Chrome wire shelving - how many is to many?

[RichTJ99]

Hi,

I am in the process of fixing up the garage. I was going to have a friend build me some shelves. In the meantime we did some work to the workbench (about 16 feet long). I was planning on adding another 8' to it just because I had room & he seemed to like my u-line chrome wire shelf with wheels & the costco smaller chrome rack with wheels.

It got me starting to think about how nice & easy it would be to clean up the garage if I could just roll everything out. I know putting casters on the shelving probably lowers the rating for weight but I do have plenty of space under my workbench for heavy things.

With that said, I would be purchasing enough shelving to cover:

1. 8 foot area
2. 7 foot area
3. 8 foot area
4. 14 foot area

I guess it could be done different ways (2x 4' shelving), (1x3', 1x4'), etc.

I am trying to think about if it makes sense to do it that way. With money not being the factor, is this a decent or dumb idea.

Right now it seems like a good thing but I want to make sure I am not making an OCD decision - Hey lets make everything wheel'able.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Rich

 

[rogsmart]

Pictures please!!!

 

[RichTJ99]

These are older photos from a few months ago but

This side would have an 8 wide foot area(4 feet of it would be 7' tall, 4 feet would need to be no more than 4 feet tall) in the back between darth vader & Yoda.

The other 8 foot wide area is on the wall to the right of my toolbox. I dont know if that should be a 5' wide piece with another 3' wide piece.

Over here: I can relocate that smaller metal shelf & stick a 7' long chrome one.

The other garage I dont have a photo of, but I have a 14' + wall that is straight. I can take a photo if you like.

This thread (http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=176962) has some other photos. This is kind of my continuation of that thread (I am still trying to clean up).

Thanks,
Rich

 

[akdiesel]

You can get casters to meat or exceed the shelve limits. But with casters there is some concerns that need to be looked.
#1: casters tend to make loads tippy.
#2: the actual use of the casters. How many times are you really going to move the loads. In other words, I built my work bench as a permanent structure because the old tool boxes on casters never moved.
#3: small stones or cracks can effect the caster abilities.
I would suggest mounting the shelves to the wall.

 

[dbabicky]

I wanna see pics of the Jeep. Big Jeep fan/collector.

 

[RichTJ99]

Any other suggestions or comments? I will get some photos of my jeep up. Its a 1999 Sport with a RE 5.5" lift, 35"s, arb's, etc.

 

[CNGsaves]

Curious why thread topic is Chrome Wire shelving . . . are you committed to only use Chrome Wire? I think those would work well in certain spots, but would be too weak in others.

Some ideas I see for your space:
1) Decide where you will need electrical ; lighting ; and telco/CATV/internet runs and install those first in walls, or in conduit
2) Utilize the "wasted" space between that ductwork on ceiling . . . maybe mount some unistrut to ceiling and design a cool "Drop-down" storage box (or could be big chrome basket) on hinges or pully system somehow?
3) Utilize the space above garage doors . . . again could use unistrut and build hanging platform to store all that lumber up there
4) On left side of garage, I'd build hanging storage up at ceiling level to keep as much stuff off floor as possible (could be unistrut, or 2x4 lumber)
5) Build permanent bench on back wall, maybe on right side since wall is compromised already with the sewer pipes
6) Build "shell" cabinets that would go over the sewer pipes on back right wall to hide them (but would be removable from french cleat on wall if ever needed to service the pipes)
7) For cabinets in #6, cut shelves custom to fit around pipes so you get as much space as possible useable inside cabinets

Good luck . . . and post pics with your progress!

 

[D rock]

I am a big fan of wire shelving on casters. Mounting shelves to the wall is fine too but have some moving shelving is really helpful.

In my shop where about everything I do is random at best, it helps when somebody(wife or son) needs to store a white elephant and I can move some shelving to free up some space to keep the peace.

