Wadkins Co. — Shop Plans

Storage Building Shelves

Two big shelf units that join into an L — built from 2x4s and OSB, for your light-box inventory.

Before you build — check these 5 things

This plan is drawn from your measurements, but a few things still need your OK. Don’t cut anything until these are settled — the plan is not final until they are.

  1. Door swing. Unit B sits on the right-hand wall. Make sure the door doesn’t swing into it.
  2. Side unit size. Unit B is drawn 36 inches deep along the side wall. If you want it longer or shorter, now is the time to say so.
  3. Weight. How heavy are the boxes going on each shelf? Heaviest boxes go on the 8-inch shelf. These shelves are strong, but they’re not rated for a number — keep it reasonable.
  4. Shelf joints. Each 10-foot shelf is two boards with a joint 6 inches past a leg. The joint rests on the solid 2x4 supports underneath, which is fine — just confirm you’re OK with that, or we add a sixth leg per row.
  5. Anchoring. The tall back unit must be screwed into wall studs so it can’t tip. Find your studs before you build.

What you’re building

You’re building two shelf units that join into an L. The big one runs along the back wall: 10 feet wide, 2 feet deep, 6 feet tall. The small one runs along the side wall: 3 feet deep, 2 feet wide, 6 feet tall. Each unit has 5 shelves, for 130 square feet of shelf space with about 15 inches of headroom per shelf.

Where it goes — your half of the building Where it goes — your half of the building door door UNIT A UNIT A 10 ft wide x 2 ft deep x 6 ft tall 10 ft wide x 2 ft deep x 6 ft tall UNIT B UNIT B 2 x 3 ft 2 x 3 ft 3-ft aisle — keep this clear 3-ft aisle — keep this clear open floor for sorting boxes open floor for sorting boxes 10 ft 10 ft 5 ft 5 ft
120" 120" 72" 72" 60" total 60" total 130 sq ft of shelf — about 15 in clear per shelf 130 sq ft of shelf — about 15 in clear per shelf

What to buy

2x4 lumber

Shelf boards

Screws

What to cut

From the 2x4s

From the OSB (5/8 in)

Cut diagrams

2x4 cutting diagram 2x4 cutting diagram 72" leg 72" leg 72" leg 72" leg 12-ft board — cut 2 legs, no waste (do this 7 times) 12-ft board — cut 2 legs, no waste (do this 7 times) 120" long support 120" long support 10-ft board — use whole (do this 10 times) 10-ft board — use whole (do this 10 times) use whole — no cutting use whole — no cutting 36" short support 36" short support 36" short support 36" short support 24" left over 24" left over 8-ft board — cut 2 short supports (do this 5 times) 8-ft board — cut 2 short supports (do this 5 times) save the leftovers save the leftovers Plus: 2 more 8-ft boards — cut the diagonal brace to fit when you get to step 9. Plus: 2 more 8-ft boards — cut the diagonal brace to fit when you get to step 9. Red lines are where you cut. Red lines are where you cut.
OSB — cut every sheet in half the long way ("rip" it) OSB — cut every sheet in half the long way ("rip" it) Strip 1 — stays 24 x 96" (big shelf half) Strip 1 — stays 24 x 96" (big shelf half) Strip 2 — cut into a 24" piece and a 72" piece Strip 2 — cut into a 24" piece and a 72" piece 4 x 8 ft sheet of 5/8" OSB — do this to all 5 sheets 4 x 8 ft sheet of 5/8" OSB — do this to all 5 sheets Each Strip 2 becomes: Each Strip 2 becomes: 24 x 24" shelf end 24 x 24" shelf end 24 x 72" leftover strip 24 x 72" leftover strip One shelf = one 96" half + one 24" end = 120" long. The joint lands 6" past a leg, One shelf = one 96" half + one 24" end = 120" long. The joint lands 6" past a leg, resting on the solid 2x4 supports underneath — that is fine, screw both boards down. resting on the solid 2x4 supports underneath — that is fine, screw both boards down.
Leftover strips become the small shelves Leftover strips become the small shelves Take 3 of the 72-inch leftover strips: Take 3 of the 72-inch leftover strips: 24 x 36" small shelf 24 x 36" small shelf 24 x 36" small shelf 24 x 36" small shelf 24 x 36" small shelf 24 x 36" small shelf 24 x 36" small shelf 24 x 36" small shelf 24 x 36" small shelf 24 x 36" small shelf 24 x 36" small shelf 24 x 36" small shelf That makes 6 small shelves — you need 5, keep 1 as a spare. That makes 6 small shelves — you need 5, keep 1 as a spare. The other 2 leftover strips stay whole (24 x 72") — handy as spares, shims, or shelf lips. The other 2 leftover strips stay whole (24 x 72") — handy as spares, shims, or shelf lips.

