Here you are presented with a plan according to which you can make a very sturdy folding shelf bracket that can withstand high loads.

The plan dimensions are adapted to a shelving bracket, but if you choose to increase the parts dimensions, this bracket can also be used for the making of a folding bench or table. The folding bracket consists of 3 parts connected together by bolts (or threaded rod). A good feature of this shelf bracket is that it can be made from various scraps of tubes of rectangular (or square) cross-section generated from cutting pipes that can be found in every workshop. In this way, they can be recycled in a good way. The bracket can be made from metal tubes of differing sizes, just take into account that the outer width of the smaller profile has to be smaller-scaled than the internal width of the larger profile, which is a necessary condition so that this shelf bracket may fold. It can be mounted on the wall by using plastic anchors and screws.
 
 

Folding metal shelf bracket from scrap
Project difficulty
Simple
Skill level
for beginners
Level of workshop equipment
Basic hand toools
Basic power tools
Dimensions

206mm (8 1/8'') x 216mm (8 1/2'') x 65mm (2 9/16'')

 

Exploded view and parts list
Folding metal shelf bracket - Parts list
Assembly drawing
Folding metal shelf bracket - Assembly drawing

 

If you intend to keep some heavy things on the shelf, you need to mount it on a concrete or brick wall. Drill the holes through the full thickness of the wall and mount the shelf bracket using washers, nuts and a threaded rod. To prevent the nuts from being seen on the other side of the wall, increase the holes with a masonry chisel as much as it is needed to ensure that after installation full-size nuts remain in the wall. Repair holes in the wall, i.e. fill them up with suitable material (mortar, plaster …), then make smooth and paint that wall section.

 

Download project (high resolution images)

Submitted by Ceh Jan