While still slow-moving in the room prep -- I'm looking to at least get the N Scale CR&T's multi-level U-shaped Layout benchwork in place by year-end 2010:
[1] CR&T's upper level & staging "sub-level" are planned to use shelf brackets while the lower level will have more traditional wooden legs & L-girder & cookie-cutter benchwork.
[2] A helix "in a middle corner" will also do double-duty as a benchwork anchor -- with upper level shelf brackets to either side of the helix.
While looking for shelf brackets, I discovered SupportBrackets.com with workstation shelf brackets made from 1/8 steel plus sold as left & right pairs => see Products.
(shipping included) => 5"x8" ($7.95/bracket), 8"x12" ($10.95/bracket), 12"x18" ($13.95/bracket), 15"x21" ($15.95/bracket), 18"x24" ($20.95/bracket), 24"x24" ($25.95/bracket), 24"x29" ($27.95/bracket).
At first glance, they might seem expensive, until you start pricing what's available at box-stores for "less heavy-duty" shelving, and see these brackets are sold as pairs with shipping included.
The largest bracket is 24"x29" and larger than most other bookshelf brackets. It also looks like the "bracket top" can support a wood brace to anchor a solid L-girder base. It might even be possible to design wood helix upright-supports to use the 5"x8" brackets to anchor a 2-3 track helix on the 8" bracket portion.
Since these shelf brackets are so different from what we have seen...
What are your thoughts about using "SupportBrackets" -- from any perspective -- you can think of?
Conemaugh Road & Traction circa 1956
Way overpriced, you do not need to support that much weight for a model railroad.
Actually, for a pair price they aren't overpriced compared to Big Box pricing (for say John Sterling Max Brackets).
Load capacity is an issue it you want to lean on or stand on the shelf (but that should only be 300-400 lbs max).
Co-owner of the proposed CT River Valley RR (HO scale) http://home.comcast.net/~docinct/CTRiverValleyRR/
They look good, and the price is not bad for their design.
You would not use them singly, but in pairs anyway. I would want brackets that, paired, would support shelving capable of supporting about 100 lbs. That figure is about four times too high for the material and trains items it would support between any one pair if properly mounted on studs behind drywall. So, depending on your perspective, these brackets are over-engineered for what you want, or they are lifetime investments that can always serve another purpose when this one is no longer desired.
They would be something I would seriously consider.
-Crandell
Unless they are going to support a yard-wide shelf on 48 inch centers and plan to use Linn Westcott's plaster-heavy landscape methods, or you weigh about as much as a Yokozuna and intend to chin yourself on the front fascia, those things are a gross overkill.
My own shelf is supported on, "Sheet metal in slotted track," brackets. The tracks also support additional 'cargo' shelves at higher and lower levels - one of which might become a separate upper level narrow-gauge development at some indefinite future time. For the entire 12+ feet of 'wall running' I doubt my total track and bracket investment (for those parts actually supporting railroad) would have bought me a pair of those herculean brackets.
If the object is to have brackets that will survive as long as the wall doesn't collapse, superbrackets are the way to go. If the object is to flow softly on the bank account, I'm sure there are less-expensive options.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - partially on a wall-supported shelf)
The upside is that you need relatively few brackets if L-girders are used for the bracket to bracket span (4 ft easily with 2x3 girders).
But the brackets are overkill (Lance Mindhein's shelf layout is held up by lower cost 12" brackets found at Big Box stores),
Excellent feedback from all thus far! The neat thing about your responses is a bit of "shelf-thinking outside the box." Other benchwork considerations:
[1] Lower level CR&T (surrounded by PRR) is not a 12"-24" shelf, but the support concerns are for the upper level and sub-level support.
[2] U-shaped benchwork will be "free-standing" without any wall attachment, and benchwork will be shaped to contour those outer three walls.
[3] Outer wall dimensions are roughly 6' (left side) - 9' (back side) - 5' (right side). A 1'x5' notchback on the left side of the back wall "will recess" the helix -- gaining an extra 12" (up front) on the lower level.
[4] Each upper level end needs dogbone trackage room for Pennsy action.
[5] PRR sub-level staging (under the upper level) will probably be stub-ended on each side of the helix -- into each U-shaped side-end.
[6] Big concern -- "open access" at each end (left side & right side). Highly visible vertical supports at layout end front-corners supporting an upper level always takes away from lower level scenery.
Doc in CTThe upside is that you need relatively few brackets if L-girders are used for the bracket to bracket span (4 ft easily with 2x3 girders).
CR&T just might now be using more L-girder wood support. Perhaps one pair of these 24" brackets might be useful in this way: Left support at the end of the left side, and; the right support at the end of the right side.
I'd want the most heavy duty ones available. I can just see the brackets failing and everything plummeting to the floor. Murphy tends to be in the front of my mind almost always.
Modeling the N&W freelanced at the height of their steam era in HO.
Daniel G.
FWIW my 24" wide shelf layout is supported by 24" x 20" brackets made from 1 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 1/8" angle steel welded at a right angle. These are bolted to a concrete wall at 4' 9" centres with a 4" x 2" L girder fixed along both sides.
Bill
tgindy Left support at the end of the left side, and; the right support at the end of the right side.
L-girders are happiest with supports at the 1/5 and 4/5th positions, not at the ends
An advantage of the John Sterling ones is that you can use the vertical tracks to set up several levels of shelving. I'm building a two-level shelf layout, with a shelf on top to use to support lights and fascia above the upper level, it also has a shelf near floor level for storage. If I understand these brackets, you'd have to buy separate brackets for each level, so I'd think that would negate any apparent savings. Plus the brackets look like they stick out pretty far, so it would be hard to put a second level below an existing one??
tgindy(shipping included) => 5"x8" ($7.95/bracket), 8"x12" ($10.95/bracket), 12"x18" ($13.95/bracket), 15"x21" ($15.95/bracket), 18"x24" ($20.95/bracket), 24"x24" ($25.95/bracket), 24"x29" ($27.95/bracket). At first glance, they might seem expensive, until you start pricing what's available at box-stores for "less heavy-duty" shelving, and see these brackets are sold as pairs with shipping included.
Hey Guys, I hate to pop your bubble, but it looks like these are priced per bracket and not per pair. That makes them a little pricey. They are certainly strong though!