Modular LP record storage suggestions


After a recent move I am sitting in my new home with about 30 book & record boxes sitting in my garage, wanting to come inside. I figure to pare them out once I can get them out and keep perhaps 1/3 of what's out there. That might be about 1,000 albums or so. I've got a 6' long wall unused in a bedroom to place storage. I would want something up to about 6' in height.  That's a lot of weight. In my old home I had steel-and-wire shelving that's inexpensive but inefficient insofar as there's little side support. I also had some of the old popular IKEA units that were efficient and heavy, but their new Kallix units look insubstantial to me. So I've come to the source where many of you surely have faced the same deal.  All the interior bookcases I've found look too shaky for this. Otherwise, garage units (this doesn't have to be pretty!) are supportive enough, although usually too deep (24"). Most I've found also either have non-flat shelf surfaces and/or lack any kind of side support, on the ends or in the middle. The vertical supports between albums are the hardest thing to find. It would be nice if there were some sort of modular shelving, especially if it were narrow, like 3 feet or so, that you could put side by side. I'm open to ideas here, obviously. Having someone come in and build me a bookcase heavy enough for this seems very expensive. Garage type units would be much cheaper and just as good (and easier).  

128x128howardlee

@howardlee I have several hundred vinyl albums in my collection and searched high & low for a cost-effective storage solution.  My advice on this would be to speak with a local carpenter about building either 6' or 7' bookcases that could easily be anchored to the wall and house however many vinyl albums you'd desire.  Building these out of high-grade pine or poplar or whatever kind of wood your heart and budget might desire would be cost-effective, providing you find an honest carpenter.  Pine and poplar can easily be stained & shellacked or polyurethaned in any beautiful finish you might desire.

As for the CD storage issue, I have several hundred of those, as well, and use something like this:

The Space Saving Rotating CD/DVD Tower - Hammacher Schlemmer

Good Luck!

Would it be blasphemous of me to recommend good old fashioned milk crates. They are sturdy, stackable and come in different colors if that makes any difference.

 

It's what I happily use.

@ howardlee

Part II

Just looked at the IKEA KALLAX shelving units online, and they list for ~$80.

Add ~$30 for wood, glue and screws - a 8-cube storage unit (~600 LPs) costs ~$110, plus a trip to Ikea and an hour, or so, for assembly and adding a ply-backing.

It seems that you may need two of these units...  Your total cost is less than $250.  (Some LPs that cost more than that!)

Good luck

 

A 4-cube EKET costs $60, two for $120, four for $240. Each 4-cube model holds around 250-260 LP's. Comes with a back panel, no wood, glue, and screws necessary. Better looking (in dark gray) than the KALLAX, and more structurally stiff and solid.

 

I use Boltz steel furniture for my LP’s. The furniture is outstanding, their customer service and spotty delivery times are not. Boltz