Inexpensive LARGE Shelving Options that Look Decent

[beartoothweb]

I'm just finishing up the build on my 40x30 shop.

One section has 12' ceilings and on one wall I want to basically do floor to ceiling shelving, which would be 12' high (duh), 15' wide, and 2' deep.

The most economical way to do this would simply be to build some 2x4 shelving with 1/2" osb shelves. I have some decent left over build lumber I can use, along with some fresh 16 footers.

The concern I have is I'm trying to make the shop look decent (without going crazy.) But, I'm not spending $500 on shelving, it's just not going to happen.

Do you guys have any ideas for making the shelves look at least presentable so they won't be a distraction?

The walls will be textured (orange peel sprayed on), and I'm adding striping all the way around. The floor will have brown epoxy. The bottom part (3' of the wall) will be a darker brown (floor flake color) and the rest will just be white all the way up.

Should I just build the shelves and paint them when i shoot the walls, or will that just look dumb? Or, should I just build them and not worry about the "wood" color?

Thanks!

 

[Ray-CA]

Kevin,

You can search e-bay and craigslist for shelving (look in the industrial sections.) If you do go with the wooden option, I'd paint them (seals the wood, helps to hold down the dust and makes them much easier to wipe down) You can always close them in with doors later.

Ray

 

[CamarosRus]

I used metal storage racking like seen at ALL the big box stores (COSTCO, Lowes, HomeDepot etc).

Around your area probably not many warehouses, but over in Western WA for example, there are many misc warehouses in Sea/Tac area. I see extra surplus racking laying outside all the time. I stopped by a few and asked if for sale..........and bought some "cheap"
There is also a "dealer" around Pacific,WA that sells used racking.

Do you know any semi truckers that can bring it back from my area or Spokane, WA.

I'd be willing to help you find some.

Place a WANTED ad on Seattle or Spokane CraigsList under materials

 

[beartoothweb]

I used metal storage racking like seen at ALL the big box stores (COSTCO, Lowes, HomeDepot etc).

Around your area probably not many warehouses, but over in Western WA for example, there are many misc warehouses in Sea/Tac area. I see extra surplus racking laying outside all the time. I stopped by a few and asked if for sale..........and bought some "cheap"
There is also a "dealer" around Pacific,WA that sells used racking.

Do you know any semi truckers that can bring it back from my area or Spokane, WA.

I'd be willing to help you find some.

Place a WANTED ad on Seattle or Spokane CraigsList under materials

THanks for a generous offer, but I think even if I came and got them, the gas money would exceed the cost of just 2x4 and OSB shelving options. Just a downside of living in the boonies, which is fine, wouldn't trade it. ;->

 

[jake00]

build em.... post 329
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=2122&page=17

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Pallet racking. I did three uprights of 14 ft. That gives me two sections (center upright is shared) each section is 8 ft wide. Mine is somewhat of an odd size, it is 40 inches total deep. 42" is very common, 40" is odd. I spaced the shelves two foot apart, starting the first shelf about 6 inches off the floor so I could sweep beneath it. There are six levels. For shelving, I scavenged pallets from work that had real thick boards on top, one inch or so, and sawed the boards to 36" length to fit in the "notches" in the horizontal beams. Wire shelving for pallet rack is expensive, the salvage boards worked fine. I use a rolling warehouse step set (top step is 10 ft) to reach the shelves, and now I have an electric manlift I can also use.

Charles

 

[CamarosRus]

THAT's what I'm talking about. Nothing beats used (if bought cheaply) pallet racking.

I've honestly seen pallet racking being sold off as scrap metal. It's out there, IF you'll only look

In terms of strength and adjustability, you cant achieve this with wood.

I used OSB for the shelves, with 2x4 cross supports, where as the above pics show a series of pallet board slats.

 

[DashEight]

With all the places closing down right now, Shelving and racking is cheap and easy to find. Usually the company going out of business will leave the racking in and call up the re-sellers and let them tear it down and haul it away as an even trade.

 

[RDW920]

My brother used some 12' high pallet racking and even used one section for a workbench with flour. light under mounted on the shelf above, worked out good for storage above a workbench. and workbench is strong.

 

[Costner]

Sort of depends upon what you are storing. The OP mentioned he wanted 2' deep shelving - so pallet racking won't work in this situation. If he is just storing lighter stuff then there is no need to go overkill.

What I've done is build frames out of 2x4s and cover them with 1/2" CDX plywood. OSB would work the same too, but I prefer plywood because I think it looks nicer. In my case I used off the shelf metal shelving brackets to hold up the frames because they looked better than using 2x4s at a 45 degree angle, and the brackets hold hundreds of pounds each so it is just a real solid connection to the wall.

I also built a bench using 2x4s that were half lapped in the corners. That is covered with 3/4" Plywood and then a layer of hardboard on top (which is essentially the same material pegboard is made from but without the holes). I then wrapped the front and side of the bench with 1x4 pine to dress it up a little and the entire bench rests upon more of the off the shelf metal brackets again because they look better than the alternatives.

 

[burger]

Pallet racking is a very cheap and attractive option. I hunted Craigslist for a month or two until I found a guy selling 30" deep pallet racking. I bought 3 uprights and a bunch of beams for $200. For the decking, I busted up a bunch of free shipping skids that were made of 2x4's and 2x6's. Presto-bango done and cheap.

While looking for the pallet racking, I found a bunch of people on Craigslist selling 18" - 24" deep storeroom shelving. Depending on what you need it for, it might be just the ticket.

 

[TONE]

If ya got the wood its sorta a no-brainer.

Build em.

As for making them look nice and giving them some detail what I would do is........

-Build them and sink all screws deep into the wood.
-Fill all the holes with putty.
-I'd router the front edge of each shelf.
-Then sand everything and paint or stain

Something like this looks really nice when done the right way.

 

[sberry]

I would love a deal on a bunch of racking. Right cost and distance I would send truck and crew.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

I would love a deal on a bunch of racking. Right cost and distance I would send truck and crew.

The various CL sites for different N Michigan and western MI towns have the stuff but they seem to think its gold. Couple looked reasonable. You just gotta find the right place at the right time, that isn't easy.

Charles