Wanted: Workbench Shelving Ikea broder alternative options - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Damage
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 01, 2012, 10:37:44 pm
content: I am in the process of setting up a work area in the basement. I really like the freestanding shelving that Dave uses. This would be perfect for my application as I can not drill or mount shelving to the walls. Dave has mentioned in his videos that he uses the Ikea Broder system. I went to ikea's webpage and found this product in the line which would be perfect for my application...http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/S29864648/The problem?... it is not available for sale. The exact message from IKEA statesQuoteWhen I checked availability at all the local stores within 100 miles of my location it is also not available.Does anyone have any suggestions on good alternatives? I live in Baltimore, MD, USA. I checked the local hardware chains (Home Depot, Loews) and did not find anything comparable.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2012, 10:52:55 pm
content: Strange... when I click the button 'buy online' it gets in my shopping cart. Maybe try a different internet connection or call Ikea.

author: free_electron
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2012, 10:56:16 pm
content: depends on location...not all Us stores carry all products...take alook at this to construct workbenches :?1 x NUMERAR Countertop 96.875??4 x VIKA KAJ Adjustable Leg 4?1 x 72? x 1.5? in. Zinc-Plated Steel Slotted Angle (from Home Depot)other solutions are to scout craigslist for the older 'jerker' workbench . the one with the half moon cutout. not the one with two angled corners.

author: RRobot
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 01, 2012, 11:01:37 pm
content: Yeah I posted on this earlier. Here in Canada my local Ikea says they will stop stocking the Broder system in October. Don't know if thats the same every where. I really like the shelving, so I stocked up, although I had to drive 200 Km to the nearest store that actually had the 200cm posts in stock. That was several month ago, and it too shows out of stock today.

author: 48X24X48X
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2012, 02:37:38 am
content: Quote from: Damage on July 01, 2012, 10:37:44 pmThat shelves needs some fastener support to the wall. I saw they did that in their showroom for this particular unit.I guess nearly all Ikea shelves needs that.So, you still need to drill.

author: RRobot
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 02, 2012, 04:00:16 am
content: Yes, they can free stand but are wobbly as hell. I had to anchor them to the wall in a couple of places to make it solid.

author: mrwebb
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 03, 2012, 05:39:24 am
content: I just got done building my stuff from 2x4basics and the stuff is bomb proof. Love it.http://www.amazon.com/2x4basics-90164-Workbench-Shelving-Storage/dp/B0030T1BRE/ref=sr_1_1?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1341293824&sr=1-1&keywords=2x4+basics

author: SGInut
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 05:35:42 am
content: College Park did carry them but the store is being remodeled so the inventory levels may be low. I hit up the as-is room and can find lots of parts to make my workbenches for really cheap. Woodbridge store might have them too.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 10:10:02 am
content: Perhaps you could look for Dexion L profiles. Its like Meccano for shelving & storage.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2012, 02:57:10 pm
content: Careful of Dexion, the shelves are not highly rated, and will buckle with just A4 paper books loaded on he shelf if you load a stack full width and full depth. I often use 2 shelves stacked right on top of each other to compensate.

author: Pedro
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: October 11, 2012, 06:14:15 pm
content: I can't believe they have discontinued the broder series!They are the best shelves I've ever had, and now that I was looking to buy more, I find that they are also discontinued in my area (Madrid, Spain). It's also funny to see that looking for those shelves I end up in the eevblog forums, hehe. It seems these shelves are made to be liked by electronic engineers!Come on IKEA!! gimme my broder back!!!!Please guys, keep posting alternatives, this is much needed, and we don't have as many alternatives (that I know) here in Europe.

author: XynxNet
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2012, 07:48:24 pm
content: Same here in germany. It's a shame.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2012, 03:05:21 pm
content: My shelving is buying a sheet of shutterply and having it cut to the right width, so that I can get 2 610mm wide or 3 405mm wide shelves out of it.

author: T4P
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 12, 2012, 07:41:03 pm
content: Even more of a shame if you can't find any table that is multi-layered at a decent priceAnd if i wanted to improve my existing one i don't have any tools so yeah

author: Lemus
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: August 03, 2014, 12:42:41 pm
content: OK, let me refloat this topic.I find this kind of shelving is the best for these kind of applications, so when I saw Dave's solution could be found in Ikea I was really happy... until I saw this topic. I spent a couple of hours (seriously) trying to find an alternative and even looking in eBay for used Ikea Broder... nothing. And then my girlfriend showed up and told me it should be easy to find these kind of shelvings. And... she found a solution.It turns out these kind of shelving are the same they use at supermarkets. So you only have to look for supermarket shelving solutions near your location and that's it! And they are quite cheap too! Here is an example:I hope this helps!

