# Inexpensive, durable, easily disassemblable bookshelves
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [September 20, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316 "2013-09-20T15:29:37Z")
**Posts on this page:** 13
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@F.Pu-du-he-pa-as](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.Pu-du-he-pa-as)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/1 "2013-09-20T15:29:37Z")
Do you all know of a source for bookshelves that are durable, relatively inexpensive, and disassemble easily and compactly?
I used to use the[IVAR bookshelves from IKEA](http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S09896004/), 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.
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### Author:  [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/2 "2013-09-20T15:45:59Z")
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?
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### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/3 "2013-09-20T16:13:33Z")
You could get something from [Gorilla Rack](http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2658818). 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.
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### Author:  [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)
#### Post date: [September 20, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/4 "2013-09-20T16:26:13Z")
I got three of these bookshelves from [The Container Store.](http://www.containerstore.com/shop/shelving/freestandingShelving?productId=10008626&N=13376&gclid=CJqJ5oax2rkCFUhk7AodYlUAmA) 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.
[Here they are in my living room.](http://s851.photobucket.com/user/EveOz/media/bookshelf_zps2478e2da.jpg.html)
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### Author:  [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/5 "2013-09-21T04:28:43Z")
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.](http://www.globalindustrial.com/c/storage/shelving?ref=t/SS/cat)
Not so inexpensive, but I’m saving for the day when I can have a wall full of [Rakks.](http://store.rakks.com/index.php)
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2013, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/6 "2013-09-21T13:44:41Z")
Moved Cafe Society --\> IMHO.
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### Author:  [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2013, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/7 "2013-09-21T14:14:19Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@Hello\_Again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hello_Again)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/8 "2013-09-21T16:41:30Z")
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.
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### Author:  [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2013, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/9 "2013-09-21T18:28:33Z")
I got one [like this](http://www.target.com/p/4-tier-foldable-bookcase/-/A-10268794#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=foldable+bookcase) only with five shelves from Target – they don’t seem to have the larger size. Very portable, very sturdy, and not terribly expensive.
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### Author:  [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2013, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/10 "2013-09-21T20:03:10Z")
Just to toss it out there… how about bricks and boards?
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### Author:  [@Q.N.Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.N.Jones)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2013, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/11 "2013-09-21T20:04:15Z")
I have these, from the Container Store:
[http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10008634&N=&Ntt=bookcase+folding](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.
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### Author:  [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2013, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/12 "2013-09-21T21:29:12Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#):
>
> Just to toss it out there… how about bricks and boards?
I was going to suggest that. They can even be made a bit pretty by painting the blocks with eggshell paint or something.
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### Author:  [@Sudden\_Kestrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sudden_Kestrel)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2013, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/inexpensive-durable-easily-disassemblable-bookshelves/669316/13 "2013-09-21T21:36:44Z")
> [@Mangetout](#):
>
> 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.