Like cabinets, shelving can help you keep your workshop organized and free up countertop space. Shelves are perfect for storing commonly used and frequently accessed items.
Wall-Mounted Shelves
Wall-mounted shelving is a staple for workshops. Following are the basic steps for installing some simple wall-mounted shelves.
- You'll need to anchor the shelf standards into the wall studs, so locate and mark the studs behind the drywall. In our case, the wall studs were installed 16" on center, so once one stud was located, the surrounding ones were easy to find. A stud locator (figure A) simplifies the job of finding wall studs.
- Use a level to scribe a straight, plumb line marking the location of the stud.
- Decide the height range for your shelves to determine how high to mount the shelf standards. Use a level to ensure that your shelf standards are mounted so that they are matched for height (figure B).
- Once you've marked the locations, place and install the shelf standards (figure C) using wood screws and a cordless drill with screwdriver attachment (figure D).
- Insert the metal brackets into the standards at the desired heights. You may want to tap them into the slots using a rubber mallet (figure E) to ensure that they're locked in tightly.
- With the brackets all mounted, set the wooden shelves into the brackets (figure F). The brackets can be removed and repositioned to adjust the height of the shelves to suit your needs.
Floor-Standing Shelves There are several options for floor-standing shelves that work well in a workshop environment. Some of those include the following:
- Wood shelves. Wood shelving (figure G) offers solid surfaces, so small items won't drop through. Wood shelves are usually inexpensive, and they're lightweight and easy to assemble.
- Plastic shelves. Modular plastic shelf kits (figure H) come in a variety of styles and colors and are simple to put together. Since they are modular, they can be configured in various heights to suit your needs and workspace. An advantage of this type of shelving is that it's made from a very sturdy plastic, is structurally sound and can support a lot of weight. As the height increases on these shelves, however, they become less sturdy, so place your heaviest items on the lower shelves.
- Rolling metal shelf racks. Though more expensive than the others, the most versatile type of shelving in the standing category is the metal shelf-rack system (figure I). These are strong, adjustable and even mobile since they have rolling casters on their feet (figure J). This allows you to move the entire shelf contents from place to place in your workshop as needed. The casters can be locked into position to hold the shelves stationary once they're in place.
This type of shelving has a number of available options including sides, doors (figure K) and locks for securing items. Other than the bottom shelf, which must be mounted just above the feet for stability, the shelves are completely adjustable and can be moved to any height desired within the unit. Since the shelves have an open wire design, small items can fall through. For storing small items, simply cut some pieces of wood and set them on the wire shelves to form a solid surface.
RESOURCES :
The Small Wood Shop (The Best of Fine Woodworking)
Author: Helen Albert (Editor)
Publisher: Taunton Press
ISBN: 1561580619
Special thanks for DIY's The Ultimate Workshop
Popular Woodworking magazine
Web site: www.popularwoodworking.com
American Tool
Web site: www.americantool.com
Black and Decker
Web site: www.blackanddecker.com
Ryobi Technologies Inc.
Web site: www.ryobitools.com
Stanley Tools
Web site: www.stanleyworks.com
Vermont American
Web site: www.vermontamerican.com
Setting Up Shop: The Practical Guide to Designing and Building Your Dream Shop
Model: 156158360X
Author: Sandor Nagyszalanczy
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
The Workshop Book
Model: 1561582719
Author: Scott Landis
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
How to Design and Build Your Ideal Woodshop
Model: 1558704817
Author: Bill Stankus
Popular Woodworking Books
Setting Up Your Own Woodworking Shop
Model: 0806983140
Author: Bill Stankus
Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.sterlingpub.com
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