First time shelving build questions.

[justang1997]

I have built my first set shelves to help organize my garage and am planning two more. I **** at working with wood. The shelves came out looking pretty decent but I'm afraid I made a critical mistake. I used 4x4 posts in 4 corners and made the two shelves with 2x4's and plywood. My concern is how I connected the 2x4's to the 4x4's. I used galvanized steel 2x4 brackets screwed to the 4x4's. Will these brackets support the weight of whatever I put on the shelves?

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[383 240z]

Depends on what brackets you used and how much weight you plan on holding. Pics?? Keith

 

[regguy1]

Ever consider something like this: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65557

 

[justang1997]

I'd hate to guess how much weight will be on it. Probably way less than 500 lbs. I'd say the heaviest things I would potentially set on the shelves is propane tanks or bottled water cases.

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[soapii]

Will these brackets support the weight of whatever I put on the shelves?

This is such a generic question, how do we know what you are putting on the shelves. Are you stacking engine blocks or extension cords? Also the thickness of the plywood has a lot to do with how strong the shelf will be.

Just use good judgement, go stand on it or jump up and down and see what happens. Does it flex like crazy and seem unstable, if so it sounds like you make a chicken $hit shelf, if it seems sturdy then you built a stout shelf.

--Joe

 

[cburnscrx]

I'd hate to guess how much weight will be on it. Probably way less than 500 lbs. I'd say the heaviest things I would potentially set on the shelves is propane tanks or bottled water cases.

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Certainly not the way I would have gone about it, but it should be fine for what it sounds like you're doing.

 

[justang1997]

Would anyone venture to say if this is more or less sturdy than just screwing the 2x4's to the wood with deck screws.

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[Hornman]

Would anyone venture to say if this is more or less sturdy than just screwing the 2x4's to the wood with deck screws.

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Depends on how many screws you used to fasten the metal brackets to the 4 x 4's. If you used four #10 screws on each end of the metal brackets, that should be strong enough to hold anything the 2 x 4's will support which is a lot. If you used one deck screw on each side of each metal bracket, then no it's not very strong.

 

[shooting4life]

I think you are fine. If you are worried you could add a 2x4 as a center post between the span. That would hold pretty much anything you could think of putting on it.

 

[justang1997]

Those brackets are attached to the 4x4's with 4 star drive deck screws.
Thanks for the replies. I guess I'll use the same method on my next shelving units also.

 

[zoomzoomjeff]

From what you're describing, it sounds as though you're good to go, however I've never used the hangars in shelf building, but the wood itself....stout! Personally, I probably would've overlapped the 2x's onto the posts and screwed them in. I guess if you had any questions about the sturdiness of using the hangars, you could always remove them, and shorten the length of the unit and have the 2x4's screw directly into the 4x4's with several screws. I always use 2, but sometimes a third one if there's room just for good measure. That said, I intentionally overbuild stuff like this.

Also, use 3/4 plywood. Do NOT use MDF. To assist with the unit not wobbling (unlikely, given your 4x4 and 2x4 construction) you can screw the shelf into the 2x4's from the top down. Won't need too many, but this will help make everything rigid. After that's done, you should have a brick *********.

 

[JakeKohl]

Those hangers support floors in buildings - they're plenty sturdy enough for whatever you want to put on that shelf. The only thing they don't provide for is wracking resistance (if you push on the shelf from one side, it is probably a bit wobbly). This is probably your failure mode. You can fix this with some x-bracing.

 

[rsanter]

Those things are hell strong for what you are expecting
I wouldn't worry about it

Bob

 

[Iroc-Z]

Ever consider something like this: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=65557

Did the same thing but no doors. Great way to store stuff.

 

[justang1997]

Those hangers support floors in buildings - they're plenty sturdy enough for whatever you want to put on that shelf. The only thing they don't provide for is wracking resistance (if you push on the shelf from one side, it is probably a bit wobbly). This is probably your failure mode. You can fix this with some x-bracing.

Yep, you are right. Need to brace them up some for a slight side to side wobble.

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