Wire Shelves for the Lab - Chrome vs Stainless Steel - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2017, 09:40:19 pm
content: I've been looking at getting wire shelving units for my lab/study - I've seen them used in quite of lot in photos of labs on this forum.There seems to be two options - chrome plated which is relatively cheap, and stainless steel which is very, very expensive (roughly 3.5 times the price of chrome plated!)https://www.esedirect.co.uk/p-2066-eclipse-chrome-wire-shelving-with-4-shelves.aspxhttps://www.esedirect.co.uk/p-4429-stainless-steel-wire-shelving.aspxHas anyone been extravagant enough to use stainless steel or does everyone stick with chrome?As my lab is in the house rather than the garage, I want something that looks ok and will stay looking ok for say 10 years or so. It also has to be tough enough to be loaded up with things like heavy linear power supplies.

author: alpher
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2017, 09:42:51 pm
content: There is a third option, epoxy coated, looks nicer IMHO.

author: IanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2017, 09:52:07 pm
content: Chrome and epoxy coated will go rusty in damp environments (bathroom, garage). But in dry environments indoors I would expect them to last fine.

author: AlfBaz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2017, 10:47:25 pm
content: I recently "upgraded" my wire shelving for a larger and more robust type. The holes in the mesh where approximately 50x100mm.The hardware store where I bought them from also sold very long and quite wide slabs of 15mm thick MDF fiber board for only $24AUD which they cut to size for free. Sprayed them black and now I can put small things on these shelves as well

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2017, 10:57:28 pm
content: I've considered getting a door skin and cutting it to fit my black epoxy coated wire rack shelving.My choice for shelving was based on cost (free due to reward points).

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2017, 10:57:47 pm
content: I bought chrome plated steel shelves ages ago at a liquidation sale. They've been very sturdy and handy, but are definitely rusted and shabby looking now. Do I wish I spent 3x as much on stainless? Maybe, because they were a good, secondhand deal anyway, but I got good use out of them.If they're going to be inside in a dry location, agree that chrome is OK, though the white or black plastic (or epoxy) coated shelves are nicer for in-house usage.

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 23, 2017, 11:13:23 pm
content: I have one set this size and one smaller, though I didn't get mine from Home Depot.http://www.homedepot.com/p/Honey-Can-Do-18-in-x-36-in-x-72-in-350-lbs-5-Tier-Wire-Shelves-SHF-06831/300532519All mine are painted black. One set is going on 20 years old and still looks fine. These are great for storing larger items and stuff in boxes. The shelves are somewhat springy and wider ones do sag if heavily loaded.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 01:04:46 am
content: Quote from: rdl on October 23, 2017, 11:13:23 pmI have something similar from Home Depot that are chrome. 1 in my office and 1 in the garage, 8 years old maybe and look just like new. 1 shelf on the unit in the office has a piece of scrap concrete board on it as I keep a lot of books on it. No sagging on any of the shelves.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 02:00:54 am
content: PM sent.

author: Cubdriver
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 03:29:13 am
content: I got the chrome plated steel version; it's holding up well so far. (Granted it's in a dry location) To make the shelves more 'small part' friendly, I cut 2 x 4 foot sheets of 1/8" thick tempered hardboard to fit; that gives a nice smooth surface and is well supported by the fairly dense wire beneath it.-Pat

author: rdl
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 03:36:02 am
content: It's not really the shelf that sags, the parts that form the sides are actually pretty strong, but the wires that run side to side and front to back, which form the "surface" of the shelf do flex a little. If I put something heavy in the center, whatever is on either side will have a noticeable inward tilt.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 04:03:33 am
content: Quote from: Cubdriver on October 24, 2017, 03:29:13 amIt sounds like buying real shelves makes sense.

author: Shock
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 05:54:04 am
content: I gave up on wire and metal shelving as an option. Wire sucks if you put anything with feet on it, it's also see through so looks really messy, especially with cabling, plus doesn't hold weight well. Metal shelving tends to buckle in the middle under weight also (mostly cheap shelves) and looks like crap when scratched and will eventually rust.I chose particle board. It is strong and way cheaper but not water resistant. A conductive linoleum covering seems like a good solution to put test equipment on, then easy to clean and ground. Particle board needs a steel frame for support it's not so suitable for wall mounted shelves.Quote from: jpb on October 23, 2017, 09:40:19 pmThat is hideously expensive for less than that I have about 6x the shelf space.

author: Muttley Snickers
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 06:43:10 am
content: The other week I noticed quite a few of those chrome mesh shelves being sold at the local recycle centre and then later saw them again at the local Kmart store where they had an array of various sizes, I did think about grabbing some just to store things like shoes, boots and buckets near the back door. I have multiple Dexion style racks in the workshop which use 1800 x 600 x 16mm melamine sheves (laminate over particle board) which have served me well for nearly twenty years.I wouldn't bother with the stainless steel frames particularly at those prices unless you live alongside the sea or in a corrosive environment, even then there are various grades of stainless steel and some can still rust as quickly as steel, from memory 316 is mainly used for marine applications and other grades are for food preparation and so on, anyway something else to watch out for.

author: Cubdriver
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 07:27:41 am
content: I haven't had any issues with weight on the metro-style adjustable wire shelves. They're rated for 300 lb/shelf, and are holding 100-200 lb each in HP boatanchors alone. (I'm surprised the casters haven't punched though the floor.) The shelves have a central brace running across them as well (visible in bottom pic), and I see no noticeable bowing.-Pat

