I am building a few shelves to hold my trains on and I was wondering what you would suggest I use to as in a sense “fence posts” to protect the trains in case of an earthquake. I have 1*6’s with flangeways cut into them. They’re just wide enough for the trains without the railing.
Thanks
Scott
Scott, If there is a little room around the edges I would suggest using a 1/4 inch dowel. You could drill a hole for the dowel in the shelf and then use inexpensive braided picture hanging wire strung through holes drilled in the dowels for a fence type of look. Let me know what you think or what type of look your going for. Also are the shelves for just train storage or storage /display. Please advise.
Hi Scott,
I did exactly what Matt described on a layout but used 1/2" dowell with the picture wire. To join the wire end to end I took the metal insert from an electrical connector (small tube) and crimped the wire into each end. Let us know what you make. Later eh…Brian.
Hey Brian, I knew I had seen it somewhere before, must have been on those pics you sent me.
Matt,
Might have been. Did I send you pics. of the grocery store layout??? That’s where they went on. A little large using 1/2" dowels but they are very sturdy. Also at nine feet off the floor the size is barely noticeable. Sure looks neat though. Later eh…Brian.
Brian, No, on the grocery store layout. The Pics you sent were on your basement layout.
I don’t have enough space to put the 1/4 inch dowels in. do you know of any way to make it come out of the edge and then turn upward?
Thanks
Scott
Scott,
You can use flat metal straps for this. You will usually find them in Home Depot with the higes and gate hardware. They come straight or bent at a 90 degree angle. The bent ones are called “corner irons”. They also come pre-drilled and in various lengths. Simply screw one end to the bottom of your shelf. Drill a small hole in the bottom of your dowel and screw it to strap. Make sense? Hope this helps ya’. Later eh…Brian.
good idea thanks
Scott
Scott, you also could do the original suggestion of dowel but attach them through to the front edge of the 1x with small brads. I would suggest predrilling a hole for the brads first to reduce the chances of splitting.