Shelving

[GreyLord]

I have a problem with the storage of all the books (RPG's) that I have. It ssems that if I put a shelf full of them, the shelf will bow up in a year or two.

Pressed wood is terrible, plastic is terrible, even wood eventually succumbs. The only shelf I have that's lasted is one that is completely steel. It doesn't bend under the weight.

I went off to try to buy more steel shelves, but unfortunately the stores don't seem to carry them. The one I have was gotten via work when it was sold off a while ago, but short of taking things from where I work (which I wouldn't do, and wouldn't advise anyone else to do), is there anyplace to buy steel shelves at retail for individual use?

The one I have is five shelves, and completely steel. Looking for about 5 others just like it, or similar in make, but uncertain where to go to get them except via the same channels work gets them...but I'm not looking at buying in bulk.

How do you guys store your books without having the shelves literally break down after a few years?

 

[ExploderWizard]

Check home improvement stores. Our local Lowes carries steel shelving in the section for tool/garage storage. Good luck.

 

[HelloChristian]

My wife is a chef and she suggested something called "metro shelving." They are a kind of steel, modular shelving unit you see in a lot of restaurants, but people use them at home, too. If you look on Craigslist, you might find someone trying to sell their shelving.

 

[ExploderWizard]

My wife is a chef and she suggested something called "metro shelving." They are a kind of steel, modular shelving unit you see in a lot of restaurants, but people use them at home, too. If you look on Craigslist, you might find someone trying to sell their shelving.

I have some of these and they are very strong and sturdy. I don't use them for books though because the shelves are made of steel bars rather than being a flat surface. This is ideal in restaurants for not collecting crud and being easy to powerwash but the surface wouldn't be too friendly to heavy books over time.

I use mine to store terrain making supplies and store bins of unpainted minis.

 

[GreyLord]

Check home improvement stores. Our local Lowes carries steel shelving in the section for tool/garage storage. Good luck.

I was at Lowes yesterday. They had steel framed shelves, but the shelves themselves were pressed board. They did have the steel grate shelves, but I'm looking at something to hold books. Thanks for the idea though.

Metro shelf looks like it has solid shelves, similarly to what they have at work, seems harder to get though. I'll look further into it, hopefully there is something easier out there to procure.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

1) For my game books, I use bookshelves that are from furniture stores OR are built into walls- the wood is a bit thicker & sturdier and does not bow...that much.

2) I own some MetroShelving (as well as InterMetro, a lighter duty product). I use it for all kinds of stuff, including my cookbooks. With a load capacity of @800lbs/shelf, they're not going to bend. InterMetro is about 500lbs/shelf. ANNNNND both lines have clear plastic shelf liners available that will prevent anything falling through...or books from being damaged.

 

[jonesy]

I have a set of Ikea shelves that are close to ten years old with very little bend and have always been slapdash full of books and stuff.

 

[Mark CMG]

I have a problem with the storage of all the books (RPG's) that I have. It ssems that if I put a shelf full of them, the shelf will bow up in a year or two.

Every six months, remove the books, (dust), and flip the shelves. Also, you can measure the height between shelves and put dowel rods or some other support centered side to side if you really want shore them up, but flpping them works fine. Even good shelving can warp a bit over time with as heavy as RPG books can be. So unless you plan to get much better shelving (thick, hard wood, not overly wide), you might find you can live with what you have with some modifications.

 

[Gronin]

I have a problem with the storage of all the books (RPG's) that I have. It ssems that if I put a shelf full of them, the shelf will bow up in a year or two.


How do you guys store your books without having the shelves literally break down after a few years?

What I do for shelves that need to support a heavy load is add a nosing to the front or screwed on underneath just back of the front edge. An 1 1/2" by 3/4" piece of solid lumber is usually adequate. The downside is it does eat up a bit of the space between shelves but the life of the shelf is greatly increased and this is usually a fair bit cheaper that steel.

(For me it also has the advantage of being easy to do as I own a cabinet shop)

 

[pauljathome]

I have a problem with the storage of all the books (RPG's) that I have. It ssems that if I put a shelf full of them, the shelf will bow up in a year or two.

Pressed wood is terrible, plastic is terrible, even wood eventually succumbs. The only shelf I have that's lasted is one that is completely steel. It doesn't bend under the weight.

I went off to try to buy more steel shelves, but unfortunately the stores don't seem to carry them. The one I have was gotten via work when it was sold off a while ago, but short of taking things from where I work (which I wouldn't do, and wouldn't advise anyone else to do), is there anyplace to buy steel shelves at retail for individual use?

The one I have is five shelves, and completely steel. Looking for about 5 others just like it, or similar in make, but uncertain where to go to get them except via the same channels work gets them...but I'm not looking at buying in bulk.

How do you guys store your books without having the shelves literally break down after a few years?

I use non adjustable wooden shelves. They're handmade by a local carpenter and are quite sturdy and reasonably cheap (about the same price as high end IKEA shelves). He even makes them to order (his standard shelves aren't quite big enough for RPG stuff).

I've had my RPG collection on two sets of shelves that I bought over 15 years ago and the shelves are still perfectly straight.

Unless you happen to live near Toronto the actual guy that I use won't be of any value to you but I'm going to link to him anyway in case it helps you look for something similar in your neck of the woods

Pine Tree Pete - Custom Pine Bookcases & Cabinets