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Which option would be better shelf support?

PLIERS | Posted in General Questions on

So almost finished building pantry shelves.  I have 5 shelves and set of side shelves at each corner.  The corner shelves don’t that have a cleat on the side.  Guy at lumbar yard said to cut a 2×2 and screw it in between each shelf stacking them underneath.  Saw a post online where they simply laid a 2×2 by corner and used metal brackets to connect all the way up.  Which option is stronger or makes more sense.  The attached picture will explain what I’m talking about

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Replies

  1. Expert Member
    MALCOLM TAYLOR | | #1

    I wouldn't do either. Fasten the shelves to each other and leave the corner open.

  2. PLIERS | | #2

    Thanks, how would you fasten them to each other?

    1. Expert Member
  3. charlie_sullivan | | #4

    Malcolm's solution is smart and I think it will work fine. If you try that and it's not strong enough, you can do either of the others. I think either will be plenty strong, so I'd chose which you think is easier. Personally I think that cutting the post would be easier, but that depends on cutting them precisely.

  4. Expert Member
    Akos | | #5

    In u shaped shelving, I normally run the side shelf all the way to the back wall. The center section than sits in between these on brackets. There is no need for any corner support.

    You could miter them and make big U shaped shelf, however these are not as flexible as having them in 3 separate section. Much easier to reconfigure.

  5. PLIERS | | #6

    Thanks for all the help. Since back wall is so long at 79 inches I decided to run the side shelves to back wall as Akos mentioned. Then the middle back shelf won’t be so long and will be easier to support. I’m missing a stud on the left side of back wall right where I would attach brackets about half way up so it would affect top 3 shelves. I’m going to run a 1x3 horizontal to nearest stud and attach bottom of bracket to that for extra support.

    A stupid question but for my metal brackets I understand I should screw into wall but should I attach brackets to the actual shelf? Do I want to do that or let it rest on bracket. I wasn’t sure what screw to use if I do because it would have to be small enough not to puncture my 1x shelf and also be strong.

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