Shelf capacity
Author
Discussion

dave123456

Original Poster:

3,437 posts

162 months

Sunday 16th March
quotequote all
I’ve installed some shelving, roughly 110cm long and c30cm thick on two brackets, two screws on each, 50mm screws into rawlplugs on a solid wall. So each shelf has 4 screws.

Intention is to store records, and I know it’s hard to give a precise answer, but what would one assume is the load bearing capacity of such a shelf?

Mercury00

4,225 posts

171 months

Sunday 16th March
quotequote all
Rawl plugs will have the max weight listed on the Screwfix website, if you can find the same ones on there.

craigjm

19,295 posts

215 months

Sunday 16th March
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What is the depth of the shelf? What material are they made out of? What type of brackets are they? What kind of wall is it? What rawlplugs did you use?

dave123456

Original Poster:

3,437 posts

162 months

Sunday 16th March
quotequote all
craigjm said:
What is the depth of the shelf? What material are they made out of? What type of brackets are they? What kind of wall is it? What rawlplugs did you use?
Shelf is 22cm deep, solid wood, metal brackets, solid wall, Fischer Duopower Wall Plugs 6mm x 30mm.

dave123456

Original Poster:

3,437 posts

162 months

Sunday 16th March
quotequote all
Mercury00 said:
Rawl plugs will have the max weight listed on the Screwfix website, if you can find the same ones on there.
Can’t see it anywhere, hence the question

R6tty

704 posts

30 months

Sunday 16th March
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75kg each.

Mercury00

4,225 posts

171 months

Sunday 16th March
quotequote all
dave123456 said:
Can’t see it anywhere, hence the question

dave123456

Original Poster:

3,437 posts

162 months

Sunday 16th March
quotequote all
Mercury00 said:
dave123456 said:
Can’t see it anywhere, hence the question
Thanks

Mad Maximus

630 posts

18 months

Sunday 16th March
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It depends on how well they have taken into the masonry. I would judge by giving it a wiggle and putting some of your own weight onto it.

Super Sonic

9,710 posts

69 months

Sunday 16th March
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Mad Maximus said:
It depends on how well they have taken into the masonry. I would judge by giving it a wiggle and putting some of your own weight onto it.
Put as much of your weight on it as you can without breaking it, then make a note of how much that was!

Jeremy-75qq8

1,402 posts

107 months

Monday 17th March
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Given the shelf length and only 2 brackets with heavy records sag I also an issue. It will need a middle support

dave123456

Original Poster:

3,437 posts

162 months

Monday 17th March
quotequote all
Jeremy-75qq8 said:
Given the shelf length and only 2 brackets with heavy records sag I also an issue. It will need a middle support
Apologies my 30cm thick should say 3cm.

So each shelf is 110 x 22 x 3 and on two brackets. I don’t think sag will be a challenge.

megaphone

11,233 posts

266 months

Monday 17th March
quotequote all
Just hang on the bracket if it will take your weight, then you'll know.

You say the wall is solid, is it plastered? Did you knock the plug into the block work past the plaster?

If I need added strength, double plug and use longer screws.

In your case I would have used 75mm (3") screws.

Edited by megaphone on Monday 17th March 07:55

dave123456

Original Poster:

3,437 posts

162 months

Monday 17th March
quotequote all
Jeremy-75qq8 said:
Given the shelf length and only 2 brackets with heavy records sag I also an issue. It will need a middle support
Apologies my 30cm thick should say 3cm.

So each shelf is 110 x 22 x 3 and on two brackets. I don’t think sag will be a challenge.

Murph7355

40,305 posts

271 months

Monday 17th March
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Search sagulator in Google. It'll give you a good guide on sag and encourage you waste hours plugging variables in.

dave123456

Original Poster:

3,437 posts

162 months

Sunday 23rd March
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Different shelf question… my life is full of shelves atm.

I had some book shelves in a previous house that k have cut lengthways to make book shelves in my current house (intended for paperbacks).

The shelves I had were 48” long, 8” wide and 1” thick planed pine.

I’ve cut them to 4” wide and would like some more, the only shelves I can find are the reclaimed scaffold board type, which I have used elsewhere but won’t match these.

Any ideas where I can get hold of wood to match? I can find 25mm planed board but the finished thickness is less than 25mm at near 21mm.

TA14

13,095 posts

273 months

Sunday 23rd March
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I would think that that is going to be very difficult. Try a couple of timber yards; some stock 25mm think finished size to fit in with old floorboards but they seem to be becomming very rare these days. You'd probably have to buy 100 x 38 (finished size 32mm) and have the timber yard plane it down by 7mm e,g. https://georgehill-timber.co.uk/planed-v-redwood-3...

What design are you trying to achieve? Shelves with thicker boards on the lower shelves is what cabinet makers try to achieve.

Fast and Spurious

1,802 posts

103 months

Sunday 23rd March
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Lay down on the shelf and assuming it takes your weight slowly add extra weight by lifting up house bricks and placing them over your body. If you don't have a ready supply of bricks then I can't help you, sorry.

TA14

13,095 posts

273 months

Sunday 23rd March
quotequote all
Fast and Spurious said:
Lay down on the shelf and assuming it takes your weight slowly add extra weight by lifting up house bricks and placing them over your body. If you don't have a ready supply of bricks then I can't help you, sorry.
We've moved on to a different set of shelves now.

vladcjelli

3,264 posts

173 months

Sunday 23rd March
quotequote all
TA14 said:
Fast and Spurious said:
Lay down on the shelf and assuming it takes your weight slowly add extra weight by lifting up house bricks and placing them over your body. If you don't have a ready supply of bricks then I can't help you, sorry.
We've moved on to a different set of shelves now.
Those sort of threads only have a short shelf life...?