topic Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees? in Community Spirit

Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

*kazumi* — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 03:17:20 GMT

Staff in Bunnings do!!!!

I bought some brackets like these:

Spent hours on line trawling through various brackets, then had to guess what size screws these ones will need, finally bought them and today got a message I can pick my items. Waited 1/2 hour in the car park at the "click&collect" line, while the poor staff ran in and out getting our items. I have to say I do feel for them.

Anyway, got home, got my brackets out and immediately saw that there is something very wrong with the angles. My protractor tells me the angle is only 85degrees, instead of the 90 you would expect, and I definitely want and need.

So I rang Bunnings:
Explained exactly what I bought and the problem

The person #1 - oh, so you are saying you bought wrong size, no problem just come in, stand in the line and when the staff member comes tell them the size you want and they will swap it.

Me - No, I am saying they are wrong/faulty, they need to be 90 degrees and are only 85.

The person #1 - that cannot be we do not stock 85 degrees; you mean you want 45degrees?

Me - no, maybe I could speak with somebody who understand that shelf brackets need to be 90degrees

Person #2 - Why do yo think the brackets are wrong?

Me - because shelf brackets need to be 90 degrees or everything will be sliding off the shelves. Isn't there anybody who could understand my concern?

Person #3 - (after I went through explaining all again that these brackets need to be precisely 90 degrees right angle) 90degrees? you mean 45 ......

Me - no, I mean RIGHT ANGLE, brackets need to be exactly right angle.

Person #3 - how do you know they are not exactly right angle, you are probably looking at them wrong

Me - NO I am using my protractor and T-square.................

Person #3 - OK (I suspect she does not know what is protractor or T-square) just bring it back and tell the team member the right size you want..............

I do not have the strength to go back today; maybe have a go tomorrow, with my protractor and T-square .....................

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

bidicus*maximus — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 03:28:23 GMT

You might try clamping one end in a vise, then giving the other end a hammer whack to gain the extra 5º.

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

ambercat16 — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 03:57:20 GMT

Well, at least 85 degrees is better than 95 degrees.......less likely for items on the shelf to slide off😎

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

domino-710 — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 04:12:54 GMT

Floating shelf brackets - can only go wrong if the left is higher than the right. lol

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

davidc4430 — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 04:14:42 GMT

ah, you have the quality 'made in china' brackets

they are cheap for a reason

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

domino-710 — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 04:23:16 GMT

Well - that was rather tactful.

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

*kazumi* — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 04:47:32 GMT

Not really, I actually want them to strengthen old piece of furniture, and it needs to be pretty spot on. The description says that it is for such purpose. There is no way the angle can be fixed; there is a little bar only about 5mm across the bend to make it really strong.

The whole pack of 12 is faulty, although some are worse than others.

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

domino-710 — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 05:12:25 GMT

Kaz - got a pic of the piece of furniture - it may help - there are some clever ones here.

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

go-tazz — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 05:45:16 GMT

@*kazumi* wrote:
Not really, I actually want them to strengthen old piece of furniture, and it needs to be pretty spot on. The description says that it is for such purpose. There is no way the angle can be fixed; there is a little bar only about 5mm across the bend to make it really strong.

The whole pack of 12 is faulty, although some are worse than others.

Put a correct size washer or packer under the outside bit before screwing it down as that will flatten it more.

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

kopenhagen5 — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 06:11:36 GMT

If the looks don't matter then perhaps hang them the other way, the way they are pictured.

Then with a little weight on them they may come down a fraction.

But taz's suggestion is good.

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

twyngwyn — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 08:34:47 GMT

Maths is not their strong point....but should be 😞

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

*kazumi* — Tue, 01 Sep 2020 23:36:07 GMT

@kopenhagen5 wrote:
If the looks don't matter then perhaps hang them the other way, the way they are pictured.
Then with a little weight on them they may come down a fraction.

But taz's suggestion is good.

I deliberately did not mention here what I am doing, because the point was not that the brackets are mess, but that 3 of the "highly qualified&ready to help" Bunnings' staff do not know what right angle is. I was just thinking about the educational levels in other topic here.

