Do you all know of a source for bookshelves that are durable, relatively inexpensive, and disassemble easily and compactly?
I used to use theIVAR bookshelves from IKEA, but at some point between the last time I bought them and now, they replaced the nice metal shelf brackets with plastic ones, which I think are going to reduce the lifespan of the shelves quite a bit. I’d basically love to find something just like them, but with metal brackets.
If IKEA doesn’t have what you’re looking for, I dunno where you’d find it. Honestly.
Maybe replace the plastic hardware with metal pieces you buy separately?
You could get something from Gorilla Rack. They break down into a “flat pack” size and you don’t need tools to put them together. And they are strong as fuck. I use them to store vinyl records. Just randomly looking online for Gorilla, the 36x18 is almost exactly the same price as a 35x19 IVAR.
I got three of these bookshelves from The Container Store. They don’t completely disassemble, but the shelves fold up and they lie flat. Made of cast iron, so presumably you won’t get that saggy shelf thing that happens with particle board.
If by shelf brackets you mean the 5mm pins that go into the holes in the uprights, those are easily purchased from lots of sources.
Heavy-duty metal utility shelving is easily found at big home improvement stores or ordered from Global.
Not so inexpensive, but I’m saving for the day when I can have a wall full of Rakks.
Moved Cafe Society --> IMHO.
Do what I do and look for deals on metro shelving. Im going now to pick up a pretty decent sized 5 shelf unit for $35. Thats about what the casters and one upright would cost new.
Craigslist is your friend. To disassemble all you need is a rubber mallet.
My experience tells me this is one of those situations where, when faced with the attributes of “inexpensive, durable, and disassemble-able” you only get to choose two.
I got one like this only with five shelves from Target – they don’t seem to have the larger size. Very portable, very sturdy, and not terribly expensive.
Just to toss it out there… how about bricks and boards?
I have these, from the Container Store:
http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10008634&N=&Ntt=bookcase+folding
Cheaper than the iron ones, but they have been very durable and hold heavy loads. Have had them for 12 years. They are also very attractive.
I was going to suggest that. They can even be made a bit pretty by painting the blocks with eggshell paint or something.
I know a bibliomaniacal paperback collector whose home is filled with rows and rows of bookshelves made from glass blocks and boards. If he used bricks, the floors wouldn’t be able to support the weight. The glass blocks are lighter and the perfect size for paperbacks.
