I have just installed these cool black iron pipe for shelf brackets on an office wall. The wall is 3/4” pine 7.5” wide.
Each pipe is attached with 4 #10 screws 1.25 long.
Each board is attached to framing at the top plate and at purlins as indicated. The tape indicates where studs are.
I did not attach directly to studs because it made for odd spacing on these 98” shelves.
I have been questioned about the decision not to attach on studs over strength of shelf concerns.
Is there any reason to think these supports will be inadequate as installed?
Shelves are for books and will be 1” thick pine boards 11.5” wide. Supports are 23” on center.
Should I move the supports to the stud location?
Best Answer
Spread Them Out - 1/2 on Studs
Current setup:
98" shelves, 23" between supports. That means 4 sets of supports with 8.5" hanging on each end.
Proposed setup:
98" shelves, 24" between supports. Still 4 sets of supports, with 7.5" hanging on each end. But now you can put 2 sets of supports into studs - i.e., 1 & 3 are 48" apart = 3 x 16". That assumes studs are every 16", which is standard and appears to at least roughly match your tape.
In each support, if it is in a stud, make sure 2 screws are solidly in the stud (it will likely be hard to get all 4 into the studs, but that's OK). If the support is between studs, use toggles for 2 screws for increased strength.
With that, I think you should be OK even with a full load of books.
Alternatively, you could go to all supports in studs, but I think given the nature of the supports and the wall (3/4" pine should be much stronger than 1/2" drywall), I don't think that's necessary.
Just be careful. I remember many years ago shelves at a job (installed by the maintenance guy, not by me) falling down under the weight of PC backup tape drives. So I tend to overdo it from experience.