Storage Construction

[Rob S.]

Hello All:

I am building a storage unit to hold six large Rubbermaid tubs.  It will essentially be a large box with one vertical divider and horizontal shelves.  Basicly, it will look like the image I have attached.

Am I better off to construct it with the shelves as two pieces and one single vertical divider or should the shelves be one piece each and the vertical support as three sections?  I will use 3/4" plywood with a face frame & a masonite back panel.  Should I add extra support under the shelves so that they won't bow?  The Rubbermaid tubs are about 24" X18"X 24".

Thanks

[Jeffrey Pike]

It depends on how U R going to fasten the shelves? R U going to put dado in the vertical peace for the shelves to sit in? Or R U going to use pocket holes if so I would recommend U put a cleat under the shelve for a little more support. Or U can do what Jame recommended but I would still put a cleat or dado on the out side vertical peace for supporting heavy loads

[Kim C]

I built something similar and found that if you use 2x4s for the face frame and the Kreg jig it will hold about anything that will fit into the tub. And after seeing how strong it is I wouldn't even put the vertical divider in there. If it will just be the width of two tubs. Just add support midway under the shelf with pocket holes. Oh, and I set the plywood on top of the supports and didn't use pocket holes in the plywood itself. It is very solid!