Storage shelves for shallow closet

[NightSprinter]

Well, my collection of software AND hardware for various systems is increasing considerably. Problem is I'm running out of space in my actual bedroom for it. Could someone give me a suggestion for some shelves to puchase for a closet about twelve feet long by three feet deep (as in how far you could walk in)? I really need some extra storage space for stuf flike controllers, power cords, misc. cables, boxed games, loose games, cassette storage bins.

[Lord Thag]

Just go down to the hardware store and buy some boards. Custom fit it to the closet. That's much better than the particle board crap you're likely to get anywhere else.

[jbanes]

Just go down to the hardware store and buy some boards. Custom fit it to the closet. That's much better than the particle board crap you're likely to get anywhere else.

I'm forced to agree with Lord Thag. If you're not the building type, then there's a very easy way to design your own shelves:

 

1. Buy some boards that are short enough to fit in your closet as shelves.

2. Pick up some large, cement blocks. Something like these:

3. Sandwich the blocks between the boards to build a shelf like this:

 

B	  B
========
B	  B
========
B	  B
========
B	  B
========

Voila! Instant shelves, no tools required!

 

Things to watch out for:

 

1. You'll need to decide how much space you want between each shelf. Stack one, two, or three blocks to get the height you want.

 

2. Note that the blocks should be laying flat, like in the picture above. The idea is that the weight of the cement blocks will hold the shelves in place.

 

3. Don't build the shelves much higher than waist level! These aren't nailed to the wall, so you don't want an accident.

 

4. By the same token, make sure that the structure is stable before you use it. You might consider using a rubber-gripper mat at the bottom rather than a board. Depends on the surface you're building on.

 

5. Place a single block for each column on the top shelf to add weight so that the board doesn't fall off.

 

6. If you have really long boards, use three columns instead of two to add more support to the boards.

 

Hope this helps!

 

Edit: Fixed #5, and added it to the ASCII diagram.

Edited July 12, 2006 by jbanes

[Dave Farquhar]

I agree. I have a large bookshelf my dad built in 1981. Some 25 years later, it still looks like it could have been built last year. Particle board will start warping in a couple of years. I'll buy particle board shelves used when I find them cheap (like $5 at a yard sale), but if I'm going to spend real money, I'd rather build it because then I know I won't have to buy or build another one for a very long time.