Steel storage racks

[JackOfDiamonds]

I'm in the market for 2 steel racks. They need to be 3 feet by 18 inches, maybe 4 feet by 18 inches. But they need to be strong, like 1000 pounds per shelf. Solid shelves are preferred but I can throw down some plywood myself if I have to.

All the big box stores sell storage racks, and they are something of a commodity. I noticed a lot of race-to-the-bottom though...I used to buy the Home Depot racks, which had rails that locked into the corners with round lugs. I bought another one sometime later, and I returned it because they cheapened it to use thinner metal and bent tabs that didn't lock in very well (at the same price of course).

What's a good, trusted brand?

 

[n8n]

If you can deal with "Metro" style racks, I have a ton (possibly literally) of the Trinity brand shelves from Costco. Price is right and they come with both casters and feet, and the best part is they are usually free shipping meaning I don't have to deal with lugging them out of the store (although sometimes they are available in store as well)

 

[XJSuperman]

Many of these wannabe pallet-rack style shelves at the box stores claim 1-2000lbs per shelf. I just set one up in my garage, and when looking over pieces for it at the store (Menards), I saw they offer a 4ft beam and 18" uprights. 18"x4ft at 2000lbs per shelf meets your described specs. Im sure lowes, homedepot, costco, and your local hardware store all have an equivalent option. What am I missing here?
Short of custom building your own, or modifying real pallet racking, I think you're stuck with the box store stuff.

 

[wssix99]

If you want something really high quality, go to your local Steel King dealer and order some SK2000 in whatever size you want: https://www.steelking.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SK2000_web.pdf

They will weld the cross bars to your spec and should have 18" uprights on the shelf for things like tire storage racks.

I have this in my garage and it was shockingly reasonable.

 

[drivesitfar]

i've had good luck buying heavy duty stuff off Craigslist in the past and I have a 5 foot wide shelving unit that is 6 foot tall that I had gym weights stored on that holds close to 3000 pounds per shelf and it's I think 18 or 24 inches deep. I think it came out of a government building or maybe Boeing.

I also have bought and used more than a few HD and Costco type shelving units and other than bending a 8 foot beam a bit when I had about 5000 pounds of steel on it's shelf i've had good luck.

how tall are you needing and what are you storing on them (engines?)?

would metal benches work cause some of the old school ones were built pretty stout?

 

[Danno1]

.


There are options here. But you're gonna pay for it!

McMaster-Carr

McMaster-Carr is the complete source for your plant with over 595,000 products. 98% of products ordered ship from stock and deliver same or next day.

www.mcmaster.com

.

 

[NUTTSGT]

3-4' wide and 18" tall or 18" wide and 3-4' tall ?

The former, buy some used pallet racking and modify it to your needs. What I put in the house garage, started out as 17' tall and I cut down to 10 feet and rewelded the braces.... Took a little work but got what I needed for cheap and sold the extra to pay for what I kept and probably the bandsaw I bought on that road trip.

 

[nadogail]

With an Arc Welder, Chop Saw and Imagination I built mine from used pipe and “Drops” .

 

[d300]

Pallet racking is plenty stout and it is possible to modify if you have some welding talent. I recently bought some industrial shelving to store ammo on in my gun room...that lead gets heavy... Very good product and good prices.
Materialflow.com in Donald Oregon, south of the PDX metro. Depending on what part of Idaho you are in it could be a road trip given the cost of freight.

 

[chubby one]

If you want something really high quality, go to your local Steel King dealer and order some SK2000 in whatever size you want: https://www.steelking.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/SK2000_web.pdf

They will weld the cross bars to your spec and should have 18" uprights on the shelf for things like tire storage racks.

I have this in my garage and it was shockingly reasonable.

Call Steel King we make stuff its also powder coated .

 

[finn]

The Menards stuff is more than adequate for most home shops. They gave two grades, the cheaper being the Performance brand in the black yellow, and white box. The other brand, whose name escapes me, includes more shelves, and seems sturdier.

I have the old Gladiator brand they used to sell.

All have the bent tabs, and there’s no way they are going to fail in normal use. I probably wouldn’t put a 14 or 15 liter class 8 truck diesel on them, though.

