Tool room shelf

[Peanut]

I started a shelving project in my tool rm. 1) I need another shelf. 2) the existing shelf needs better support.

The aerosol cans are paints and lubricants, first pic. There’s a few quarts of paint also. They don’t weigh that much but I have a couple hundred ft of power cords hanging from the bottom. Together about 70lbs. The brackets are strong enough but not the anchor screws I used into the cinder block wall. I had to brace the shelf with supports from the floor.

Sort of funny, if you look closely at the left hand support in the first pic… It’s an old wooden walking crutch that belonged to my grandfather. Has a rubber pad at the top.

I had a 2x8 left over from the stairway landing project, 96 7/16ths inches. I’d decided on 48” as the shelf height. Doesn’t matter if it’s a bit higher. I cut the 2x8 in half, they are now the new supports for the bottom shelf. They’ll get a few coats of polyurethane before I anchor them to the wall.

I have the same issue with the sump pump as I did with the stairway. The drain pipe runs along that wall so I notched the left hand support at the base.

The shelf was a long frame of a water bed I had decades ago, also 8ft long. I have two of them. They are laminated particle board 1 5/8ths inches thick and 9.5 inches wide. The best part… there’s a trim piece on the edge that sticks up about 3/16ths of an inch. This lip keeps things from falling off the shelf. (unless it’s over crowded )

I screwed cleats to the bottom of the existing shelf. I screwed large hooks into them to hang power cords.

I’ll support the upper shelf with short pieces of scrap 2x8’s left over from the stairway project. I’ll anchor all of it to the cinder block wall with Tapcon screws, wood screws and small L brackets. Also large, heavy L brackets.

 

[montanabill]

I too have overwhelming clutter...
You have now made me feel inadequate in shelf building and organizing clutter..

 

[Peanut]

Got a coat of poly on the 2x8’s this morning then had to go to town. Left a fan blowing on them. They were nice and dry when I got back. Put on a 2nd coat, got the fan going again and the rm aired out good so I could put an electric heater in the room. Should be able to get a coat of poly on the bottom side of the boards before bed time. Get another first thing in the morning and be able to start assembly tomorrow afternoon.

Once I get the first shelf mounted I’ll set all the measurements for the 2nd shelf and cut the supports. They’ll need 2 coats of poly also.

We’ll see how it goes for time. Have to get the coolant flushed and refilled in the big tractor this weekend too, weather dependent.

 

[Peanut]

Adding heat really sped up the drying time. Went ahead and got a coat of poly on the other side of the 2x8's. Got a coat on both sides of the 2x8 I'll cut and use to support the 2nd shelf. I'll get the last coat on everything by 9pm. Keeping the room well ventilated. Cleaning my brush outside (using acetone).

Realized I forgot to look for small brackets while in town. I need them to hold the supports against the cinderblock wall. Think I have a small piece of sheet metal in the shop. I can cut out brackets with tin snips. Fold them and bend the angle on the big vice in the shop. They won't be holding weight. Just holding the 2x8 supports against the cinder block, folded sheet metal should be fine for that.

 

[Peanut]

Just finished with the last coat of poly on the shelf supports. They’ll dry completely overnight. Just went through the house with a can of Febreze to cut the fresh paint smell.

This makes planning tomorrow so much easier… an hour to flush the radiator on the big tractor, watch the ballgame on tv. Then though out the day I’ll put the shelving up at my leisure.

Also, occurred to me I don’t need to make small brackets. Somewhere I have a roll of galvanized pipe hanger strap. That’s all I need to hold the supports against the cinderblock. I’m not shooting for home & garden here. Hanger strap will work fine.