Slat wall - shelf load question

[eljay]

I have a 4' wide section of wall where I would like to install slat wall - likely the Husky Track Wall option
Besides other things, I would really like to hang two shelves on it and put an air compressor weighing 42lbs on one shelf and my QuickJack power unit (37 lbs) on the other shelf below it.
The specs for the wall state 75lbs load capability for each square foot of the wall. I believe the Proslat accessory shelves are compatible and state 50lbs capacity.

Has anyone put up something this heavy on their slat wall? It would obviously be a bad day if this would come crashing down from 3 ft height.

 

[mogandave]

I think at 50lb/ft^2 you should be fine, if it's installed correctly.

 

[eljay]

Thanks.
I'll give it a try and report back.

 

[rlitman]

I'd be skeptical of the ratings. Slatwall was originally developed for retail locations which have conditioned spaces. I've seen slats start to spread and weaken in unconditioned garages. Humidity destroys it. Also, those loads are purely static. Fine for STORING a compressor, but not fine for running one, because that vibration is highly dynamic.

 

[Terra Nova]

Just installed the ProSlat ProCore in the garage. It's rated at up to 200 lbs per square foot. The wall itself I think it pretty strong but I don't know that I would put 50 pounds on one of the wire shelves for too long. ProSlat makes heavier duty shelves that will hold the weight.

I'm planning on hanging a wheel barrow from it (right side of the window once I get it up there) but will have to make some custom hangers.

It's a really nice product.

 

[Mr. Wonderful]

I have the slatwall from Home Depot as well. It's pretty stout stuff but I don't think I'd hang an air compressor off of it. I think the weight rating is for something hung as close as possible to the wall. A compressor on a shelf would put a lot of leverage on the metal slats.

 

[mogandave]

How much does a cabinet full of ceramic dinner plates and whatnot weigh? Ever see what a "European" style kitchen cabinet hangs on?

 

[KenC]

How much does a cabinet full of ceramic dinner plates and whatnot weigh? Ever see what a "European" style kitchen cabinet hangs on?

It's the leverage an earlier poster mentioned that is the problem IMO. I have several slat wall pieces in my shop. The shelf brackets are only 3-4in high so a load 12" out is magnified by 3 to 4 times and is only resisted by the upper part of the channel. But, there are plastic and metal inserts that can be used to help. Still wouldn't put a compressor on mine though.

 

[Spencer Was Here]

I definitely would not attempt to run the compressor while on the shelf.

 

[eljay]

Thanks for all the replies.
I put the wall up yesterday and after seeing the shelves and the compressor, I decided against it.
You guys are correct that the weight away from the wall and vibration would not hold. I just left the compressor on the floor.

Now, I have another similar challenge: I would like to mount my air hose reel and electrical wire reel onto the wall.
While the weight is less of an issue (they weigh 12lbs each), the concern is mounting.
The reel brackets don't align with the slat spacing.
I figured that I can make some adapter plates and manage to hang both on the wall However, the wall is really meant to deal with downward hanging force close to the slats. I'm afraid that pulling on the reels away from the wall would simply dislodge the brackets that are meant for hanging.
There is a product called SlatLock that may work or another solution would be to mount them high on the wall, so pulling out the hose would be more in a downward direction.

Has anyone mounted reels on a slat wall?

 

[Terra Nova]

I am in a similar boat at the moment. Was hoping to hang the wheel barrow from it but using their hooks (modified for the purpose) doesn't give me a lot of confidence. I'm thinking of making a bracket that will sit proud of the slatwall and screw into the studs through the channels in the slat wall. Won't be able to move them but it shouldn't fall off that way.

You could do something as simple as a piece of 1x lumber and screw into the studs and then mount the reel to that. Again, won't be movable but it'll be secure. If you run the screws through the channels they won't be too visible if you ever relocate it.

 

[eljay]

I am in a similar boat at the moment. Was hoping to hang the wheel barrow from it but using their hooks (modified for the purpose) doesn't give me a lot of confidence. I'm thinking of making a bracket that will sit proud of the slatwall and screw into the studs through the channels in the slat wall. Won't be able to move them but it shouldn't fall off that way.

