How would you do it?

[Scott Douglas]

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:



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?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

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)

[Scott Douglas]

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

[Scott Douglas]

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

[KFC911]

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

One over each eye

[Scott Douglas]

Can you see the blue lines?

[rfuerst911sc]

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

[craigster59]

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+Stainless+Steel+Corner+Brace%2C+2.3 %E2%80%9Dx+1%E2%80%9D+Small+Corner+Brackets%2C+Hea vy+Duty+90+Degree+Internal+Angle+Brackets%2C+L+Sha pe+Brackets+Joint+Fastener+for+Wood+Furniture+Boar d+Window+Cabinet+Table&qid=1647645619&s=hi&sprefix=30pcs+stainless+steel+corner+brace%2C+2.3+ x+1+small+corner+brackets%2C+heavy+duty+90+degree+ internal+angle+brackets%2C+l+shape+brackets+joint+ fastener+for+wood+furniture+board+window+cabinet+t able%2Ctools%2C359&sr=1-1

Same idea as Shaun's.

[Scott Douglas]

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.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Maybe adesive squares will help a little.

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

[Shaun @ Tru6]

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

[herr_oberst]

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

[KFC911]

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

[Scott Douglas]

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.

[herr_oberst]

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.

[Shaun @ Tru6]

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

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Scott Douglas

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.

^^^^ This .... submitted for approval

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

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

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.

[rockfan4]

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



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.

[Scott Douglas]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

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.

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]