These things are relatively inexpensive, and prepainted, so it’s a waste of time to cobble your own together, or scavange used industrial shelving unless you have nothing better to do with your time. If you’re racking dozens of engines, or five snowmobiles, then go for salvaged commercial racking, though

 

[lund]

Many of these wannabe pallet-rack style shelves at the box stores claim 1-2000lbs per shelf. I just set one up in my garage, and when looking over pieces for it at the store (Menards), I saw they offer a 4ft beam and 18" uprights. 18"x4ft at 2000lbs per shelf meets your described specs. Im sure lowes, homedepot, costco, and your local hardware store all have an equivalent option. What am I missing here?
Short of custom building your own, or modifying real pallet racking, I think you're stuck with the box store stuff.

I bought some Menards stuff a few years back and they had a few levels. The heavy duty one has been great if you cut your own shelf boards. I did that with the thickest possible wood and used shellac to seal the boards (quick wipe on and allow to soak in and dry) to give the wood a bit more strength and resilience to stains and scuffs. It has worked fantastic. But I also noticed that these parts are continually changing and seem to get worse quality and materials in time without price going down. So if you find what you want, be sure to buy enough and maybe some extras in case you want to expand a little.

 

[RMERR]

I've got some fairly heavy duty black box store shelving with the angled slots/tabs that I use for hardware with lots of heavy packed drawer cabinets. I got the heights of the shelves all set then welded all the corner joints as well as welding multiple cross members of angle iron between the long rails then added the shelf boards. Did a quick rattle can touchup of the welded joints, worked great. Before doing that I could see the long rails twisting/bowing slightly, now they're all straight and rigid. You'd probably start with something bigger here, but the same modding would get you there.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I've got some fairly heavy duty black box store shelving with the angled slots/tabs that I use for hardware with lots of heavy packed drawer cabinets. I got the heights of the shelves all set then welded all the corner joints as well as welding multiple cross members of angle iron between the long rails then added the shelf boards. Did a quick rattle can touchup of the welded joints, worked great. Before doing that I could see the long rails twisting/bowing slightly, now they're all straight and rigid. You'd probably start with something bigger here, but the same modding would get you there.

That is so awesome.

 

[drivesitfar]

RM; I totally agree with NUTTSGT that your storage shelving with those metal cabinets is amazing. just curious what you have in all those drawers cause I have more than a few and mine hold mostly screws, nuts and bolts? did you put on the casters to make it mobile and I bet it's super heavy so can it actually move ok? nicely done!!

 

[blacksporty]

Look on FB and CL, for example, I know not what your looking for but I sold 30' X 3' X 12' with wood shelving for $300 a couple months ago, tried to get more but there were no bites.

 

[Shitbox]

No idea where you’re at but here’s some the size you want:

Metal Shelving - tools - by owner - sale - craigslist

These came from an industrial setting. They are not super heavy duty, but they will probably handle anything in your garage or shop. Have eleven 75” tall by 36” wide x 18” deep and three 36” wide x...

sacramento.craigslist.org

 

[RMERR]

RM; I totally agree with NUTTSGT that your storage shelving with those metal cabinets is amazing. just curious what you have in all those drawers cause I have more than a few and mine hold mostly screws, nuts and bolts? did you put on the casters to make it mobile and I bet it's super heavy so can it actually move ok? nicely done!!

Yes it's all fasteners. I moved it from a basement workshop (before it was welded) and thought this is the time to beef this up. Had to pull all the mostly full drawers and carry them two at a time up the stairs. Drawers laying everywhere while I welded all the reinforcements and added the lighting. The move was such a production, I added casters so I wouldn't have to go through it again if I decided to relocate it in the shop. I did move it about 10' further down the wall and have adjusted it a few inches a couple more times to get it exactly where I want it. Yes heavy but rolls pretty easy.

 

[BombShelter]

I have some of these and love them, they also look good inside. The shelves are very nice but I'd beef them up with a lot of weight on them. they have three crossbars under them. I'm having a hard time with their website, delivery to my area was 2x the price.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/dewalt-dxst4500-4-ft-tall-3-shelf-industrial-storage-rack-56831-1421282?

 

[ATC]

I'm spoiled. We throw a lot of pallet racking away at work when someone gets careless with a forklift. Much bigger than what the OP wants...but with a grinder and a welder, they can be any size!