Lumber Rack Storage System
These super heavy duty, compact shelf brackets were installed in the basement of my 80-year-old house when I moved in. I've never seen anything better for use as a lumber or pipe rack system at this price. The steel shelf brackets fit in a steel wall stringer that's rated to 300 lbs. at the tip of an 18" bracket. There are excellent commercial shelving systems costing hundreds, even thousands of dollars, but I don't consider those within the range of an average home owner or hobbyist. These aren't cheap, but they cover that middle ground between the industrial shelves and lesser, consumer-grade aluminum bracket systems. It took me 10 years to track down these, because, oddly, they don't seem to have a brand name or manufacturer affiliated with them. Woodcraft supply is the only place, the ONLY place I've ever been able to find them. Woodcraft claims Telco companies use them in their cable rooms for holding up heavy bundles of cables.
-- Jon Kroninger
Lumber Rack Bracket
$8 - 10"
$10 - 14"
$16 - 18"
$24 - 55"
$225 - full set
Available from Woodcraft
Favorite (15)
Jeff
Lee Valley sells a system that appears identical to this.
Same look and specs.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=32145&cat=1,43326
Jeff
Eban Tomlinson
I have purchased the same system from Lee Valley Tools here in Canada:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=32145&cat=1,43326
I believe they ship to the US
Paul Lewis
Last time I checked, Busy Bee Tools in Canada also stocks this system.
DDG
I purchased the same system from Grizzly for a reasonable price. Very happy with product.
stephentrepreneur
Perfect. I've also been looking for decent shelving for my office. These look exactly like what I need. Now to see if I can get these in Australia!
Joe Calhoun
Garrett Wade in the US also carries it: http://garrettwade.com/shop-lumber-storage-system/p/62K07ddd01/
CT Reader
I've seen these in underground electrical vaults where the channels are cast in the concrete vault walls. The brackets then support electrical cables (distribution feeders) as they pass through the vaults.
DJ
These are exactly what telco companies use for cable racks. They are easy to use and I can atest that they are sturdy as heck.
Russ Brami
I have a collection of about 5,000 art books that are typically large and heavy but have never found book shelves that can handle them very long without crashing. There are sturdy bookshelves that can work but they are hideous and expensive.This system looks as if it can be configured to hold art books cheaply and flexibly.
Michael McMillan
I would recommend unistrut as an alternative. You can get unistrut channel next to electrical conduit at home depot (the part which is expensive to ship), and all of the fittings online.
I am not sure about current pricing, but I about 3 years ago it was $12 per 8 foot length.
The fittings are also more versatile. You can get shelving for the light guage 1 1/4 inch which is 18 inch, and 100 pound, or for the heavy guage 1 5/8 inch width you can get 24 inch brackets good for 1200 pounds.
The real wonder of the stuff however is that you are not limited to using it on the wall, they have a large veriety of fittings available for hanging. Dad uses it to make ski and ladder racks in the garage in the 8 inches of space above the garage door and the ceiling. My dad also uses the tracking system on the shop to make a sliding door. The parts are industrial quality, but priced to be used everywhere.
If you want to see it in use, go into any garage, gym or building where the structure is exposed. You will usually see unistrut brackets used to hold up the water pipes for the fire sprinklers.
http://unistrut.com
Kevin Kelly
Thanks Michael. That is almost a review in itself.
Garth Wood
I've oftentimes noticed that tools, gadgets, thingamabobs and whatever that show up on here are also available through Lee Valley in Canada. I think the Lees should re-name their company "Cool Tools," actually. ;-)
ric
It looks like the venerable Dexion to me, I've a love for the stuff passed down from my dad.