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 03, 2014, 12:58:03 pm
content: If you are prepared to do some sanding, derusting and respraying you can buy them used as well, or used and refurbished at around half the cost of new. You can also get the brackets and shelves in various widths, though the length is pretty much a multiple of 4 foot or 1.2m. They also all tend to be a standard 6ft or 1.8m high as well. the backing units as well are either a single, dual or triple length unit so can be chosen to fit.If you go to pretty much any large auction they will come up, often at a very low price if they look poor, but they are easy to clean and repaint. If you are putting heavy loads on I would recommend using a wooden cross brace under the front and back lips though, to keep it from buckling. Nice is that LED light strips are hidden under the edge for worktop lighting, and will have a pretty good heatsink as well for free.

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 04, 2014, 09:16:59 am
content: Quote from: mojo-chan on August 04, 2014, 09:09:18 amIKEA Ivar is good freestanding shelves, I have some 60cm deep ones

author: miguelvp
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 05, 2014, 03:25:25 am
content: I rather use this:http://www.costco.com/CatalogSearch?storeId=10301&catalogId=10701&langId=-1&keyword=alera+shelvingThan this:http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/11703/

author: motocoder
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 05, 2014, 01:28:36 pm
content: If you just need a single level, a piece of plywood and a set of the Ikea Capita legs work well. The Capita legs are stainless steel, quite sturdy, and adjustable over a small range of heights to accommodate an uneven surface (say one with an antistatic mat on it). The plywood can obviously be cut to fit any size. For my shelf, I also painted the plywood with some varnish.

author: wagon
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 07, 2014, 01:16:09 pm
content: I've made a lot of benches over the years. My preferred construction method is 75x35 or 75x45 (3"x1.5" or 3"x2") dressed pine, bolted and nailed together. For tops, el-cheapo 'kitchen' benchtops from a demolition yard... really good when they have a rounded edge. Around the height of your navel is about right for a bench you stand at. I've also built benches on wheels at the same height and I have a low bench on wheels that used to be an x-ray table from the local vet hospital. Old filing cabinets can be gutted and shelves fitted too. I can take some photos if anyone's interested.

author: Rutger
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2017, 03:49:41 pm
content: Now Ikea has the Algot system;http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/bedroom/11751/Not quite the same, but close.

author: CCitizenTO
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: March 15, 2017, 02:08:06 am
content: I know this probably isn't what you are looking for but if you want to increase storage density...https://www.uline.ca/BL_3945/Sliding-Storage-ShelvesWe had sliding shelves similar to these when I worked at a McDonald's. It was more industrial and heavy duty than those wire shelving units though.

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 15, 2017, 03:04:04 am
content: Compactus started doing that decades ago - and there are a lot of players these days:Not really practical for a workbench situation.... but might be a suggestion for the TEA grouphttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/chat/test-equipment-anonymous-(tea)-group-therapy-thread/

author: gowithyourself
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 09:47:56 am
content: Dave just linked this thread from his new lab tour video.As far as I know IKEA Broder/Algot are inspired bythe shelving system from Elfa. Not to be confused with the electronics distributor with the same name (used to be the same company long ago). A number ofclones and alternativesexists, but might not be available internationally.

author: apLundell
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 07, 2018, 10:49:20 pm
content: It looks like that Elfa system has the right bits and bobs to make a set of shelves that closely mimics Dave's. (ie : Free standing, up against a wall, and you can put a workbench under them.)I think I'll have to order some of these and give this a try :https://elfa.com/en-au/storage/products/system/freestandingThanks!

author: PTR_1275
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 12:01:28 am
content: I bought some shelving from a retail shop that was closing down.It’s got pegboard backing so I can put hooks where I want, 1800mm high, 900mm wise per bay and the lower shelf works well under my deep workbench.Look for retail gondola shelving on your favorite trading site (craigslist or whatever). It took a while for me to find some that wasn’t the short ones or double sided, but it was worth it.

author: cdev
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 08, 2018, 02:19:15 am
content: Price of strong, reliably knot free wood probably went up?Quote from: Pedro on October 11, 2012, 06:14:15 pm

author: roh
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: November 16, 2018, 02:08:19 am
content: we use a system intended for shop fitting to safely store our lab gear.its called 'tegometall' and usually quite heavy duty and expensive in the beginning,but since its used a lot in supermarkets there are 2nd and 3rd hand resellers.the more rusty - the more its 'whats the price of steel'i think i paid like 15E for a board, 10 for 2 angles, 30-40 for a riser, a foot element or a crosslink (you really need those!).also there are some 'compatible' manufacturers(e.g. 'eden') besides tego.the nice part is its versatility: it can be used free standing as well as wall mounted depending on which elements are combined.also angled elements (for a keyboard?) or backboards to screw a display to are easy to do. no backboard for better cable access is possible too.we use something called a 'gondola' which means its like one element of a row in a supermarket. just in 2.3 meter high and no boards below the tables placed infront.https://www.tegometall.com/fileadmin/files/download/Tegometall_Standard_Ladenbau_Lagertechnik_EN.pdfpage 6 has some graphics and ebay has prices.one thing.... this stuff is _heavy_. buy it locally or you pay more for shipping than for your modular storage