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Safe wall cabinet weight?

mackzully | Posted in General Discussion on October 5, 2009 06:55am

At the behest of my GF, I need your opinions on the matter of how heavy a wall cabinet is safely mountable (or conversely how heavy a cabinet a wall framed with metal studs and blocking can support).

This weekend I built the only two kitchen wall cabinets I have out of 3/4″ MDF, with full backs, and shelves also out of 3/4″ MDF. After nearly stroking out trying to get them inside, my GF is adamant about making sure that I can hang them safely before we actually attempt to do it.

I’ll be hanging these in a nook off my kitchen 6’W x 9’6″T x 36″D, where I’ve installed solid 2×8 blocking in the metal stud walls at 9’6″ and 7′. The cabs will be hung flush to the ceiling, but I can’t fasten the cabinets to the ceiling as it’s hung with RC-1, so there is at least 1/2″ of empty space between the drywall and the floor joists (more in most places as I had to flatten the ceiling by sistering studs to the joists).

The first cabinet will go over the fridge and is 30″D x 39″H x 36″W, and I’ve got blocking both at its back and on its LHS, so I can fasten two sides of it to the walls. I’ve not yet decided whether or not the fridge will be completely enclosed with a side panel that would help hold up the RHS of the cab, so right now, the RHS of it would be free hanging.

The other cabinet will installed to the right of the fridge cab, and is 16″D x 53″H x 36″W. There is blocking only on the back wall in this location, so I will not be able to fasten the cabs RHS.

Since the fridge cab is deep and hard to get to, it’d be used for seldom used appliances, baking ware, etc. The other cabinet will have a microwave, cookbooks, dry goods, and canned goods, so could potentially carry more weight. They probably each weigh 100+lbs empty. I’ve never hung a wall cab in my life, so I have no concept of how heavy a commercial cab might be and if I’m just being overly cautious.

Thanks!
Z

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Replies

  1. DanH | Oct 05, 2009 07:27pm | #1

    Keep in mind that overhead kitchen cabinets routinely hold hundreds of pounds of dishes. Yes, I'm sure there are some cases of them jumping off the walls, but they're remarkably rare.

    As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz
  2. Scott | Oct 05, 2009 07:52pm | #2

    The strength of steel fasteners in "shear" (perpendicular to the axis) is pretty remarkable. My friend is currently building an airplane and the wings are held on by four tiny bolts, in shear of course.

    Scot.

    1. frontiercc2 | Oct 05, 2009 09:03pm | #3

      Make sure you use the right screws to hand it with also. No piffin screws in this applications. There are actually specially made cabinet screws- I use #10. I don't know if they are stronger steel than regular wood screws, but they are not threaded for the entire shaft so that when the screw hits stud it pulls the cabinet tight to the wall.

      1. mackzully | Oct 05, 2009 09:08pm | #5

        I was going to use these to hang them, are they what you're talking about?http://wedo.hillmangroup.com/item/cabinet-screws/pan-truss-phillips-cabinet-mounting-screws/39279?&seo=110

        1. frontiercc2 | Oct 05, 2009 10:01pm | #6

          Yep- that be them.

        2. DanH | Oct 05, 2009 10:16pm | #8

          The GRK ones are better quality, with a more trustworthy (appearing) thread.
          As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz

          1. mackzully | Oct 05, 2009 10:36pm | #9

            No doubt, but a bird in the hand... ;) I've not had any problems with the Hillmans that I've used. They're better than the crapola at HomeyD, and actually come with a usable bit, unlike the HD brands. Almost worth it for the bit alone (I think a box of 25 2.5" deck screws was $3.50? last time, and the bit alone would have been a couple of bucks itself).Z

      2. DanH | Oct 05, 2009 10:14pm | #7

        GRK makes cabinet screws that are pretty much guaranteed to pull the wall down before they break.
        As I stood before the gates I realized that I never want to be as certain about anything as were the people who built this place. --Rabbi Sheila Peltz, on her visit to Auschwitz

  3. Piffin | Oct 05, 2009 09:07pm | #4

    cabinet screws hold about 650-800# each in shear IIRC

    drywall screws handle about 75-80# each

     

     

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