How would you do it?
 

We have a display shelf unit in our dining room that my wife has filled with her stuff. Most of it is breakable so she's worried that our soon to be walking grandsons will come and push the shelves such that they'll fall down.
They are held up with those push in flat pins:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647641797.JPG

My idea for making this not happen is to screw some small blocks of wood just in front of the rear most pins, preventing the shelf from moving backwards and coming off the front pins.
Of course my wife thinks this will ruin the furniture and thinks she'll see the blocks even though you'd have to really be looking hard to see them on the upper most shelves way at the back.

How would you secure the shelves so they wouldn't be able to be moved, yet still maintain their adjust ability?

instead of blocks I would use 1" steel angles. You'll never see them Scott.

quickly found 2" but they make smaller sizes

2 in. Steel Zinc-Plated Corner Brace (4-Pack)

I know I won't see them, it's HER I'm worried about Shaun.

So you're thinking just put the angle pieces on the bottom, but up against the side too.
Am I correct?

(2) 1" squares of duct tape should do it....

One over each eye :D

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647645259.JPG

Can you see the blue lines?

Put one screw through the cabinet side into the shelf edge .

We use something like this on furniture we will be moving around set to secure the shelving:

https://www.amazon.com/Stainless-Brackets-Internal-Fastener-Furniture/dp/B08915XXWZ/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1JCOZDAVVAKK0&keywords=30PCS+Stain less+Steel+Corner+Brace%2C+2.3%E2%80%9Dx+1%E2%80%9 D+Small+Corner+Brackets%2C+Heavy+Duty+90+Degree+In ternal+Angle+Brackets%2C+L+Shape+Brackets+Joint+Fa stener+for+Wood+Furniture+Board+Window+Cabinet+Tab le&qid=1647645619&s=hi&sprefix=30pcs+stainless+ste el+corner+brace%2C+2.3+x+1+small+corner+brackets%2 C+heavy+duty+90+degree+internal+angle+brackets%2C+ l+shape+brackets+joint+fastener+for+wood+furniture +board+window+cabinet+table%2Ctools%2C359&sr=1-1

Same idea as Shaun's.

I only want to put screws into the shelf itself, not the sides of the cabinet.
I'm only worried about the shelf being pushed 'in' too much and it falling off the front 'pin' and dropping. They can't come forward as there's a finish piece of wood they're behind that captures them.

Maybe adesive squares will help a little.

Scotch® Indoor Mounting Squares, 1" x 1", White, 16 Squares

You also my consider screwing an equalateral right triangle of luan into the back of the shelves and the shelf sides.

Would threats scare the reprobates enough to keep their little hands away from the breakables?

Get some small black screws with a head and screw one one each side into the bottom of the shelf right up against and in front of the pin thingy. That'll prevent it from sliding....

....and duct tape ;)

I think the angles would be better myself. I'll run it past the wife and see how she feels about it. Four small screws into the bottom of each shelf isn't going to ruin the furniture and if I paint the angles black or brown you won't even notice them if you do happen to get down low enough to see them.

Drill a hole in the flat of the pin and then screw a round head woodscrew through the pin into the board. You can buy small woodscrews with black heads. (this would probably be a #6, 1/2" long. Maybe an 8, but probably a 6)

You can take one pin out at a time and not have to unload the shelves, if you're careful.

use matte black so it doesn't reflect Scott. But matte brown is even better

^^^^ This .... submitted for approval ;)

I don't think that would go over too well with Grandma. I don't think it'll be a problem to keep them out of trouble but since there are two of them to keep track of it could get dicey in a hurry if we loose track of one while tending the other.

Replace the pins with these, and put a small screw through the hole into the shelf.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647646551.jpg

Or you could put these in the back, you'd be screwing into the side, but they're in the back and she wouldn't see them.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647646551.jpg

I don't think the flat of the pin is big enough for a #6 screw clearance hole. They aren't that big in width. Plus you'd have to unscrew it to get the shelf out to readjust it for other displays. And yes, the displays change with the seasons so there is that to consider too. [sigh]

Yes, matte brown would blend perfectly.

Being the type who never throws anything away, I went out to my typhoid box of junk and found these brackets:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647647926.JPG

Now all I need to do is convince my wife this will work OK.
Thanks guys! SmileWavy

merge / link this to "which engineering school should I send my kid to?" thread.

see if Ace can assemble a book case.

We would move the breakable stuff.

Even if you secure the shelves(I would probably use dabs of clear silicone) the breakables are not safe from the many forms of childhood armament such as pillows, balls, and other breakables.

We displayed the kids handiwork and will likely do the same if and when the grandkids come around.

You can get duct tape in colors, sponge and matte brown gives you a faux wood appearance. If'n you fail to tell her it is duct tape, she will think you are a genius.

You can paint the brackets and screw heads too, if you go that route

Seriously though, little black stop screw would stop it from sliding forward or back, depending on which side you put it. It is black, and it is on the bottom, so it will be invisible.

You could also use those 3M Command strips between the edge of the shelf and the cabinet.

https://www.command.com/3M/en_US/command/products/~/Command-Large-Picture-Hanging-Strips/?N=5924736+3294529207+3294737318&rt=rud

This ^^^

Take it apart, baby bead Tight Bond II along all joints, snap the existing fasteners back in. Easy peasy and stronger than fasteners

By far the best suggestion.

https://images.app.goo.gl/zoBCAiqirxtoX6Ho8

Just put these on the back.

Is it possible to just put up a gate preventing the grands from entering the dining room?

I would be more worried about the the grands using the shelving to stand up and pulling the whole thing down on top of them.

One thing to consider, since you say the shelves are moved up & down regularly. You are screwing into glorified sawdust if you use brackets or anything that requires removing the screws (leaving holes too), and you're going to do this each time.

A simple black screw into the bottom of the shelves and serving as a stop against the pinned thingys...one time & done. Those screws will never need to come out. KISS ...

So just to follow up on this...here is what I did this morning.
After doing a really deep dive into my 'typhoid' box, as my son used to call it:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647886251.JPG
I found some 'clips' that worked out perfectly.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647886298.JPG

Small, unobtrusive, not easily seen when installed at the back of the shelving.
Wife approved and it's a done deal. Even used my Port-a-line drill attachment rather than getting the drill press involved.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647886405.JPG
Worked perfectly to keep me from piloting all the way thru the shelves.
Had enough clips to do two per shelf so all is good now.
Thanks for the help and suggestions.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647886702.JPG

"...but I don't think Hank done it this way" - WJ

Nicely done :)!

Our house is not designed such that gates could be used. The dining room is part of the kitchen and is part of the main thoroughfare to the family room.
Climbing on anything other than maybe a chair or couch will not be allowed at this Grandpa's house, so no worries about them pulling the cabinet over. It's tethered to the wall anyways, cause well, you know, we live in earthquake country. If it falls over we will have much bigger problems to worry about I'm sure.

Thanks!
I was pretty proud of the fact I didn't have to go to the hardware store for anything to get this done.
Re-use, re-purpose, make do with whatcha got already.

^ I like that idea somehow

Or tie the kid to something heavy.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647896103.jpg

+

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647896103.jpg

The twins are just now starting to walk so no leashes will be employed.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1647898677.JPG

^^^^ That's awesome :)!

They are adorable! Glad you got it squared away with stuff you had on-hand. I love that!