In hardware shops one sees a wide variety of systems for hanging shelves on walls.

However, as far as I can find out, this system "doesn't exist already". [I did a rather cursory Web search - and the 'Bakery search is broken.]

The loop-hung system should be cheap, and adaptable to bearing light or heavy loads.

Visualise a wall, interior or exterior.

Find firm fixings for a spaced row of screws/screw-hooks, even nails, appropriate to the weight etcyou want to store.

Prepare by knotting or whatever, a loop of rope. cord, surplus cabling etc. for each hook/screw/nail, ... but each loop will have to be of exactly the same dimensions.

This will be the hard part I suppose. but I can see a way of doing it.

Anyhow, the final step should be simple ... put a loop on each hook and insert your [suitable] plank/shelf through all the loops. In my mind's eye I see the weight of the books/paint-tins/objets d'art, converting each loop into a self-locking triangle.

These days my mind's eyes work as well as ever, but my real eyes are a feeble substitute.

I couldn't even make those exactly similar loops or shop in a relaxed way for a version of the materials to match our battered "eclectic" furniture.
-- rayfo, Jun 01 2001

For your knots selection.... http://www.geocitie..._two/knotindex.html
pile hitch, buttefly loop, and principles of friction [lumpy, Mar 05 2002, last modified Oct 04 2004]

I *think* I saw this in Mad Magazine about 25 years ago. Al Jaffee used to do "gag" inventions which were oddly prescient, as some have have developed into actual devices. I recall a Jaffee parking lot space saver in the form of a modified ferris wheel that I much later saw put to use. I didn't see much about Jaffee via Google just now, but I recommend his invention work to all bakers. Apologies if this is common bakery knowledge.
-- snarfyguy, Jun 01 2001


Seems to me you'd need something to keep the shelves from sliding around in the loop and becoming non-level. Maybe friction would be enough if the rope & shelf material were chosen well.

I've seen shelves like waugs' rope shelf link made with steel cable as well; if you have more than a few shelves on one rope you need a pretty strong rope.
-- wiml, Jun 01 2001


I've seen shelves held up with a loop of military-type nylon webbing. The purpose was to make them easily storable, you turn the shelf board up on edge <obviously after it's been emptied, although it'd be empty shortly after doing it anyway...> and it hangs in the loop against the wall, but you have it available when needed.
-- StarChaser, Jun 02 2001


To get extra friction on the board, you could wrap a few coils of rope around the shelf board. That should keep it from getting unleveled after you apply the load.

You might also want to make a loop or hitch at the hook. (Pile hitch or butterfly loop). Use a Zeppelin Bend to join the ends of the rope together to form the sling or loop.
-- lumpy, Mar 05 2002



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