How Do I Shorten This Rolling Shelf?

[Derek Arita]

Well, the wife says it takes up too much space, so I have to either cut it down in length or replace it with something shorter. Is it worth it to cut down and if so, then how? I will replace the top with wood and figure out how mount it. And sorry for the spelling error in the title...

[Jim Becker]

Tough row to hoe given the design of the shelf at the bottom that holds it all together. Would be useful in your shop.

[Derek Arita]

Tough row to hoe given the design of the shelf at the bottom that holds it all together. Would be useful in your shop.

Ya, if I had the room. Can the wire shelving be welded with a normal MIG welder? Looks like there aren't many spot welds holding it together on the ends. I was hoping some one had already needed to do this. I can't be the first, can I?

[Bill Dufour]

I would cut a few inches out of the middle then deck it with plywood screwed, clamped, sandwiched over the wire.
Bill D.

PS Search "metro rack"

[Richard Coers]

Ya, if I had the room. Can the wire shelving be welded with a normal MIG welder? Looks like there aren't many spot welds holding it together on the ends. I was hoping some one had already needed to do this. I can't be the first, can I?

Is the shelf chrome plated steel, or stainless steel? If stainless it can be welded then ground, sanded, and polished back to the same finish. If it's chrome, then it'll have to be ground and then welded. No way to bring the chrome back. So you have the option to have it sandblasted and rechromed, or powder coated, or spray painted. That's a pretty common design these days, maybe somebody sells a shorter shelf.

[Bruce Page]

Repurpose it as an outdoor potting bench?

[Derek Arita]

It's likely mild steel that's chromed, so it looks like I'll have to get down to the steel, weld, then I'll just paint over th welded area. No big deal, cuz it's going to be used as a covered BBQ table/shelf.

[Jamie Buxton]

Years ago I bought shelves and posts like that to make shelving units. I don’t remember the name of the seller - somebody I found on the web. They had many lengths and widths of shelf, different post heights, optional casters, and such. I wouldn’t be surprised you can google around, and find a smaller shelf for your unit.

[Erik Loza]

Those chrome metro shelves rust like crazy, outdoors.

Erik

[Derek Arita]

Those chrome metro shelves rust like crazy, outdoors.

Erik

This is a BBQ shelf that holds dirty, greasy, ashy stuff, so I don't really care about the rust. Jamie, I'll check it out, but if I can cut these down myself, I'll be saving the cost of new shelves.

[Earl McLain]

My oldest son worked at a fast food taco place in his youth. They replaced the shelving in their cooler—we got about 6 of the 6’ tall stainless units, could have gotten another 6 or 8–wish we had! He has 4, I have 2…they are awesome.
earl

[Bill Dufour]

Cut and weld in some angle iron as a splicer.
Bill D.

[Jamie Buxton]

https://www.theshelvingstore.com/ext...lves-s/458.htm

[Derek Arita]

Jamie, thanks. My shelving is heavy duty and uses 1 1/2" posts, I think, anyways the 1" post shelves are too small. That said, it's a great resource that I have saved for future needs.

[Derek Arita]

Well, I did it. I shortened it from a 48", down to about 32". Turned out it was easier than I thought it would be, but still picky-poky work. The MIG welder worked very well as you all predicted it would. Now all I have left to do is to build a wood top for it. Thanks for all the help. It will make a perfect BBQ table.