Adjustable feet

kyle1745 · #1 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 03:50 AM

All,

I have found a nice kit for building shelves out of 2x4s that I am going to use very soon, and wondered if anyone had any ideas for how to put adjustable feet on 2x4 shelves. I've looked a little bit but figured someone here had tried it already.

Thanks for any help...

dragonfrog · #2 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 04:53 AM

Kyle,
I went to a used appliance place that had a lot of washer and dryer parts and got the screw legs that you adjust your wash machine with. Then I drilled a hole in the bottom of the 2x4 about 3 to 4 inches deep and drove a nut into the beginning of the hole, making sure the nut was slightly larger than the hole to begin with so that it would wedge in very tightly. Then the wash machine screw just screws into the nut. Worked great.

kyle1745 · #3 (**permalink**) 11-19-2006, 12:42 PM

Thanks, I had thought about something like that but figured they had to make something especially for 2x4s like a capped end with a larger foot. With as much weight that will be on these Id like to find some way to distribute the weight on the foot across the whole thing. Im looking to build 8ft shelves

kyle1745 · #4 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 12:22 AM

Anyone else? Im hoping to hit the internet tonight looking...

DartMan · #5 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 03:16 AM

Kyle,

What you're looking for is called a "T-Nut": http://www.stafast.com/products/utnut.html

I've been helping my father build a HUGE HO train layout in his basement for the last 2 years. We used 2x4's for the vertical legs. This layout is located in his basement, which has a concrete floor. However, the concrete is not real level. We drilled a hole in the bottom of each leg, inserted a T-Nut (hammered in), then threaded a Hex head bolt up into the bottom of the leg. Then you can shorten or lengthen to the desired height for proper leveling.

Here's a few websites that show you what a T-Nut looks like:
http://www.stafast.com/products/utnut.html
http://www.parts-express.com/webpage.cf ... 1&rak=tnut

I know it seems as though there's a lot of weight bearing down on a bolt, but I can assure you they work. My father's train layout is constucted of 2x4, 2x3, & 1x4 framing. It measures approx. 30-feet long x 16-feet wide. Here's a pic to get an idea of the size we're talking about:

The shear weight of the frame work is emense, let alone what's going to go on top of it yet!

I feel sure the T-Nut will work for you Kyle.

Good Luck!

kyle1745 · #6 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 03:22 AM

My concern with something like that is the weight, there will be 24 tanks on each of these shelves. Im concerned with that much pressure into the end of a 2x4 could split it. Im sure someone has to make a cap type foot that would distribute the weight.

If it was not for the weight I think those could work...

Thoughts?

DartMan · #7 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 03:31 AM

OK, if you're using a 2x4 leg how about inserting two (2) T-Nuts in the bottom of the leg, shold be wide enough I'd think. So, rather than a single point loading per leg you'd have two point loading per leg?

Just a thought.

cobaltsinoh · #8 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 03:37 AM

not sure what kind of look you're going for but you may be able to get those plates they use in construction that nail on all side of the wood to help keep it from splitting. Typically they are used in trussing aplications but I've seen the used i other high stress areas.

RGB · #9 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 03:49 AM

I agree you will need some sort of cap or the 2x4s may split. Here's a site with some good stuff that may work:
IEC Levelers

If you can't find any online, i'm sure any welding shop (or friend with a welder) could make them for you.

defaced · #10 (**permalink**) 11-21-2006, 04:22 AM

How much do you think all 24 tanks will weigh with associated hardware, then the weight of the shelves? 3000 lbs? I hope this isn't the case, but we'll assume these are going to be a free span design, so there are only going to be four legs. That's 750lbs per leg, witch comes out to being just under 150 psi if the shelf leg is just setting square on the floor.

Putting 750 lbs axially loaded on a screw of any size under 3/4" makes me nervous. That's a good deal of weight and if it is offset from the center of the screw at all, it'll fail and take the whole shelf with it.

Why do you need adjustable feet anyway? Are the shelves ever going to be moved? If not, just build them to fit the floor. It complicates matters a whole lot to try and put feet on them when the likely hood of ever using them in more than one location is nill.