Safety Speed Cut Thermwood Corporation ECabinet Systems

Cabinetmaking

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Floating Shelf Bracket

7/13/16       
Stewart Member

Hi Everyone,

I am looking for a better solution to mount a 12" deep x 2 1/2" thick slab of wood as a floating shelf. We have done stuff like this in the past on smaller shelves just taking 1/2" steel rod and burrowing it into the studs with epoxy and a mating hole into the back of the shelf but I am a little concerned about the weight on this one. There was just a recent post talking about hanging vanities with a "T" square type bracket. Have you guys seen anything like this but with a welded rod (as opposed to flat bar or tubing) protruding a good 10" ? Then, I could secure to the stud over a greater area for better strength and still get the relative ease of just boring a mating hole in the back of the shelf. Or, do I look for a welder to custom make some brackets like this? How would you tackle this? Thanks in advance!

7/13/16       #2: Floating Shelf Bracket ...
Pat Gilbert

You're over engineering it. Do a mock up using a torsion box. You might be surprised.

7/14/16       #3: Floating Shelf Bracket ...
Joel

Ikea sells floating shelves with exactly the mount you are describing. Cheap too

7/14/16       #4: Floating Shelf Bracket ...
Stewart Member

Pat, I have been known to overthink things at times :) I would do a torsion box except that this is a solid slab. Joel, I will look to see if I can just get the bracket - thanks for the lead!

7/14/16       #5: Floating Shelf Bracket ...
Dan

You could use 283.33.941 shelf supports from Hafele

7/14/16       #6: Floating Shelf Bracket ...
D Brown

You could mill a slot in the back of the shelf and screw a say 1" X 4" or so board to the wall and fasten the shelf.

7/14/16       #7: Floating Shelf Bracket ...
Robin Smith

Here you go, available from 10" to 78"

https://www.etsy.com/listing/213841248/heavy-duty-hidden-floating-shel
f-bracket?ref=listing-shop-header-0

7/14/16       #8: Floating Shelf Bracket ...
Karl E Brogger

I have a local fab guy weld a piece of ¾" rod to a piece of ¼" thick plate about 6" long. Screw it to the side of the stud, then measure centers for where the hole in the shelf goes.

Pretty bullet proof and easy to install.

7/14/16       #9: Floating Shelf Bracket ...
Pat Gilbert

Why is this easier than your original method? or stronger?

7/15/16       #10: Floating Shelf Bracket ...
Stewart Member

Robin, this is exactly what I'm looking for - thanks for sharing! Under my nose this whole time on Etsy - it never even dawned on me to look there. This is why the forum is so valuable! Karl, I was about to do the very thing you do with a welder neighbor of mine. Pat, this isn't any easier - in fact, it makes it a little more complicated because we have to open the wall up and then do drywall repair. It's the strength I was concerned about with a thick and long solid wood slab and heaven only knows how many stacks of dishes...My original method works great when you want to avoid opening the wall but I only feel comfortable using it when the shelves are smaller and lighter like the torsion box idea. Thanks so much, everyone, for the help!

7/19/16       #11: Floating Shelf Bracket ...
Pat

The Etsy brackets look pretty robust, but in my experience, any bracket that mounts this way has been less than perfect. The holes in the back of the shelves must be dead on in every way. Drilling a perfectly straight 6 1/4" deep hole pretty much requires a drill press or some other type of guide or jig. Adjustments in the field can be a pain. For example, one of the rods ends up being located over a stud.

A loaded 12" deep shelf will exert a fair amount of leverage. Even if everything is mounted up perfectly and screwed tightly, the sheetrock will eventually compress under the weight and the front of the shelf will sag. Yes, you can deal with it by using shims, but it's a pain. Scribing shelves to wavy walls can also be tough, and needs to be accounted for when machining the shelves.

Floating shelves look simple and the availability of cheap ones create the expectation of low cost. I underestimate the labor every time.

Cheers,
Pat


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Limtech Industries, Inc. Lamello