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7qt Tub Storage

This is what storage in my shop looks like usually. I’m using an old merchandise shelf from our hospital that’s 24 inches deep and I’ve decided to use sterilite tubs that are about 12 inches deep (7 quart) as my standard small sized storage format and the merchandise shelving is just not working. It takes up too much floor space and I always seem to stack things in front of the boxes because it’s a flat surface and you know what flat surfaces collect… things.First I tried building a wall hangable cubby design out of plywood, the time costs were high and reusability low. It also consumes more plywood than you would expect.Then I decided to use shelves instead, for time and money reasons. First I thought to just use utility shelving boards at Lowes, they come in 11.5″x8′ boards. Barely deep enough if even. I would still need to buy shelf brackets, and enough to prevent sagging, probably 4 per 8 foot board.Then I wandered over to the shelving section to look at shelf brackets and having used ClosetMaid stuff before I figured while I was in the isle I would check it out. While the dollar cost might be a bit higher the other factors would win out. I was able to use a horizontal hanger rail and have to level it only once and then use vertical hanging brackets hooked into the horizontal rod.So I’ve decided to dive into the ClosetMaid system of organization for my standard small sterilite tubs and this is what I’ve come up with. I did bed to spend some time spanning everything out to be perfect but it just works.Thosethose are 8ft racks and there’s 11 tubs per rack so I can fit 33 as you see in the picture, I spaced the vertical uprights so that there would be one tub on the end and units of 3 tubs in between each upright.I bought all of the eight foot sections that Lowes had so that’s what I was able to put up.I’ll get more 8 foot sections and shelf brackets for the rest of my tubs. I imagine I need about three more shelves for the small tubs that I have a bunch of and I will use a deeper 18″ ClosetMaid shelf for my medium sized 15 quart sterilite containers.I still have these to sort:And a few more scattered about.No I’m not sponsored by ClosetMaid, but if they want to help out I wouldn’t turn it down. This stuff is expensive.

(Update)

I have gotten 3 more shelves and hung the box I already made in the garage side of the shop.

If you want to replicate the spacing the brackets are spaced in from the ends of the wire rack in the 9th full slot (8 empty complete holes) and the center supports are spaced evenly in thirds.