Shelf Brackets

Some requirements

• cheap

• sturdy enough to get bumped by tossed stuff, light sabers etc. (regardless of location)

  • is keyhole mounting sufficient? Probably not.

• roughly 8" deep

Home Depot (I can't believe their article lists "shelf brackets" as a material but doesn't link that to their product category listing!)

• list (ack their URI-s break because of their stinking Broad Vision sessions)

• example (search for 58057)

Froogle

• http://froogle.google.com/froogle?q=shelf%20brackets%20decorative&hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wf |list Shelf Factory has cheap/simple stuff, but uses keyhole mounting

• but that may be good enough

Nothing at Pottery Barn, Crate And Barrel, Restoration Hardware, Design Within Reach, West Elm, IKEA, TouchOfClass

went to Simons Hardware, only metal brackets at $40+ each.

Growing Lifestyle list is from multiple sites, similar results as Froogle

SwitchplateCovers has some unusual metal pieces, not sure how sturdy

VanDykes has some nice stuff, but looks like it uses keyhole mounting

• settled on http://www.vandykes.com/product/02385305/ |this

• of course now that piece is off their catalog - Wayback Machine gives http://web.archive.org/web/20040219031044/http://www.vandykes.com/product/02385305/ |this

• next problem - because of my sloppy reading, I missed that I needed to order the backplate separately. And their site design is so bad (Product Quality) that I can't even find that backplate - but the person on the phone took care of it. Heh we'll see when it gets here.

  • hmm, backplate doesn't have any holes in it or anything - what looks like some kind of magic swivel is just based on this process:

    • screw flat-head screw through backplate starting from wall-side, through into the bracket

    • turn the bracket 90deg so the backplate is exposed

    • screw through backplate into wall to attach it

    • rotate bracket back to normal position

    • attach shelf to top of bracket.

  • my concern with this approach is that it means all the weight is on that 1 screw between the bracket and the backplate. Called to confirm/discuss, but their 1 "tech support" person is backlogged.

    • got confirmation that it works how I think, but not explicitly how much it will hold

    • my contractor is very nervous about it