Water... sigh.

[Trent]

Interesting ideas Chief.

Yeah they're screwed together; if I'd used nails I'd have a cracked floor where my reloading bench used to be, as it'd be a pile of splinters.

The kitchen sink is directly above the corner you see in the upper right. Unfortunately it puts my shelves at "ground zero" for any sink problems; something that's bit me a few times now. The water has dripped directly down on to the center of the shelf on the far right edge each time. It then travels down the leg to the second shelf, where it traverses the shelf towards the center, where it then drips down on to the third.. just a happenstance of "not quite level" construction and slight shelf bowing that has caused some interesting effects with fluid dynamics. (I never even THOUGHT of water when I built the shelves, then figured the problem had been permanently solved after the first time... didn't know the guy had washed my ammo again with grout, or that the sink leaked downstairs yet AGAIN until way after the fact.)

If I knew as much about plumbing as I know about shooting and computers I'd be in good shape!

I can build a trap under the sink and run the drain hose directly outside; the wall to the right is an exterior wall. I can then put a gutter around the water lines that leads to that trap, so it should all drain clean to the great outdoors if there's a leak. I figure 3/8" line should do the trick. If more water gets out than that can handle I have much bigger problems on my hands because that means a pipe has ruptured and is gushing water all over everything...

Oh, and just to top off my luck with plumbing (I often jinx myself when I complain), an upstairs toilet blew a seal and started dripping down in the adjacent room yesterday. It's currently marked out of commission until I get it fixed.

I hate working on toilets.

A lot.

 

[RetiredUSNChief]

Interesting ideas Chief.

Yeah they're screwed together; if I'd used nails I'd have a cracked floor where my reloading bench used to be, as it'd be a pile of splinters.

The kitchen sink is directly above the corner you see in the upper right. Unfortunately it puts my shelves at "ground zero" for any sink problems; something that's bit me a few times now. The water has dripped directly down on to the center of the shelf on the far right edge each time. It then travels down the leg to the second shelf, where it traverses the shelf towards the center, where it then drips down on to the third.. just a happenstance of "not quite level" construction and slight shelf bowing that has caused some interesting effects with fluid dynamics. (I never even THOUGHT of water when I built the shelves, then figured the problem had been permanently solved after the first time... didn't know the guy had washed my ammo again with grout, or that the sink leaked downstairs yet AGAIN until way after the fact.)

If I knew as much about plumbing as I know about shooting and computers I'd be in good shape!

I can build a trap under the sink and run the drain hose directly outside; the wall to the right is an exterior wall. I can then put a gutter around the water lines that leads to that trap, so it should all drain clean to the great outdoors if there's a leak. I figure 3/8" line should do the trick. If more water gets out than that can handle I have much bigger problems on my hands because that means a pipe has ruptured and is gushing water all over everything...

Oh, and just to top off my luck with plumbing (I often jinx myself when I complain), an upstairs toilet blew a seal and started dripping down in the adjacent room yesterday. It's currently marked out of commission until I get it fixed.

I hate working on toilets.

A lot.

Sounds like you've got some good ideas on the trap. You might also consider installing a "drip pan"above your top shelf with the same function.

If you've any woodworking skills, and the time, you might consider building an enclosed cabinet. Of course, that kind of defeats the purpose of having a simple, inexpensive set of heavy duty shelving...



As for the toilet...at least they're pretty simple. Their faults are limited to the waterline/valve supplying them, the seal between the tank and bowl, the wax donut seal under the bowl, and cracks. A pain when leaks happen, if only for having to deal with the water. But at least the solutions are simple and don't require a lot of tools, knuckle-busting, and expense. (Unless you have to replace the toilet itself...then you have to shell out some bucks.)

Good luck on your water issues!


Oh, yeah...another simple trick which would only cost you a few bucks and minimal time:

You might consider installing a plastic sheet as a drape over the shelves. Heavy duty, so it won't tear easily, fastened to the wall over the shelves and hanging down. It wouldn't have to cover the entire shelves, either...just hang comfortably down over the first shelf. This way it wouldn't be too much of an eye-sore or inconvenience.

 

[Trent]

If you've any woodworking skills, and the time, you might consider building an enclosed cabinet. Of course, that kind of defeats the purpose of having a simple, inexpensive set of heavy duty shelving...

My woodworking skills are marginal. And my time.. very limited.

I've actually had a blueprint I made for the room hanging on the wall for 5 years now, on how I'd like to set it all up. But time has never been available.

Just the thought of moving everything out of there to start makes me cringe.