Pull out pantry design

[SwingKing]

LOML wants a more efficient setup for our kitchen pantry, so I've been instructed to built a set of pull out pantry shelves.

Here are a couple examples I've found. My current thought is to build something in between the two approaches. We want the open shelves like the Rev-a-Shelf wire racks (left) but the frame would be made of wood and the pull will be centered like the Rockler example (right). I expect most of the shelves will be adjustable but there could be one fixed shelf if needed.

My concern is keeping the unit from racking when it is pulled/pushed. There's going to be quite a bit of weight involved (slides are rated to 450 lbs), and I want it to remain solid for a long time.

Has anyone built something like this before? Would a fixed shelf in the middle keep the unit from racking front to back? Are their other joinery techniques or gotchas that I should keep in mind?

Thanks!

-- Ken

[drumpriest]

Hmm, good point about the racking, the one on the right seems to have a solid piece in the middle running up and down, that'll certainly prevent any racking, not sure how the left one works though, seems like it'd be prone to problems.

[pelligrini]

I haven't built one, but a fixed shelf at the top with a vertical divider acting as a shear plane might let the lower shelves be adjustable. The divider, shelf and top should create a rigid I beam shape.

Might do the same on the bottom. Maybe with just a divider and not a shelf on top of it.

[jgrobler]

When I built my kitchen cabinets in 2005 I used the one on the right, rockler item 91976. It's still holding up well with daily use. Also, my cabinets are 30" deep, not the standard 24", and the drawer slides I got was 26". My pantry is 5'6" tall with four shelves.

Go for it!

[cabinetman]

I've used a variety of the "pull outs" available and prefer to make my own. Most of them have the racking problem, and an up and down and side to side movement when pulled out.

I make mine out of 1/2" hardwood ply (usually the specie of the exterior), or in Maple plywood, or BB. The shell consists of a full box the width of the opening, less 1 1/16" to allow for full extension slides. The four panels are grooved (dadoed) in the center to allow for a full piece of 1/2" ply as a vertical divider. This will stop any racking, and provide a dedicated left and right side.

The shelves are 1/2" ply with a 3/4" x 1 1/2" side rail (like an "L"). The top, middle, and bottom are fixed to the front, the divider, and the rear panel. The drawer slides get mounted to the bottom and middle rails.

To provide adjustment if needed for the remaining shelves, a series of 3 - 4 shelf holes (1/4") are drilled for each shelf. I use metal shelf supports with a mounting hole like this. These permit the adjustable shelves to be secured. Or, each shelf could be fixed.

It installs just like a drawer box that has a separate drawer front.
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