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Metal Shelf BracketMetal Shelf Bracket There are literally hundreds of styles, sizes, and uses for metal shelf brackets, including variations of:
You can find metal shelf brackets in home supply stores or online. If you are purchasing decorative metal shelf brackets, you just need to find something you like and that is sturdy. For the other shelf brackets, you need to know how you will be using your shelves, what weight you need to support, and then finally decide which type of metal shelf bracket will work best for you. Regarding how much weight metal self brackets will support, you will need to
install them according to the manufacturer's directions for optimal support.
This usually means securing the bracket to a stud in the wall. USING DECORATIVE METAL SHELF BRACKETS IN YOUR
KITCHEN An easy, inexpensive, and wonderful decorating idea is to hang decorative metal shelf brackets (you can use wooden shelves as well) in your kitchen. If you don't have upper cabinets in an area, you can install metal shelf brackets and shelves. Suddenly you have beautiful, open, storage space. Installing open shelves in your kitchen (or in other rooms as well) is not only handy, it adds decorative appeal and contrast. You will also save quite a bit of money versus install cabinets. DECORATIVE METAL SHELF BRACKETS CAN HELP YOU REMODEL OR EVEN SELL YOUR HOUSE (yes, really) If you have old, outdated cabinets in your kitchen, but don't have quite
enough money to spend on completely replacing all
the cabinets, (or are just trying to update your house a bit to sell it) try
this:
L-BRACKETS AND FOLDING L-BRACKETS Some L-brackets can support up to 1,000 lbs. per pair, others much less. Check with your supplier or look at the package to make sure they will support what you need them too. Again, you will also need to install them properly to be able to support that much weight. The more expensive the bracket, usually the larger it is and/or the more weight it will support. Folding L-Brackets allow for flexibility if you've got limited space.
You can fold your shelf
WHAT ARE CANTILEVER METAL SHELF BRACKETS, AND WHAT
CAN THEY BE USED FOR? Cantilever support brackets work great in your garage or shop. We used them in our woodworking shop, along a back wall. The entire wall, 14 feet up, were cantilever brackets and shelving which easily supported all of our face frame material. For those of you who might not know, face frames are the wooden board lengths (we used 1" to 4") that are cut and used to build face frames for kitchen cabinets.
The picture at left is a desk/computer area in a home. Along the back wall, for support, was a perfect place to implement a cantilever metal shelf bracket. In our woodworking shop, we used these type of metal shelf brackets quite often for computer work areas. Often customers want a large expanse without any seen support, so they can freely move without hitting their legs, etc. Cantilever metal shelf brackets work wonderfully for these types of situations, but keep in mind they are probably the most costly of any of the metal shelf brackets. BUILDING YOUR OWN COMPUTER WORK STATION You can build your own computer work station on the cheap. Purchase a couple (or however many you need) of cantilever metal shelf brackets, then top with a piece of laminate countertop and - wallah - you have a computer work station. You can order laminate countertop from your local supply store, build your own countertop, or even pick one up from the extras at your local supply store. Just be sure having a square end at your computer work station isn't a problem, and order then apply end-splashes to the countertops if you need them (or don't like the look of "raw" countertop edges if that's the case). UTILITY SHELF BRACKETS This type of metal shelf bracket comes in a variety of sizes. They work great for storage rooms, closets, laundry rooms, shops and garages. They are usually very cost-friendly. The one at right is a Stanley Utility Shelf Bracket, that has a baked enamel gray color. SHELF AND ROD SUPPORTS FOR YOUR CLOSETS.
The one pictured here is from Knape and Vogt, white, and holds a 1 1/16" and 1 5/16" rod. METAL SHELF BRACKETS AND STANDARDS While not the prettiest metal shelf brackets, metal shelf brackets and
standards are the most flexible as far as adjusting the height of your shelf
goes. You probably don't want them in your living room, but they will work
well in your garage. You may also find them in some kitchen and bath
cabinetry. If you want to spruce of the looks of these standards, and you are handy and have the tools, you can cut a wooden board, put a dado in it to fit the wall standard you'll be using, and then paint or stain it to complement the color of the standard. Sizes and weight support with these types of shelves varies, so be sure to get what you need when you purchase these types of metal shelf brackets and standards. Return to Hardware for Kitchen Cabinets from Metal Shelf Bracket page. And remember - HAVE A HAPPY KITCHEN!!!
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down and out of the way when needed. Depending on what brand you purchase,
they can support up to 750 lbs. or more per pair.
Knape and Vogt's folding L-bracket (shown at right)
adjusts to 90, 80, 70 degrees, as well as folding flat. They come in 12"
or 16" depths, white or zinc.
There
are also folding brackets (versus folding L-brackets)
like the one pictured at left. They will be less expensive, but
usually won't hold as much weight as their L-Bracket counterparts, and may not
fold as flat.
They
can also be used to support computer work stations, ADA (Americans with
Disabilities Act) stations, chop saws or other tools and heavier equipment.
You
can obviously use these handy shelf and rod supports in your closet, but they
might work just as well for you on an open wall area of your laundry room, or
directly underneath a short upper cabinet in your laundry room. In laundry
rooms, you can hang clothes on these metal shelf brackets to dry, or in wait of
ironing or just for the next day to wear. They can come in quite handy.