Sagging gun shelf fix?

[djtjr]

Guys the long shelves at the top of my gun safe are sagging. I need something that is 7-8 and another about 12 inches long and expands a bit (sort of like the old door jam chin up bars) to wedge between the horizontal divider that goes to the floor in the rifle lower section and the shelves to raise the sag. It may be plenty strong but the sag annoys me and wondering if you guys knew of a product like this or another comparable solution. Thanks for the help in advance as always.
Best,
don

 

[Uthink Uknow]

Those shelves are generally particle board and don't have an abundance of strength. They are also generally covered in felt or some such cloth.
Peel the cloth back a couple inches, rip about an inch and a half of the particle board off the shelf and replace with a piece of oak the same size you ripped off. Either glue the new piece to the old with biscuits or dowels in place. If you are the carpenter sort you can spline it and glue. Then replace the cloth.

 

[dickn52]

Or just build a new shelf of solid wood, either joined or glued together. Felt is cheap at your local sewing center/fabric shop.

 

[Joe Salt]

I think they make curtain rods that you can twist to expand them try Lowe's

Joe Salt

 

[JohnKielly]

If you have the room you could glue & screw a piece of 1" x ½" dressed lumber at the front, either on the topside or bottom of the shelf to form an L. I've done that to strengthen shelves,

 

[CJ6]

Add another 3/8" piece of plywood on top (glued to the old) and cover in whatever material you want.

 

[joshb]

If it is particle board under felt, the sag won't come out. You could just flip it over. Best to start with a fresh shelf. A good rule to follow is the one used when making cabinets. 3/4 thick up to 30" long 1" thick up to 36" . Oak would be best. Most lumber stores sell oak stair treads or 2nd best, yellow pine. The tread material will already have the front edge rounded and looks OK. Another option is 5/4 X 12 primed trim stock. It's pine, but pretty strong. You can nail a length of 1X4, on the vertical, to the face of 3/4 shelves. A picture would be helpful. Good luck.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

Jack it up with a piece of pvc cut to the correct length

 

[wapiti25]

Clean the shelve off and send every thing to me. Problem solved. Good Luck

 

[Syncrowave]

Add another 3/8" piece of plywood on top (glued to the old) and cover in whatever material you want.

Or just a 3/8" or 1/2" spline of wood glued and nailed across the middle of the bottom longitudinally. Height is everything in beam strength.

 

[michaelnel]

Turn the sagging shelf upside down, replace in safe.

 

[Defty]

Years ago I had the same problem with a Bedroom closet shelve.
Cure? Get a piece of 3/8" all thread. Place a 2x4 in the attic. Drill through the shelve and the 2x4", plumb bob for true line. A pice of conduit or PVC, for decoration. Can be used for more than one shelve, one over the other.
Depending on the weight. You might want to place the 2x4 with the 2' side down.
With the bedroom shelve I drilled through the Screw hole in the Shelve support.