# Shelves inside kitchen cabinets keep falling down **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 25, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192 "2021-10-25T21:26:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/1 "2021-10-25T21:26:13Z")
Our kitchen cabinets are what I’d term to be middle-level quality (Schrock). The shelves are adjustable and held by small pins that sit in the holes on the inside of the unit – four for each shelf. The pegs look like [this](https://www.acehardware.com/departments/hardware/angles-braces-and-brackets/brackets/5132931?store=15788&gclid=CjwKCAjwq9mLBhB2EiwAuYdMtTjTX2uKsMEDr3j7t0ZjgCK7oYGV0JzI0dPcm-PtpMFKX9n4COpwpBoCpk4QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds). The shelves on the upper cabinets seem to be stable (knock wood), but the shelves in the lower cabinets fall regularly. Somehow one of the pegs comes loose and falls out. After that, it’s not long before the whole shelf comes down. In each case, there’s only one shelf per cabinet. It sits at the back of the cabinet, and is about half the depth of the full cabinet. So what can we do to make the shelves more stable? It’s really annoying. Luckily, nothing that sits on the shelves has broken yet, but I’m sure it’s only a matter of time. ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/2 "2021-10-25T21:30:30Z")
I’d just glue in the pins. Make sure first they’re where you want them permanently, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Tride](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tride/32/13907_2.png) [@Tride](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tride)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/3 "2021-10-25T21:34:13Z")
It’s possible they put in the wrong size pins? Standard is 5 mm but some companies use 1/4". Are the shelve and pins original to the cabinets? Glue would work… ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/4 "2021-10-25T21:40:08Z")
> [@Tride](#): > > It’s possible they put in the wrong size pins? That was my thought as well. Maybe you could compare the pins in the upper cabinet to the pins in the lower cabinet. Googling this problem produced several solutions. Glue, of course, would work, but it’s certainly something that would be hard to change in the future! ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/5 "2021-10-25T21:46:07Z")
I would replace the pins with some small metal L brackets. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/6 "2021-10-25T21:48:35Z")
I have the same problem with a corner cabinet where the shelves are quite big. I cut some half-inch battens to the correct length, put a small dab of glue top and bottom and placed them as supports. ---
**Author:** ![anny\_m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/96bed5/32.png) [@anny\_m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anny_m)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/7 "2021-10-25T21:53:00Z")
We did think of the glue option, but we’d like to be able to adjust the shelf down the road if it would be beneficial. I guess I was hoping for some easy-to-buy option that would help. I’m envisioning a quarter round piece of wood, with the pegs built in (and the flat side of course to the top). Pop in a slat of wood on each side. and rest the shelf on top. Couldn’t find anything like this, so I suppose it’s not available. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/8 "2021-10-25T21:53:43Z")
Usually when this happens the pegs are too small for the holes. This could be a problem from the start or over time the drilled holes might have been worn bigger. You could try a hole just above or below if this is the case as those holes might not be worn. Whatever the reason, glue might not work if the holes are too big. Try a little bit of modeling clay that you push in with the peg to fill up the hole. Or wrap a bit of duck tape around the peg to make it wider. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/9 "2021-10-25T22:22:09Z")
I’m with OldGuy. A tiny piece of duct tape wrapped around the peg is probably all you need to do. mmm ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/10 "2021-10-25T22:31:18Z")
Agreed. The pins should be relatively difficult to pull out or they will work themselves out. The other thing to do is check that the shelf is really level. If the shelf isn’t sitting evenly on the pins, then when you change what dishes are on it, it’s going to shift a little bit, and whichever pins it’s shifting against are going to be gently wiggled back and forth over time, working themselves loose. If it’s a little bit out of level, you probably fix it the same way. Put a bit of tape on the underside of some of the corners so that all the pins are holding the weight of it and it doesn’t rock back and forth. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/11 "2021-10-25T22:39:34Z")
If you look, for example, at the [Home Depot website](https://www.homedepot.com/b/Storage-Organization-Shelving-Shelving-Hardware-Shelf-Pins/N-5yc1vZ2fkp34g), they have various sorts of shelf pins. Some are just the cylindrical metal dowels, some are the cylindrical dowels with a flat part and some have an L-shaped thing attached. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/12 "2021-10-25T22:42:54Z")
