thinking something like a "panel flanger" I think I have seen at Eastwood, basically two rollers in a "dieset" configuration, where it roll-forms a little offset "Z" shape in the edge of a sheetmetal strip. I can't tell you what its capacity is, but I'd think 16ga steel x 1-1/2" wide strip would hold up a lot of stuff if supported @ 16" oc.

that's basically what I do, cut a strip of sheet metal and run it through the flange wheels on the HF bead roller. make any length you want out of whatever scrap you have. works great. only problem I have is the cheapo akro knock-off's have the lip deformed half the time from poor molding and makes it hard to get the lip on the hanger, but that goes for any hanger. good Akro's are fine though.

 

[Bigtexun]

This is an old thread, but the information is timeless...

I was going to do the shelving standards on 1" lumber as mentioned earlier, until I discovered that DIN rails cost the same or less than shelving standards, AND they eliminate the need for the board, and have a profile that is a little tighter. DIN rails come in a lot of different forms and lengths, but you can get 10 packs of long ones for really good prices, and it is a one piece solution per-row of bins. Now perhaps you can find standards used even cheaper, OR you can use some other channel form that is cheaper, but so far the DIN rails seem to be the most cost effective way of attaching bins to the wall.