 

[911mike]

I have 8 of the Costco 48 x 24 wire racks. The racks are great but there supplied casters are junk. I bought some replacements from Grainger for $6.00 each that were 225lb per caster. I load all the heavy stuff on the bottom shelfs and light stuff up high. I roll em out and power wash the floor a few times a year. They work great.

 

[RichTJ99]

Hi,

I dont need it to all be chrome wire shelving, but I do like the idea of having shelving on wheels. For the corner by the pipes I was thinking I could use that 8 foot wide area by splitting it into 2 x 4 foot areas due to the piping thats there. The split would be 7 feet tall x 24(or 18) x 48 the other would be 4' tall x 24(or 18) by 48 for the low part of hte pipes. I need some space to the right for my snowblower & generator.

Is there any other type of shelving similar to the wire shelving that has casters? I would assume all other 'standard' type of shelving cant have a caster due to the footing of most shelves.

Mike - Which shelving did you buy from costco?

I am having a hard time searching for the wire shelving by size. It seems like price wise its a larger jump going from say, 72x48x24 vs 72x48x18.

I like the idea of rolling storage to clean out the garage too.

I have a 60x24x72 now & in my last house it seemed like things got lost easily on the 24. The 18" is appealing but maybe a mixture would be good.

 

[A**holes Garage]

I remodeled my small garage a little over a year ago and I had about 8 Gorilla racks in it for storage.

I got rid of the Gorilla racks and bought 8 of the chrome style shelving on casters. You do lose depth compared to the Gorilla racks but the portability of the wire style racks allows me to clear work areas if I need to move them around. And of course, they're easy to move and pull out for cleaning.

Impressed with the casters and load bearing capacities. Bought mine at Costco.

 

[JC23]

I pick em up offa CL when I see a deal. I then replace the bottom bungs with bushings that are threaded so they can take a studded caster. Wouldn't think of having them any other way. I have a bud with a lathe so making ones that fit is no prob.

Also use them like that in the basement for storage.

 

[RichTJ99]

I am sort of torn. I have purchased shelving before from U-line.com however they are super expensive. If money was no object, I would probably just pick it all up from there & maybe its not a bad idea since this is something I will only buy once.

I found another local source for these shelves & I think they will be cheaper by several hundred dollars. I just dont have any experience with the company. http://www.clayton-supply.com/ is the local company.

I just dont know their quality vs U-line.

 

[RichTJ99]

So for my for sections in the 3 bay garage are:

6' to left of table (6' rack)
8' to right of table (but half needs to be no taller than 48" (2x 4' rack sections)
7' near thermostat (1x 4' section, 1x 3' section)
8' near bay #3 (2x 4' sections)

That gives me:

5x 4' sections
1x 3' section
1x 6' section
7x casters

Uline has it for $2150 shipped. Seems kind of pricey to me, but I am sure its good quality stuff. I probably have a few more dollars for some extra shelves.

 

[RichTJ99]

The local guys pricing with 5 shelves & casters (uline was 4 shelves & casters) is $1,506 for the same 7 units.

I just dont know if I use the S hooks, if they will span properly over 8 foot or if i should stick with using 2x 4' units in an 8' space.

 

[911mike]

The shelving to got from Costco is 48 x 18 and is the chrome wire racks. I think it's rated at 150lbs per shelf and it's a 5 shelf unit. I paid $72-$78 per unit + new casters puts me at about $100 per unit. I have these in the garage and there mostly used for lighter stuff. I have a large barn that I have some commercial racking for the heavy stuff. I have some steel cabinets in the garage that are elevated 5" off the floor so with the wire shelving on casters power washing the garage is only 30 minute job.

 

[911mike]

My wife bought some of the wire shelving from Lowes and there brand is much thinner gauge wire. Stay with the costco brand. I did notice that the current costco units have better casters than the ones that came. They needed it.

 

[RichTJ99]

Since you mention costco:

48x18 x the five I need = $545

5' wide shelf (vs the 6') - $219

36" wide shelf - $109


So with a strange combo of sizes, the costco total is: $873 though its not exactly what I am looking for.