You could look into shelf pin sleeves: > **[1/4" Nickel Shelf Pin Sleeves](https://www.widgetco.com/products/1-4-nickel-shelf-pin-sleeves)** > > 1/4" Nickel Shelf Pin Sleeves are optional decorative grommets that fit 9/32" holes on shelves, bookcases and cabinets. The inside diameter is 1/4" to fit 1/4" Shelf Pins. Don't forget to use these shelf pin sleeves to decorate unused shelf support... [https://www.widgetco.com/1-4-inch-Nickel-Shelf-Pins-Sleeves.jpg](https://www.widgetco.com/1-4-inch-Nickel-Shelf-Pins-Sleeves.jpg) OR: > **[1/4'' Shelf Pin Sleeves](https://www.rockler.com/1-4-shelf-pin-sleeves)** > > These 1/4'' pin support sleeves are the ideal companion for our 1/4'' Shelf Pin Supports to add strength to your adjustable cabinet shelving. ---
**Author:** ![ratatoskK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ratatoskk/32/2987_2.png) [@ratatoskK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratatoskK)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/13 "2021-10-25T22:58:06Z")
We have the same kind of shelves. One kept falling. We glued it and have had no more problems. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [October 25, 2021, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/14 "2021-10-25T23:41:07Z")
If the pins are too small, I would buy the correct size rather than trying to jury rig a way to make them fit better. My shelves have these springy things that plug into a hole above the shelf and hold it down. Those might help. Not sure what they’re called but here’s a picture. [![Google Photos](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/e_DE2fFd5qg1l7xS99Ca19eqPl0v48NMVf7cPOc9mhtAl7Z5HK5eURlyExiC11XbpQwR5rOFZXGaojKIfy9279k6t4PcDSPU6Mq47dY4G9dAJH-Q1tKEv6SeZUMUsbf_KXdllRVn9dY=w600-h315-p-k "New item by Mark Nudelman") ](https://photos.app.goo.gl/SaFKwYdoYMHtjAyf9) ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/15 "2021-10-26T21:25:55Z")
> [@anny\_m](#): > > I guess I was hoping for some easy-to-buy option that would help. I’m envisioning a quarter round piece of wood, with the pegs built in (and the flat side of course to the top). Pop in a slat of wood on each side. and rest the shelf on top. Couldn’t find anything like this, so I suppose it’s not available. That would be easy enough to create. Buy the quarter-round, and cut it to length. Then mark the locations and drill holes there on the back of the quarter-round. Then insert pins in there, and put it into the cabinet with the shelf resting on top. Another option is to get a short piece of board, like a 1 x 2 or 1 x 4 board, which will cover 2 or more of the pin holes in the cabinet. Then you can drill more holes (and buy more pins) so this is supported by more holes in the cabinet walls – that will make it more stable & secure. (At the cost of losing a bit of width space in the cabinet.) ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/16 "2021-10-26T21:29:29Z")
Use an L-bracket pin, like this: > **[Amazon.com: 40 Pcs Shelf Support Pegs,1/4 Inch Diameter Shelf Bracket Pegs with...](https://www.amazon.com/Support-Bracket-L-Shaped-Bookcase-Furniture/dp/B07RGPHMQ8)** > > Amazon.com: 40 Pcs Shelf Support Pegs,1/4 Inch Diameter Shelf Bracket Pegs with Hole,Nickel Plated L-Shaped Clips for Kitchen & Bookcase Shelf Cabinet Furniture Closet Shelf Pins Support : Tools & Home Improvement As long as the shelves fit tightly, the pins can’t fall out. ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/17 "2021-10-26T21:40:14Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > As long as the shelves fit tightly, the pins can’t fall out. Unfortunately, in my experience that a big “as long as” particularly as the shelves may expand and contract with the weather. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/18 "2021-10-26T21:55:30Z")
Sure, but still way better then a bare pin. ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/19 "2021-10-26T22:04:30Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > Unfortunately, in my experience that a big “as long as” particularly as the shelves may expand and contract with the weather I’m certainly not implying that this can’t or doesn’t happen, but it really _shouldn’t_ happen. Wood moves _across_ the direction in which its grain runs. I haven’t personally seen shelves where the grain runs the _width_ of the shelf. It (almost ?) always runs the length of the shelf. That being the case, seasonal expansion should make the _width_ of a board (ie, its short dimension) marginally greater or lesser but should have very little effect on the _length_ of the board (ie, its long dimension) – therefore, the stability of the shelf board on the shelf pins. Have you seen it the other way more than occasionally – where somebody built a shelf with the grain running the _width_ of the board ? On anything but a narrow case, you’d almost certainly have to glue up multiple boards to get that. I’m stuck trying to figure out why somebody would choose that method … ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2021, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192/20 "2021-10-26T22:40:19Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > Have you seen it the other way more than occasionally – where somebody built a shelf with the grain running the _width_ of the board ? Nope never seen it that I recall. But I’ve seen loose shelves almost everywhere and was simply trying to come up with a reason why. I guess the answer is just not such careful workmanship. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/shelves-inside-kitchen-cabinets-keep-falling-down/953192.md?page=2)