Will My Shelving Idea Support Weight

[Jamie D]

I want to build some simple (and cheap) shelving for my garage.

My plan is still use 38x63mm studwork timber as the legs. Then use 18x38mm timber on the horizontals. Then on top of these place 9mm mdf sheets, probably screwed down.

The main concern is the horizontals being too thin, but this is due to budget. It will only hold garden / diy tools. The heaviest thing will be a lawnmower.

Will this work or will the weight be too much? Thanks.

 

[Swwils]

Won't be cheap at the moment. Screwfix do a metal shelving that is very cost effective.

 

[foxhole]

Dismantle some large pallets and get free shelving.

 

[Jamie D]

I have some plastic shelving at the moment, metal would be the same. I think making my own would make better use of the space.

I can see pallets being good, but can’t be bothered with the effort of finding some. They seem to be very popular lol

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Ask on any large building site. We have to skip quite a few because they are non-returnable

 

[foxhole]

I have some plastic shelving at the moment, metal would be the same. I think making my own would make better use of the space.

I can see pallets being good, but can’t be bothered with the effort of finding some. They seem to be very popular lol

Roofing suppliers have a scheme to give them away free.

 

[OldKettle]

What will be the longest unsupported span?

I've recently built some shelves, all 38x63 (bought a bunch cheap a few months back) and 18mm ply.

For some of the shelves I laid the 38x63 flat so only 38 is vertical and they work fine for very heavy loads, but that is 18mm ply. Longest span is 700mm.

If you do it so that the 38mm is vertical, then I reckon you will be fine. If anything, the flex in the sheet material would be more of an issue if the span was too great.

 

[johnny2007]

I "temporarily" used 9mm plywood for a shelf 3 foot long 10 odd years ago.
I've had pots of paint on it, lots of them.
Every couple of years I turned it around.
It's still holding strong.