Replies

1. 
   mschlack | Jan 16, 2021 08:17pm | #1

   I bought an IKEA shelf unit about 15 years ago for LPs. It's something like this one: https://www.ikea.com/us/en/p/kallax-shelf-unit-white-10409932/. LPs are heavy, so partitioning into cubes makes sense. My shelf's openings are about 13"h x 13"w x 15.5"d. Each partition holds about 50 records, so that's a lot of shelving! But honestly, buying 3 of these is probably a better option than trying to make them, if the form factor works.

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   lat_axe | Jan 17, 2021 05:25am | #2

   Should we rename the forum "Shoddy Furniture Buyers Guide" do you think? :-) FWW magazine could consist of articles telling how to wield the Allen key most effectively when building the chipboard saggers.

   I can imagine a very nice shelving item (several design-modes, in fact) that would provide not just a functional but also an attractive home for a large record collection.

   First thing would be to have such shelving floor-standing. All those records will weigh a ton so wall-hanging is potentially difficult - depending on the nature of the walls. Also, a freestanding item just tagged to the wall (or made to lean back a couple of degrees, like a bookcase) can be moved more easily, if required.

   Solid wood (and hardwoods) are likely to provide more stiffness-per-thickness of plank than many softwoods or man-made boards. Solid wood is also more attractive - although that's a matter of taste.

   In short, perhaps one design-tactic might be to look at the hundreds of bookcase designs that are out there (in this magazine and website there are a number) then adapt the design to records. A little more vertical support of the shelves, as the previous poster mentioned, would be appropriate perhaps.

   Lataxe

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   john_c2 | Jan 17, 2021 05:44am | #3

   Idea warns us to use only the Allen wrench, not power tools, to assemble their furniture. But I always do it anyway.

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   muskokalayne | Jan 17, 2021 05:05pm | #4

   Hi user 6851987, I think you can make a beautiful set of boxes that hang on French cleats on the wall, either out of solid wood or even quality Baltic birch ply - dowel joinery could work well. You could make some that hold 30, some that hold 60 etc and then make an interesting pattern on the wall with the varying pattern that would be created. It will be very heavy so the wall should probably be reinforced with plywood, then design the boxes so that the cleats are within the back of the box, invisible from the side once hung and it will look very sleek. Maybe take some cues from the cover article by Anissa Kapsales in FWW 276 for a modular wall hung design.

3. 
   Beasley7 | Jan 17, 2021 05:08pm | #5

   Sorry mschlak but you've opened yourself up to a ton of snarky comments with that Ikea comment. you should feel lucky Lat Axe weighed in first, as he is one of the most gentlemanly posters in the forum. I'll be kind and say that we make furniture because the make makes it special, not because it comes with meatballs.

   In this case, the owner of the record collection is obviously very proud of it, and most likely isn't concerned about the cost to house it. What I don't know is if records can be stored laying flat. If so, a neat design might include a series of 6" to 8" high modules (would hold 40-50 records each) stacked with lazy-susans between them. You would have to put on some nice fascias to hide the mechanisms, but it would be cool. It gets even cooler looking based on wood selection. Alternating dark, light or an exotic wood would look nice, but that depends on the decor of the room in which it will sit.

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   user-6851987 | Jan 17, 2021 07:12pm | #6

   Thank You all for your ideas. I do appreciate nice comments. The collection is of rare and virgin LP’s. Again Thank You.

5. 
   DannySnyder | Jan 17, 2021 08:40pm | #7

   I think with a little ingenuity one could design a record shelf system that uses 3/4" steel square tubing as the horizontal shelf supports that go side to side, and plywood shelves with a lip that comes down to hide the tube. I've actually built record shelves but never thought of this until now, as I just used a piece of square tubing to support a desk top over the center pencil drawer.

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   user-6851987 | Jan 17, 2021 09:50pm | #8

   That’s a great idea