32
votes
Accepted
How can I prevent the nuts in my shelving from coming loose?
If you use a product known generically as anaerobic thread locker, you will prevent the rotation of the fastener unless it is done by a wrench. Locktite™ is one such brand name, although many other ...
- 9,466
31
votes
Accepted
How to remove a shelf fastener with a round head and no slot
That's an expanding plug anchor as is commonly supplied by closet system manufacturers. Pull the nail out by the head (a locking plier works well), then pull the plastic plug out.
Here's a ...
- 107k
29
votes
How do I make around-the-room shelves for a seriously skewed room?
The Easy Way
Fortunately, you're holding up a model train, not an actual train, so you can take some liberties.
The hard part is following the rounded, off-square corners; the easy way to work ...
- 24.3k
23
votes
Closet system to be installed - boards in the way
Those 2x4's are almost certainly the remnants of a previous shelf support and are certainly not structural elements.
You can safely remove them.
- 5,131
23
votes
Accepted
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelf before or after carpet?
Before. I have done both and you can certainly do it either way but it is easier (and cheaper) more sturdy to fasten and shim the bottom to the floor without carpet in the way and because of the ...
- 46.3k
21
votes
How do I make around-the-room shelves for a seriously skewed room?
You don't. You transfer cut marks.
You don't need to make a paper plan of your cuts. Just lay the shelves on each wall.
Don't attempt to span a whole wall with 1 shelf board, it should always be ...
20
votes
Accepted
Did I make a major mistake on my garage shelves?
"Structural" applies to load-bearing walls and the like. I think you're safe. From what i can tell in the picture, unless you're storing engine blocks on them, you should be fine.
- 364
17
votes
Built-In Shelves/Bookcases - IKEA vs Built
I have experience with both. I'll try to answer your bullets and then some other thoughts.
Which adds more to a home's value? Well, typically bookcases don't add to the value because some people ...
- 26.7k
16
votes
How can I prevent the nuts in my shelving from coming loose?
The answer is simple: Lock washer.
It looks like a washer but it's split, and slightly bent to form a spring compression against both surfaces and locks them together. Hence, "lock washer." There are ...
- 293
13
votes
How do I make around-the-room shelves for a seriously skewed room?
I'd suggest going with the plywood over the particle board. Will probably be a lot lighter, and probably more dimensionally stable as well. Depending on your scenery goals, I might suggest using 1/2"...
- 1,779
12
votes
How can I prevent the nuts in my shelving from coming loose?
An even cheaper solution is locknuts, which are different to nyloc nuts.
Locknuts are simply second nuts threadded on at the same time as the main load bearing nut.
Then you oppose the two nuts by ...
- 7,533
12
votes
How do I make around-the-room shelves for a seriously skewed room?
Just four simple cuts.
I would use slightly oversized brackets and leave a gap against the wall. It might actually make for a nice floating effect.
Set a shelf along one wall, leaving a uniform ...
- 107k
12
votes
Did I make a major mistake on my garage shelves?
I think generally, shelves are non-structural. Structural use is building a house.
Although I bet those 2 could use your good-looking shelves as a sweet fort structure! That doesn't count.
My idea:...
- 5,828
11
votes
Accepted
Reinforcing a shelf supported only by pins
The type of shelf pins shown in your photo are able to twist out of crappy MDF or particle board side walls when a lot of torque is placed on the pin due to excessive weight placed upon the shelf. ...
- 61.9k
10
votes
Reinforcing a shelf supported only by pins
Cleats.
Well, If I didn't simply add up what this expletive redacted liquor cabinet just cost me (not counting husky-containment and mopping time) and shoot it into the sun to be wholly replaced with ...
- 139k
10
votes
Accepted
Can I reuse mounting holes into a stud for a shelf?
Assuming that the screws don't feel loose when you remove them due to inadequate length or pilot holes that are too large, you can reuse the holes. I've done just that a thousand times with everything ...
- 107k
9
votes
Accepted
shelf support removal
I have pretty much exactly the same shelf brackets.
They wedge in place, and the cylinder is NOT the secret to removing them. It stays put on the bracket.
A light tap from a hammer (preferably after ...
- 139k
8
votes
Reinforcing a shelf supported only by pins
I find it hard to believe that a few bottles would tear those pins out, unless either 1) the shelves are too short, resulting in a lot of torsional force, or 2) the pins weren't fully seated. Four ...
- 107k
8
votes
How to remove a shelf fastener with a round head and no slot
Get a pair of vise-grip locking pliers:
They clamp down and can turn ANYTHING. I used them to remove some one-way screws. Just be careful never to try them out on your fingers, unless you like the ...
- 81
8
votes
Accepted
Prevent sagging shelves in alcove
Assuming that the sag would only be in the middle of the front edge of the shelf you will have to add something stronger than the along the front edge length. A 1x2 on edge (actual size 1.5" ...
- 61.9k
7
votes
How to remove a shelf fastener with a round head and no slot
That looks like a ramset fastener (fancy schmancy powder-actuated nail) to my eye, not a screw at all.
If you can't pry it out, you'll probably have to grind it off.
Feel free to apply locking ...
- 139k
7
votes
How can I prevent the nuts in my shelving from coming loose?
Post fab, your only choice is threadlocker as Fred describes, or really, any sort of glue will do, maybe even nail polish.
Pre-assembly, you use
two nuts, and fix them by cranking them in ...
7
votes
Prevent sagging shelves in alcove
The design presented lends itself well to a 'stressed skin' design, or 'sandwich panel' (jum!). This design is common in aircraft construction.
You probably tested the shelves with the plywood loosely ...
- 593
7
votes
Accepted
Is it a bad idea to install a book shelf system on drywall?
When attaching anything other than lightweight items to the wall, you want to ensure that you have attached it to the underlying wall studs.
In the case of shelves, except for perhaps very light ...
- 20.6k
6
votes
How do I remove plastic shelf brackets that have broken off in the hole?
Plastic plug in a hole, I've always found drilling into it with a bit slightly smaller and stopping the drill, then pulling it straight out works dandy. If not, it gives to a place to try using a ...
- 139k
6
votes
Screws stuck inside of Anchors, with shelving unit in between.
The type of plastic drywall anchor that you show on those screws can be removed by holding the anchor with a pair of pliers and then back out the screw with a philips screwdriver. After the plastic ...
- 61.9k
6
votes
How do i measure the shape of an irregular curved wall?
You use a scribing tool
Example 1
Example 2
You can also use regular compasses with care. Or make something up with a pencil and a piece of wood to hold the pencil and offset it.
You put the shelf ...
- 23.7k
6
votes
How do I make around-the-room shelves for a seriously skewed room?
The comment about using cardboard or foam board is exactly why I was thinking.
I would cut 4 identical straight pieces, make their edges square and mount them centered on each wall.
For the ...
- 1,196
6
votes
How do I make around-the-room shelves for a seriously skewed room?
Am I perhaps going at it wrong and there might be a better, easier, (saner), way of going about it?
As a slightly out-of-the-box idea, you could have the gap and build model bridges for the model ...
- 221
6
votes
Built-In Shelves/Bookcases - IKEA vs Built
The Ikea Billy adds no value to the home since it's obvious to anyone that it's just Ikea furniture. Built-in shelves add some value if well-executed.
Which is stronger is entirely up to you.
...
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