Can I convert storage racks into cabinets?

[eljay]

Soo, I am tired of looking at all the stuff on my shelves/racks. While I try to keep things organized in clear storage bins, stuff creeps out of them and sits on shelves and then it collects dust.

I have a combination of these shelves with 2 of these heavy duty racks on one side of the garage:
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/hu...helving-unit-with-wire-deck-in-red/1001513309
and units similar to these on the other side:
https://www.homedepot.ca/product/ed...-duty-steel-shelving-unit-in-black/1000674333

I park two cars into the garage and I like that I can pull out stuff off the racks even with cars parked. In other words, I wouldn't want a typical cabinet door on the front of them. So, I am thinking a sliding 2-piece door on each shelf/rack unit.

Would this be a worthwhile conversion?
I guess getting enoug sheet metal to enclose them may be costly. I was thinking of some sliding doors from Ikea's wardrobe collections, but they are not cheap either.

Has anyone done a conversion like this?

Thanks for any tips, ideas.

 

[Lynden]

Old GJ posts on the subject...

https://www.google.com/search?q=how...hUKEwiYjPLJ4OTqAhWXGDQIHbGGCP0QrQIoA3oECAUQBA

For sliding doors you will need to attach a piece of wood across the top and bottom of each shelf unit to support standard sliding door hardware and the sliding doors you build. This link shows a similar installation.

https://sawdustgirl.com/easy-diy-sliding-cabinet-doors/

 

[nadogail]

Yes you can just add sides, backs and doors. Maybe shelf bottoms too.

 

[eljay]

Old GJ posts on the subject...

https://www.google.com/search?q=how...hUKEwiYjPLJ4OTqAhWXGDQIHbGGCP0QrQIoA3oECAUQBA

For sliding doors you will need to attach a piece of wood across the top and bottom of each shelf unit to support standard sliding door hardware and the sliding doors you build. This link shows a similar installation.

https://sawdustgirl.com/easy-diy-sliding-cabinet-doors/

Thank you! I guess I didn't search hard enough. I am especially interested in attaching sliding doors to them, so that link helps.

Much appreciated.
I'll go look for some sliding door hardware and find some material I like for the doors and sides.

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

I did it. Bought a nice bin rack from Costco years ago and built sides and doors for it. Flat plywood installed with self drilling screws. Rails & stiles (well, not really) attached on the surface with brad nailer. Don't forget to put a bottom on it like I did. Rats, friggin rats!

I'm about figure out how to re-purpose those bins and possibly the rails they run on using them inside cheap-*** melamine cabinets. We'll see if I can make that work and look right.

 

[karoc]

Guessing your shelves are 36" wide so with sliding doors means they will be about 32" opening if you have face frame. So you open one door,then say to yourself,heck its on the other side. You close it then open the other side,point being I would want to see what is on that shelve all at one time. So I would build a face frame,then put doors for each shelve that would go all the way across and fold down. Use couple hinges that made for cabinet doors mounted on bottom side of door and use those magnetic catches on each corner at top to keep doors close. Million ideals I guess out there,this is just another but good project.

 

[finn]

Menards sells (or at least sold) hinged doors for their rack system, and it may adapt to the HD racks.

Really cleans up the appearance.

 

[eljay]

Guessing your shelves are 36" wide so with sliding doors means they will be about 32" opening if you have face frame. So you open one door,then say to yourself,heck its on the other side. You close it then open the other side,point being I would want to see what is on that shelve all at one time. So I would build a face frame,then put doors for each shelve that would go all the way across and fold down. Use couple hinges that made for cabinet doors mounted on bottom side of door and use those magnetic catches on each corner at top to keep doors close. Million ideals I guess out there,this is just another but good project.

Good idea, but, unfortunately, it won't work for me as when both cars are parked, I barely slide sideways between the car and the racks. So, sliding doors are the only solution that would work for me.

 

[eljay]

This is the mess I am trying to address. (Sorting in progress)


The rack on the left is 5' wide, the one on the right is 4' wide and there's about 4' gap between them with an electrical panel in that space. They are 2' deep and 6.5' tall.

So, right now, I'm thinking of finding a strong long metal channel to affix to the top of both rack units (and spanning the gap too) and then have a single panel covering the front of each unit, so that I can slide it fully out of the way (into the gap between them) and access the full shelf if needed. I'll see if I can get away with a single channel - that is have the 5' side slide over the gap and still get full access to everything on those shelves.
Then I'll add some sides, but leave the backs open, so those clear plastic bins can fit by being pushed out the back a little.

I think some kind of grey panel stuff would be nice as white would probably get dirty quickly. I'll see what I can find in local shops.

P.S. I'm in Canucklandia, so not all the stuff from the USA is available cheaply here.

 

[eljay]

I will be getting these sliding door rails and attach them to the top rack shelf with a L-brackets.
Now, I'd like some lightweight material for the doors. Ideally, they will be one piece covering each rack and the opening, but I don't have a truck to transport 5x6 sheets of anything.
I may have to get HD to cut it for me and go with 2' and 3' wide sections. Not sure I'll like the look with a seam between the sections, but it may be OK.
What would be the best material for the sliding doors? 1/4" plywood? Fiberboard?
Would plywood hang straight without any backing frame? Or do I need to build a thin frame regardless?