You could do something as simple as a piece of 1x lumber and screw into the studs and then mount the reel to that. Again, won't be movable but it'll be secure. If you run the screws through the channels they won't be too visible if you ever relocate it.

Yes, I am thinking of doing that, but I'd like to keep the flexibility to move them.
I could mount them on the ceiling near the slat wall, but I just don't trust hitting the beam perfectly and then yanking on stuff hanging over my head.

You could also try this: https://slatlock.com/

Proslat makes this adapter: https://proslat.com/products/universal-mount
But it's pricey here in Canada, so my current plan is to find some kind of a Z bracket in the hardware section in Home Depot and screw the reels to that and hang that on the slat wall and see how that feels.
Like these: https://www.tricancorp.ca/z-bracket-zinc-plated-1

Slatwall Adapter Plate

Hang almost any item on your slatwall adapter. A steel construction with a zinc finish. The 1" x 2 1/2" (W x H) adapter can be welded to non-slatwall products. Glue can be used for smaller lighter items. A permanent industrial strength adhesive craft glue is recommended. The slatwall adapter has...

www.hubert.ca

I also thought of getting a standard hook and cutting off the hook part and just using the slatwall bracket, but those sit flush against the slats, so I won't have space to put a head of a screw behind it to then screw onto the reel swivel bracket.

 

[eljay]

Well, after getting excited thinking the Husky hooks.may work, they won't.

The best bet really is that Proslat Universal Mount. However, it's $45 + $20 shipping + tax up here in Canucklandia. But it will work, so I may just have to get it directly from Proslat as no one else carries it in my area.

 

[Terra Nova]

Well, after getting excited thinking the Husky hooks.may work, they won't.

The best bet really is that Proslat Universal Mount. However, it's $45 + $20 shipping + tax up here in Canucklandia. But it will work, so I may just have to get it directly from Proslat as no one else carries it in my area.

Did you end up with the universal mount? Curious how it worked out.

I know you wanted to keep the modularity factor but this is the solution I came up with for the wheel barrow. Lag screwed into the studs. Made spacers that fit inside the channel to hold the bracket slightly off the slatwall.

 

[nadogail]

I used a Display Warehouse Store for my Slattwall questions.
They have all the hooks and expertise.

They have outlets in major cities, their specialty is outfitting Retail Stores.

 

[eljay]

Did you end up with the universal mount? Curious how it worked out.

I know you wanted to keep the modularity factor but this is the solution I came up with for the wheel barrow. Lag screwed into the studs. Made spacers that fit inside the channel to hold the bracket slightly off the slatwall.

Thanks. That's clever.
But yes, I want to keep the ability to move stuff around.
Otherwise, I'd just mount the reels to the wall studs.

I did end up buying the Universal Mount and I have yet to use it since I need to cut a flat bar to install.across its bottom to be able to bolt both reels with the their bottom screws.
I will post pics once done.
It should be soon as I finally got around to making a bracket for my hose reel mount. See my other thread on that adventure.

 

[highdeserthacker]

I use these plates for making custom mounts: https://www.kc-store-fixtures.com/slatwall-backplate-2wx2-1-2h-raw
Can be welded too.

Also a good place to get slatwall accessories.

 

[cherokee]

I am in the middle of a total re-do of my barn and shop. The wife has hit bed bath and beyond like a crazy woman. What you are looking at here is well sub $100, I want to say sub $50 but I don't remember. The stuff is cheap. This is the only photo I have on my phone, but I have it in quite a few places, including the garage now.

It is real stout stuff, as to load I don't know, but if there is a BBB in your area it would be worth looking at. Here in KC they closed all but one, and that one they are shipping truck loads of things to. Real things they sell, plus tons of fixtures to be sold. Sounds like they have a few stores that are going to stay open for a while and sell off what they can. Wife said this one will be open till the end of July minimum.

Just something to check out.

 

[cherokee]

One last thing, all of this stuff is good heavy stuff. When I went with her one time to pick up stuff in the truck the guy said they tried to cut costs and bought cheaper slat wall and shelves but dishes busted when they failed, and you know a pile of dishes is heavy. I got some dollies and the steel is very thick and heavy. It is good stuff.