Garage Storage unit

[Herbertmunch]

Hi all

I intend to make a shelving unit for my garage but I'm unsure of what metal to use.

The dimensions of the unit will be ~ 3m width 0.75m depth 1.5m height.
I want this to hold fairly heavy stuff so I need it to be reasonably sturdy.

I'm looking at the moment at maybe buying some angle and box. The online metal retailer im looking at sells angle 40x40x3 and 40x40x5 and also similar sized box section.

I've got a clarke 151te which I assume from reading other members opinions on the forum should be able to weld the 5mm stuff with a little bit of preperation.

Questions is would I get away with 3mm and some bracing?

Thanks very much in advance

 

[GeorgiePorgie]

I'd suggest looking at a local supplier/s for your metal as it does work out cheaper because taking the P&P into consideration reduces the cost buying locally.

 

[Herbertmunch]

Thanks but I dont seem to have any local suppliers in my area. The prices quoted on the site are quite reasonable and P+P not too bad either.


Has anyone got any thoughts on the questions I asked?

Many thanks

 

[astro_al]

Steel is sold by mass.

For a given mass (cost), you're better off making the vertical dimension of the stock you use as large as possible. It is better to elongate the vertical web of an angle section than it is to go up a size in terms of thickness while keeping the vertical dimension small.

Since cost = mass (and I'm assuming you're looking to keep the cost down), you're also better off biassing the stock in terms of vertical strength rather than horizontal stiffness - so larger vertical web & smaller horizontal web. Therefore unequal angle is your friend.

You could add a diagonal strip (something small and thin) to the back to help keep it stiff.

You've given no info whatsoever about what you're supporting, so on that basis(!) go for some 50 x 30 x 3 or 4 unequal angle, and use the 50 side in the vertical plane.

Personally, I'd just order some shelving though - quicker, probably cheaper, more adjustable and much less hassle.

No-one can answer your specific question about if that section is big enough when you've given no info about what its going to do - loads, distribution, spans etc etc

Al.

 

[Herbertmunch]

Hi Al

thanks very much for the advice.

I intend to put my clarke 151te, gas bottle, chop saw and drill press on shelves while they are not in use. Not to mention a few other similarly heavy items.

The items will be spread across the width of the unit (3m) probably on two shelves (0.75m) deep.

Do you think the 50x30x4 would be strong enough to hold all this stuff?

Cheers

 

[astro_al]

Is that 3m in one span? I would add a leg in the middle (one at the back at least - so you can still have uninterrupted access to the front of the shelves) - or maybe a rear leg every metre of span. The more you put, the thinner you can go on stock, so it isn't necessarily more expensive. A support leg like that needn't be terribly beefy, since all the load is along its axis in compression. 3m is a pretty long span.

Yeah, stuff like that isn't masses of weight, I'm sure it'll be fine.

75cm is an unusually deep shelf, but maybe you already know that.

If you're bolting some woody stuff down to the angle to make the surfaces of the shelves, you might even consider going down to 50 x 25 UEA. The extra 5mm in the horizontal plane isn't actually doing anything - so it'll be cheaper. I don't think you can get UEA with a ratio of more than 2:1 between the two sides, so that would be the minimum available (maybe).

Al.

 

[Herbertmunch]

Thanks Al for the great info. Thats exactly what I needed to know.

Yeah maybe 75 cm might be a tad excessive
Yeah I'm not buying any sheet metal (too expensive). A trip to B&Q or similar to get some wood is in order.

Would you recommend me making the legs out of box or angle? If Box what thickness, etc should I look for?


Cheers

 

[astro_al]

It's eaasiest to use box for the legs, same size as the horizontal flange of your shelf supports so 25 or 30. All the load is straight down the leg so it needn't be large nor thick walled. 3 mm is oodles. I would just use whatever is cheapest for the intermediate 'legs' at the back, even some flat bar.

I still think by the time you've bought everything, degreased it, cut it, drilled it, chamfered it if necessary, welded it all up at the right angle, primed and painted and then gone out for wood, cut it all to size and attached it you'll regret not just buying some shelving, but hey.

 

[Ian D]

Not sure need somthing that strong to hold what you are going to put on it. We put a ton of catalogues on a unit and it did not fail, and that was not screwed to the wall, which makes them alot stronger again.
It is surprising how much some of the bought units hold.

 

[Shox Dr]

If you are wanting 750deep x 3m long, Dexion Shelving is the stuff you want, cheap as chips. And far cheaper than trying the make it yourself. Go down your local Scrap yard, they most likely will have some, that just needs a lick of paint

 

[Herbertmunch]

ok all thanks very much for your input.

I'll have a look at some "off the shelf" shelving and maybe find myself another project!


cheers