Tools

Build it — follow the pictures

  1. 1

    Cut everything first.

    14 legs — 72" 14 legs — 72" 10 long supports — 120" 10 long supports — 120" 10 short supports — 36" 10 short supports — 36" shelf boards — 5/8" OSB shelf boards — 5/8" OSB

    Cut all the 2x4s and rip the OSB sheets before you build anything. Write the name of each piece on it in pencil — leg, long support, shelf. It saves a lot of confusion later.

  2. 2

    Stand up the back unit's legs.

    30" apart 30" apart 120" 120" 72" 72" 24" 24"

    Mark the floor along the back wall at 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 inches. Stand two rows of legs on those marks — one row against the wall, one row 24 inches out. Check each leg with a level so it stands straight.

  3. 3

    Screw on the long shelf supports.

    8" 8" 24" 24" 40" 40" 56" 56" 70" 70" 72" 72" each support sits 5/8" below its mark each support sits 5/8" below its mark

    Mark 8, 24, 40, 56, and 70 inches up every leg — those are your shelf tops. Screw a 120-inch support to the inside of each row of legs at every mark, with the top of the support 5/8 inch below the mark (that's the thickness of the shelf board). Two screws into every leg.

  4. 4

    Lay down the back unit's shelves.

    shelves — tops at 8, 24, 40, 56, 70" shelves — tops at 8, 24, 40, 56, 70" joint lands here joint lands here

    Each shelf is two boards: the 96-inch half and the 24-inch end. Lay them on the supports — the joint lands 6 inches past a leg, sitting on the solid supports underneath, which is fine. Screw both boards down into the supports, a screw about every foot.

  5. 5

    Stand up the side unit's legs.

    36" 36" 72" 72" 24" 24"

    Same idea, smaller: four legs in two rows of two — 36 inches wide, 24 inches deep. Check each leg with a level.

  6. 6

    Screw on the short shelf supports.

    8" 8" 24" 24" 40" 40" 56" 56" 70" 70" 72" 72" same five heights as the back unit same five heights as the back unit

    Same five heights: 8, 24, 40, 56, 70. Ten 36-inch supports, top edge 5/8 inch below each mark, two screws into every leg.

  7. 7

    Lay the side unit's shelves.

    five 24 x 36" shelves five 24 x 36" shelves

    Five shelves, one 24 x 36 board each. Screw them down into the supports, a screw about every foot.

  8. 8

    Push the two units together.

    120" 120" 72" 72" 60" total 60" total screw the touching legs together screw the touching legs together

    Stand the side unit against the end of the back unit so they form an L. Screw the legs that touch each other together — now it's one solid unit.

  9. 9

    Brace the back and screw it to the wall.

    screw back legs into wall studs screw back legs into wall studs BACK VIEW — brace and anchors go on this side BACK VIEW — brace and anchors go on this side

    Screw a diagonal 2x4 across the back of the tall unit, corner to corner, so it can't rack sideways. Then screw the back legs into the wall studs. Shove the unit hard when you're done — if it doesn't move, it's ready.

  10. 10

    Load it up.

    120" 120" 72" 72" 60" total 60" total 130 sq ft of shelf — about 15 in clear per shelf 130 sq ft of shelf — about 15 in clear per shelf

    Heaviest boxes on the 8-inch shelf, everyday boxes at 24, 40, and 56 inches, light stuff up top. Don't stack boxes on the floor — that's your aisle.

Loading order: heaviest light-box cases on the 8-inch shelf, everyday pickers at 24–56 inches, light/overstock boxes on the 70-inch top shelf. Don’t stack boxes on the open floor — that’s your aisle.
Wadkins Co. shop plans — storage building shelves, 2x4 + 5/8″ OSB. 130 sq ft of shelf, about 15 in clear per shelf.