Shelves and trains

[Buckeye Riveter]

Jon, those look great. Neat gift.

QUOTE: Originally posted by hugoroundhouse

Does anyone on the forum have experience with the extruded aluminum shelving I see advertised in CTT? They require no additional brackets and look very similar to a chalk tray on a school chalkboard.

Jim E.

Tom Schmidt uses the alumninum shelves and they do look nice in his basement family room.

[FJ and G]

nice; keep up great work

[Anonymous]

Jim E.
I use the aluminum shelving (from Glenn Snyder--Railrax also sells it) for easy access train storage. I have 12 shelves about 7'-6" to 8' long mounted on each of three walls in an 8 x 12 alcove adjacent to my layout. It comes in 6' lengths and Glenn will cut it to fit a custom space or you can cut it yourself.

A less expensive method which I used in a prior house, is to buy some good quality pine 1 x 4s[actual 3/4" x 3-1/2"], cut grooves in the 1x4s on a table saw to match the wheel gauge and receive the flanges, and then mount the shelves with 3" x 3" ell brackets on 16" centers. I used this type shelf for years to hold heavy articulated diecast engines as well as lightweight plastic rail cars.

Whether aluminum or wood shelves, I use fender washers to shim behind the fasteners to overcome the uneveness of drywall(poorly finished drywall is common in the U.S). If you tighten screws on uneven or "humped" drywall without shimming it will "bow" your shelves.

[Anonymous]

Hi,
I purchased the extruded shelves through CTT mag, I think they are great and look just like track, if you like that look. The only drawback is it cost me almost double the cost of the shelves for tax,& shipping, because of the lenght & weight.

[laz 57]

Nice job JON, I'll give you an A+on that.
laz57

[hugoroundhouse]

Nothing like a personal gift from your son - whether it's his first crayon drawing or a great set of train shelves. They look great.

Does anyone on the forum have experience with the extruded aluminum shelving I see advertised in CTT? They require no additional brackets and look very similar to a chalk tray on a school chalkboard.

Jim E.

[Anonymous]

Great shelves Jon.
I actually get paid to do woodworking, so I will have money for trains. Am I one lucky guy or what...Tim

[tschmidt]

Jon,

Those shelves look great! You must be really proud of your son. It is something you will always treasure.

Tom S

[jonadel]

Thanks Dr. John, our oldest son has found great relaxation in woodworking and for not starting until just a few years ago he is turning out some tremendous projects, not bad for a kid who didn't start woodworking until he was 28. Ironically, the youngest son took every woodworking class he could in hs and produced some superior projects rarely has time for woodworking now, however you should see the crown molding he did last spring for his first ever home, WOW!

When I go to woodworking centers with them the salesmen are always after me to get me interested, my quick reply--I already have one expensive enough hobby, don't need to start another one.............. although I'd like to.

Jon

[Dr. John]

Jon - very nice! Your sons do excellent work. A very attractive display.

[jonadel]

After many hours of measuring, drilling and a few trips to the hardware store the Christmas gift of shelves made by my oldes son are mounted. It's been a fun project from the beginning and we are very pleased with the outcome so I thought you might enjoy a few pic's. His enjoyment of wood working parallels my interest in trains.

Jon

The shelves by themselves, what made the job tough was the concrete block wall behind the paneling/dry wall, insualation


sorry about the flash reflection


seems to work well in this location


and lastly here's a scroll saw piece done by youngest son while in H.S. many years ago