As well, I realized that I have my baseboard heater behind the left side rack and within the opening. That may block some of the current open heat distribution. I'll leave the back of the racks open to aid that problem a bit.

 

[mbarone]

I made some sliding doors for a storage cabinet using this material, and framed it with 1x3 to reduce the flex:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/EUCATIL...ard-Thrifty-White-Tile-Board-346428/308731683

its nice as it reflects light and you can use it as a whiteboard

 

[eljay]

I made some sliding doors for a storage cabinet using this material, and framed it with 1x3 to reduce the flex:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/EUCATIL...ard-Thrifty-White-Tile-Board-346428/308731683

its nice as it reflects light and you can use it as a whiteboard

Good tip! Thanks.
I found it here in Canada: https://www.homedepot.ca/product/decorative-panels-frost-white-paneling/1000654385

Check out the price difference!! We always get hosed, plus add 15% tax.

I wonder if HD can cut it properly, so I can transport them. As mentioned, before, I'll likely have to go with 24x75" sections, so my 5' rack will have 2-2-1' sections.

Do you have any pictures to share?

 

[drboom]

I used to have those heavy-duty metal shelves (from costco) in my garage. Instead of trying to enclose them, I found a local source for good condition but used lateral file cabinets. If the things you are storing will fit, they are very well built, can handle substantial weight and look pretty good.

 

[mbarone]

Do you have any pictures to share?

I'm re-organizing the garage and couldn't get a full shot of the cabinet, but here is 1 full door. The 1x3 trim has a lip routed in it and slides in a groove routed in the upper and lower 2x4.

I cut the white material with a handheld circular saw, and its screwed to the back of the 1x3 trim, so the edge is hidden and doesn't need to be perfect. They can most likely do a good enough job at HD. Maybe have it cut over sized and you can trim if needed just in case.

Sent from my PH-1 using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[eljay]

I'm re-organizing the garage and couldn't get a full shot of the cabinet, but here is 1 full door. The 1x3 trim has a lip routed in it and slides in a groove routed in the upper and lower 2x4.

I cut the white material with a handheld circular saw, and its screwed to the back of the 1x3 trim, so the edge is hidden and doesn't need to be perfect. They can most likely do a good enough job at HD. Maybe have it cut over sized and you can trim if needed just in case.

Sent from my PH-1 using The Garage Journal mobile app

Very nice!
I am hoping to actually hide the frame behind the white panels for a cleaner look over the racks, but your way is easier to build as the panel imperfections and edges are hidden.
Thank you!

 

[eljay]

I used to have those heavy-duty metal shelves (from costco) in my garage. Instead of trying to enclose them, I found a local source for good condition but used lateral file cabinets. If the things you are storing will fit, they are very well built, can handle substantial weight and look pretty good.

Hmm, while that won't work for the storage racks I have since I'm storing tires, lawnmower etc. on the racks and I would need those sliding doors, you just gave me an idea for my other project here, where I am attempting to add drawers under my workbench. It turns out that a 2-drawer legal lateral cabinet should fit perfectly!

 

[eljay]

Another question I have for this project:
I would like to replace the long pieces of MDF boards (that are just sitting on top of both shelves) with a sheet of plywood. Would 8x2' plywood that is 1/2" thick be able to span the gap between the two racks and support the weight of some boxes? Or is 3/4" or higher needed?
The gap is about 5.5', so that would leave about a foot resting on each rack.

Thanks

 

[eljay]

A quick update... I finally got the sliding doors done! Yay!
It looks much better in there now. I used bypass door kits mounted on L brackets and made the door frame out of 1x2" strips and screwed the white hardboard to those. I also found some leftover frame pieces from Ikea doors, so I used those for top and bottom to give it some rigidity and keep the 1x2"s straight.

 

[TylerRNEMT]

I built doors for my work bench and my 36" metal shelves....

Here is before:

and after:

just 3x1 pine frames with grooves cut on edge with table saw and hardboard insert panels.

Could easily do something similar with hardboard panels and a single frame with double grooves to turn them into sliding doors..... Obviously this will only give you access to half of the shelves at any given time though.

-Tyler

 

[eljay]

Nice work!
I still need to add some plywood to the sides, so I can install hooks/hangers on the side and get stuff off the ground in those corners.

 

[TylerRNEMT]

A quick update... I finally got the sliding doors done! Yay!
It looks much better in there now. I used bypass door kits mounted on L brackets and made the door frame out of 1x2" strips and screwed the white hardboard to those. I also found some leftover frame pieces from Ikea doors, so I used those for top and bottom to give it some rigidity and keep the 1x2"s straight.

Didn't happen without a pic! ; )

-Tyler

 

[eljay]

Didn't happen without a pic! ; )

-Tyler

Oops!
I thought I added pics.

Here they are!

Door construction:

Before:

After:

Zero (visible) mess!

 

[eljay]

At first my wife said in a very unimpressed way: hmm, you're making the garage into a living room. (meaning: garage is supposed to be messy, what the hell are you doing that for!).

Two days later: "that actually looks very nice. Why don't you add door to the racks on the other side too."

#approved!

 

[niget2002]

Oops!
I thought I added pics.

Here they are!

Door construction:

Before:

After:

Zero (visible) mess!

Looks good