The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

After a long while battling with Ikea shelving and never finding anything that quite worked perfectly, I finally gave in and decided to make some record shelves.

It became a bit of a challenge to make the largest shelves I could out of just two 8x4' sheets of 18mm plywood, mainly due to the higher cost of wood currently and these are what I came up with, they are just over 8 feet tall, I made the compartments a similar size to the Ikea Kallax units which means I can use the Ikea inserts if I wish to, as you can see it's nowhere near capacity yet, but it's made to be able to be kept at full capacity with 78's safely, everything is glued and screwed, the horizontals are additionally doweled then the whole thing screwed into the wall, I'm pretty happy with it

Now to find more records!

And here is part of my complex proprietary strength testing process

They are definitely strong shelves!

I found the ikea expedit 5x5 cells to be most convenient. I reinforced it by adding a back board (simple white tablex) screwed to all vertical boards and horizontal shelves. Mine is full with 2700 78s including albums at the top since 15 years ago, and it stands very well... As cells are 35x35x35cm, 10s and 12s fit very well, even in albums. See viewtopic.php?p=289127#p289127

Inigo wrote: Tue Oct 05, 2021 1:42 am I found the ikea expedit 5x5 cells to be most convenient. I reinforced it by adding a back board (simple white tablex) screwed to all vertical boards and horizontal shelves. Mine is full with 2700 78s including albums at the top since 15 years ago, and it stands very well... As cells are 35x35x35cm, 10s and 12s fit very well, even in albums. See viewtopic.php?p=289127#p289127

I also use the Ikea shelves, although I've only barely filled two cubes

Your shelves look really good!

I'd like to put a couple shelves in my storeroom. edisonplayer.

The merit of Kirtley is that he, as a real master, has made his own tailored shelves...I wish I'd had such abilities and tools!

They look great Alex, and definitely look like you've built them well.
It makes so much difference when you can house your records in one spot, and can divide them up in such a way you know where to look for a particular disc without sorting through hundreds of discs in various piles in cupboards and machines spread around the room or house.
A unit like this makes listening to your collection so much easier and enjoyable.
Congrats on a job well done.