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Simple Sturdy Shelves that you can build yourself

99_xc600

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Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
176
If your handy with some basic carpentry skill's. I would recommend building some on your own. I recently built some "Basic/Simple Shelves" a couple of weeks ago. They are simple to make and can hold a good amount of weight.

Shelves are 8' long x 16" deep and spaced aprox 18' apart and the first shelf is placed 16' of the floor to store items below it. I came up with a 16" spacing because this is what i can comfortably fit between my garage door's and the wall and the number work's nicely against a 4' wide piece of sheathing (No waste)

These cost me aprox $68.00 and now I have 32 lineal feet of shelving.

Materials that you will need

(2) 4x8 sheathing cut into 16 wide strips. I used OSB, you can use whatever that you want
(15) 2 x 4 x 8' long
(28) 2 x 4 joist hangers
(1) box of 4 inch decking or lag screws
(1) box of 3 inch drywall screws
(1) box of 1 1/2 drywall screws

Your basically going to do the the following to make one shelf or platform

1. Take 2 x 4's and mark 16" on centers (Should end up with 7 cross members)
2. Cut a 2x4 and cut into 13" lengths
3. Take the cross members and attach them to the 2 x 4's on the 16" centers, Making sure everything is square and straight utilizing the 3" screws
4. Attach the joist hangers to the platform/shelf using the 1 1/2 screws.
5. Locate the studs's in your wall and mark on 16" centers
6. Take your first shelf and place against the wall, locate the studs and pre drill for the lag screw.
7. Level the shelf and attach to wall on 16" centers using the 4" lag screws.
8. Determine your spacing for your shelves and repeat for the last 3, utilizing a straight edge to line up the ends.
9. Take a 2 x 4 x 20" long (approximately) and cut the end's at a 45* angle and attach to the end of each shelf so it's flush with the end's. Using the 4" screw's (Remember to predrill)
10. Take 4 of the 16" x 8' sheathing and screw it down to the shelves.
11. Take the last 2 16" x 8' and place them on the end's. Scribing the surface to the bottom 45* cross brace.
12. Attach the side's to the end's of the shelve's using the 1 1/2 screws.

Your done, essentially you have built a giant wall cabinet that it attached to the wall every 16" inches and every shelve is tied to each other with the plywood ends making it incredibly strong. I used screw's instead of nail's because it add's more strength than nails

Here's some pic's for better detail.
 

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xcgates

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Apr 7, 2008
Messages
678
Location
TX
I'm doing something similar, except I'm making the shelves 30 inches deep, and am going to make it a standalone item, covered on all sides, including doors.

I'm also planning on putting whiteboard material on the outside, perhaps complimented with pegboard on the inside of the doors.
 

mdbeck1

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Mar 7, 2010
Messages
2,297
Location
Norman, OK
I recently made some as well. One free standing unit with three bays. The bays are about 28" deep and four feet wide. Also putting doors on it covered with whiteboard but the doors are made from 1X4 so I have a storage pocket inside. It's really making a difference on the storage in the garage. Pics when I get my camera replaced (the kid broke it).
 

dwljpl

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Joined
May 28, 2011
Messages
79
Any update on these shelves? I built some at our last house but unfortunately they stayed there when we moved. Built completely from 2x4's and plywood glued and screwed together. This time I'd like to close off the shelves with doors and a little more finished look. Looking for ideas to make them cheap and sturdy but still look nice.
 

nate379

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Feb 2, 2009
Messages
7,279
Location
Palmer, AK
What update do you need? I built some like that about 20 years ago, one of my first wood working projects. They are still holding up fine in my parent's basement.
 
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99_xc600

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Joined
Dec 18, 2010
Messages
176
Any update on these shelves? I built some at our last house but unfortunately they stayed there when we moved. Built completely from 2x4's and plywood glued and screwed together. This time I'd like to close off the shelves with doors and a little more finished look. Looking for ideas to make them cheap and sturdy but still look nice.

As far as update..Yes they are still working great. No sagging at all and I've realized I need to do the same thing on the opposite side of the garage. you can never have enough storage.
 

bobcatdan

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Jan 4, 2011
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Location
Kaukauna,WI
I put up very basic wall sheveing in my shop. I used 12" x 14" L brackets rated at 100 lbs a pair and 1" x12" boards. I may or may not of gone overkill, but I put a bracket every 16" on the studs. I wasn't shooting for an exact weight limit, just that it would hold what ever I put up there. Hasn't fallen down yet. I got I this picture from when I first put it up. I've changed around how I had stuff on it, but it gives you a basic idea.
 

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38Chevy454

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Dec 26, 2006
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4,038
Location
Cincinnati, OH
I did very similar to bobcatdan, but used 16 inch wide shelves cut from 3/4 plywood. Rip the plywood and you get 3 shelf pieces 16 x 96 inches. Not fancy but very effective for storage. The 16 inch width gives a better depth to hold stuff.
 

bobcatdan

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Jan 4, 2011
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Location
Kaukauna,WI
I actually posted that in the wrong thread, I was thinking I was still in the other sheveing thread, forgot to pop back after following the link.
 
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