metal strips for Anti Racking?

[bugbear]

I have a couple of (rather old) MFI book cases, simple things,
where the shelves sit on pins in the uprights.

Nothing connects the 2 uprights except the shelves.

The design would rack like hell, except for a couple
of (supplied) metal strips, around 5 feet long, 1/12" thick, 1/2" wide, that affix (screw at each end)
diagonally across the back. Not exactly Chippendale, but
works fine.

I just acquired (very cheaply ) another
similar bookcase, but no anti-racking strips came with it.

I can find proper wholesale metal work suppliers who
stock what I need, but "at a cost".

Can anyone think of a convenient and cheap
retail supply of something-that-would-work?

It's probably more a question of getting the purchase
overhead low, as opposed to the actual cost of the item.

I thought of aluminium curtain track, but it's all
plastic these days...

Sadly, I think (used, natch) metal package strapping is a little too thin.
The price would be right!

BugBear

 

[Racers]

Hi BB

Two diagonal braces on packaging strapping will work.

B&Q have metal in 1 meter lengths, its a bit expensive but for one length its o/k.

Pete

 

[AndyT]

Like Pete said for B&Q if you have no better sources. (I've bought similar stuff from scrapyards in the past.)

But it does not have to be metal. I think a couple of laths would work the same way - most of the effect is from being in tension.
There is probably enough space behind the shelves for something about 12 to 18 mm thick. You could even add extra screws through into the back edges of the shelves at the same time, assuming you don't ever need to adjust them once the thing is built.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Galvanized builder's band. It's not in compression, so that it is flexible doesn't really matter. Thin and cheap.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Or glue gussets across the corners?

 

[nanscombe]

Put a hardboard back on it?

Or a couple of strips of hardboard top to bottom or left to right?

ETA Just re-read the dimension of those anti-racking strips, maybe hardboard would be too flimsy. Wooden battens instead?

...

Black flat steel strip 25mm x 5mm x 2mtr - £6.32

 

[Alvan]

I acquire used Venetian Blinds when I see them on Boot sales, but only if the slats are of wood. I have used these slats for just that purpose, and for many others.

 

[dzj]

Affix it to a wall.

 

[lanemaux]

I've used Nigels (Nanscomb) solution to good affect on some rough and ready salvaged bits in the past. As long as you don't need to disassemble , might I suggest gluing and bradding the masonite in place. Got some solid shelves in the basement that used to sway like a stripper after a tip in this manner.

 

[Eric The Viking]

+1 for builder's band. Once you have some you'll find many uses for it, e.g. brackets for DX hose, etc. Cuts easily with tin shears.

 

[bugbear]

+1 for builder's band. Once you have some you'll find many uses for it, e.g. brackets for DX hose, etc. Cuts easily with tin shears.

Ah - I hadn't realised the distinction between that and package strapping.

e.g. http://www.ukpackaging.com//steel-strap ... tAodNDkASw

Apologies and thanks - that may well serve nicely, and readily available at builders merchants.

BugBear

 

[DiscoStu]

I would also suggest a hardboard or thin MDF back pinned to it.

 

[scholar]

BB

Have you looked at Ikea?

For their utility shelving they sell cross braces that are wire - they work v effectively.

Look at Ivar which seems to be the current range incarnation. Here is the brace http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/87749600/ £2 to you!

cheers

PS looking again, perhaps your unit is too wide?

 

[bugbear]

BB

Have you looked at Ikea?

For their utility shelving they sell cross braces that are wire - they work v effectively.

Look at Ivar which seems to be the current range incarnation. Here is the brace http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/87749600/ £2 to you!

cheers

PS looking again, perhaps your unit is too wide?

Yes, they'd be too short. Worse, my nearest Ikea is around 90 miles away.

BugBear

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Mine's 180mls away. I'm not sure whether I'm lucky or unlucky.

 

[Benchwayze]

How long do you require the brace to be, BB?

 

[Graham Orm]

+1 for builder's band. Once you have some you'll find many uses for it, e.g. brackets for DX hose, etc. Cuts easily with tin shears.

I was going to suggest this, but I think it'll be too flimsy. It needs to have compressive strength as well.

 

[Graham Orm]

A decent steel stockholder should let you have 6m. of 25mm x 3mm for a few quid.

 

[chippy1970]

A drywall supplier ? We've used thin metal strips that stop metal stud walls racking. These would work on a bookcase easily

 

[Phil Pascoe]

+1 for builder's band. Once you have some you'll find many uses for it, e.g. brackets for DX hose, etc. Cuts easily with tin shears.

I was going to suggest this, but I think it'll be too flimsy. It needs to have compressive strength as well.

I doesn't need compressive strength - for it to need compressive strength, it would have to stretch across the other diagonal - which the other band prevents.