Cabinet Storage Ideas

[SchuLace]

I got the below cabinet the other day. It used to house a breaker for a genset. I pulled out the breaker and everything and plan on turning it into a storage cabinet for my garage. It's roughly 72"x18"36".

I need some advice on shelves. There are 4 studs roughly 1/3 of the way up the back that I plan on using for mounts for shelves. The plan is to use angle iron for brackets and a board of some sort for the shelving. I would like these to hold 300 lbs or so. What thickness of angle iron should I use? What should I use for shelving?

Note-the cabinet is upside down in the pictures.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Just my $.02 but 300 lbs really isn't that much weight for such a short span. I'd think you could use 1x1 angle iron and it'd be more than adequate. Steel angle iron of course. Will you weld or bolt these to the cabinet sides?

 

[astroracer]

^^Ditto^^
3/4"plywood would be more then sufficient. Bolted angle iron brackets will work fine.
Mark

 

[SchuLace]

I am leaning towards bolting these on.

On another note, what is a good way to get rid of the shrink wrap that is stuck to it? It was wrapped up for quite a while outside and the sun basically melted the wrap to the cabinet. I tried a pressure washer and a heat gun but neither really worked. I might use a wire wheel on it and then reaping because the paint is iffy at best.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Leave it in the sun to get good and warm and the plastic should be easy to remove.

 

[Nowater]

Have you tried any solvents on the shrink wrap? I might try mineral spirits or alcohol first. I think Square D panels are finished in lacquer so avoid lacquer thinner or try in a small are first. Acetone might work, but that stuff stinks.

 

[bad_idea]

I would make the shelves out of sheet metal. Then again, I have access to a sheet metal brake and shear at work. 14 gauge sheet metal w/ a 1" lip on all four sides. Two 1/4-20 bolts on each side and two more across the back. Bolted in to make rearranging the shelves easier later. If no access to a brake, make a perimeter frame of 1x1x1/8" angle and tack sheet metal to the top of it.

 

[SchuLace]

I finally got the shelves mounted. I welded and then bolted them in and used 3/4 plywood for shelves.

The reason I welded and bolted it because I have a cheap Northern Tool welder that I've never really used so I decided it would be a good time to try it. II bolted because of the same reason. I don't want a weld to fail and a shelf to collapse.