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 05:44:54 pm
content: Thank you for your responses everyone. Though I've not received your PM nanofrog yet.My initial plan with shelves was to go with nice oak shelving (as this is a study rather than a lab) but the price for that was even more than the stainless steel option!The annoyance factor of feet going through the mesh and it being hard to hide wires are good points - I'd thought of having a power-strip such as are used in computer racks and wondered if the wiring could be put through the uprights of the shelves without giving rise to a rust spot and a weak point or perhaps normal conduit wouldn't be too intrusive.I wouldn't keep small parts on them without using Really Useful boxes (I have most of my junk in such boxes). The shelves would be used either for instruments or for stuff in boxes. I have a lot of book shelves elsewhere in the house so I probably wouldn't need to keep books on them.It is hard to make electronics anything other than slightly ugly unless you confine yourself to vintage wood and brass instruments!The plus points of wire shelves in my mind was that they are minimalist and look quite good in the photos I've seen of other's labs. They can be earthed to avoid static (though should they be earthed via a 1Mohm resistor or directly?) and they are strong. Also the holes does allow air flow for cooling which will be good for things like power supplies.I did look at the steel and fibreboard racking type shelves which are very strong but the room is small and I think they would dominate and be a little too industrial (I'm sounding like tv-makeover interior designer). The other thing was the waiting time on the ones I liked is something like 45 days!

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 05:56:33 pm
content: Quote from: jpb on October 24, 2017, 05:44:54 pmSorry for any confusion as it was forGreyWoolfe.

author: jpb
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 06:01:22 pm
content: Quote from: nanofrog on October 24, 2017, 05:56:33 pmOK - that explains it. Thanks.

author: sokoloff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 06:12:49 pm
content: Quote from: jpb on October 24, 2017, 05:44:54 pmWhen you've reduced the visual clutter to the point that a power cable will be an eyesore, you've already won the game! Banish the idea of running the power cord inside the uprights. You're not doing a museum installation.Run the cord along the upright with black zip ties [or velcro] or, if you want to get fancy, run it and other cables inside some split loom tubing (you pick the diameter) and velcro that loosely to the upright.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 06:19:24 pm
content: Quote from: sokoloff on October 24, 2017, 06:12:49 pmNeatly tucking away cables always bites, as you invariably have to untuck them soon, due to some unforeseen reason or defect.

author: nanofrog
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 08:25:07 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on October 24, 2017, 06:19:24 pmPerhaps test the power cord before concealing it. Unfortunately I'm not kidding (i.e. L and N were swapped during manufacture).

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 08:28:13 pm
content: Quote from: nanofrog on October 24, 2017, 08:25:07 pmIt doesn't matter. The neater you hide things away, the sooner you will need to undo it all.

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 24, 2017, 11:12:12 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on October 24, 2017, 06:19:24 pmTHIS!!!! I have given up making the wires neat here in the office. More than once, I spent an inordinate amount of time tucking, tie wrapping, securing and neatening the myriad of wires throughout my office and workbench only a week later having to undo everything to get 1 wire out on something that failed or was upgraded. They can hang all over the place now. As long as I don't catch a foot or other appendage and pull a cable out, I'm good. Thankfully, my office is dedicated space and no one really comes out here but me and the lab dogs.

author: ChrisLX200
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 25, 2017, 09:42:24 am
content: Label both ends of the cables (power, USB and so on), I've lost count of the times I spent tracing bunched cables trying to figure which one is which!

author: GreyWoolfe
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 25, 2017, 08:20:44 pm
content: I have no trouble tracing cable, I've done enough of that at customer sites. That's not the issue, it's undoing everything. I did it enough over the years, both at home and at work, that I can't be arsed at home any longer. Now, the wiring in the house for entertainment, etc? Different story. Everything is nice and neat as that is common space shared by everyone. All wires are neat in the bedroom also as SWMBO is OCD about it.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 26, 2017, 09:16:51 pm
content: Quote from: GreyWoolfe on October 25, 2017, 08:20:44 pmI used to tuck everything into perfection, but gradually shifted to having a solid system, large cable ducts, colour coding, labelling and whatnot to make sure things can be quickly and easily accessed and serviced. Function over form.My current desk has a huge rain gutter style cable duct underneath and I love it. I can easily remove or add wires and even put power strips and chargers in there. Making things easy can actually help reduce clutter, even though the solution is less subtle.

author: Old Don
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 27, 2017, 01:32:57 pm
content: Bought my chrome plated steel units years ago at Bed Bath and Beyond with some of my wife's 20% off coupons (good even if expired!). They held up quite well stacked with as much as I could cram on them when I was in business and are now down in my basement workshop.Looks like they've also got some black ones now for less money for about $40 for a 4 shelf unit after discount:https://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/store/product/commercial-grade-4-tier-shelving-unit/116577?categoryId=12655Don't know if they are still the same build quality as mine!Also, Sam's Club has some shelving plus really nice "assembly required" Seville powder coated steel brand cabinets, including roll around that have wood tops, that are great for storage and bench top equipment/machine tools:https://www.samsclub.com/sams/search/searchResults.jsp?pageView=grid&searchCategoryId=all&searchTerm=seville%20cabinet&recordType=allI've got a 7"x16" metal lathe on a 6 drawer roller and test equipment in a second one.

author: innkeeper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 31, 2017, 05:54:02 pm
content: i've used the chrome ones both in several commercial labs and personalty at home. never been problem.there is no reason to go with stainless steel unless your going for looks IMHO.