What I am doing is trying to give extra support to vintage chairs; the look does sort of matter, but the brackets will be underneath in the back and I will paint them dark brown. But the legs definitely have to be at 90degrees to the frame.

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

springyzone — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 01:21:02 GMT

It doesn't matter really what you want them for, the fact is, if you buy something that is advertised as 90 degrees and that is critical to their use, then near enough is not good enough & you should have every right to money back.

You'd be surprised how many people are very hazy about angles. You'd think staff at Bunnings would have a clear view in their head what 45, 90, 180 all look like but you can't assume anything. You'll possibly get a better response just calling it a right angle and saying the brackets are warped and a bit crooked.

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

davidc4430 — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 03:28:03 GMT

in order to have things available at really cheap prices we have lost sight of quality

in the past ive been known to buy these same brackets and had to get a hammer to 'adjust' them

we should remember someone in a 3rd world country (usually china nowdays) is being paid 50 cents a day to make stuff so we can buy it cheap.

we once made these brackets here and i bet they were not sent out of the factory unless they were pretty much dead on 90 degrees

but when the cost reached a point where sales died the company shut up shop and fired the workers and set up business in china

like every other manufactorer in this country

we accept cheap shoddy items because 'they do the job' even if you have to bend em into shape

better than spending 10x the price right?

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

joz*garage — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 09:14:26 GMT

@domino-710 wrote:
Kaz - got a pic of the piece of furniture - it may help - there are some clever ones here.

Yep

To see the type of structure it is etc

If the legs were glued and screwed, and they're loose there's a better remedy

The use of shelving brackets is rather makeshift. although I have fixed things so it's only functional, these old chairs might be worth a proper fix

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

joz*garage — Wed, 02 Sep 2020 09:33:35 GMT

I picked up 6 dinning chairs, give'a'ways', because I thought the denim type removeable covers would suit the colour theme

All legs were loose, all it took was to tighten up all the bolts

But I didn't check them first, soo uncomfortable

Washed the covers and sold them off

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

*kazumi* — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 07:04:02 GMT

My chairs do not have bolts. 🙂 Wish they had ...They just have grooves and pieces of wood holding them together. I think I will put some screws through them too. People tell me I tend to overbuild....

This is one of the brackets that I took back; this one is even worse than the 1st one I looked at; to be fair couple were bit better.

Different ones from another company are perfect. 🙂

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

rogevibe — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 07:17:50 GMT

@davidc4430 wrote:
in order to have things available at really cheap prices we have lost sight of quality

in the past ive been known to buy these same brackets and had to get a hammer to 'adjust' them

we should remember someone in a 3rd world country (usually china nowdays) is being paid 50 cents a day to make stuff so we can buy it cheap.
we once made these brackets here and i bet they were not sent out of the factory unless they were pretty much dead on 90 degrees

but when the cost reached a point where sales died the company shut up shop and fired the workers and set up business in china
like every other manufactorer in this country
we accept cheap shoddy items because 'they do the job' even if you have to bend em into shape

better than spending 10x the price right?

Items are ordered to a specification - is the problem of the sweatshop to comply as contracted

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

rogevibe — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 07:19:37 GMT

@*kazumi* wrote:
My chairs do not have bolts. 🙂 Wish they had ...They just have grooves and pieces of wood holding them together. I think I will put some screws through them too. People tell me I tend to overbuild....

This is one of the brackets that I took back; this one is even worse than the 1st one I looked at; to be fair couple were bit better.

Different ones from another company are perfect. 🙂

-5% offset for outwards leaning wall... bargain

Re: Who thinks that shelf brackets should be 45 degrees?

go-tazz — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 07:37:09 GMT

@*kazumi* wrote:
My chairs do not have bolts. 🙂 Wish they had ...They just have grooves and pieces of wood holding them together. I think I will put some screws through them too. People tell me I tend to overbuild....

Make certain you pre dril with a slightly smaller hole as most wood furniture will split if they are just screwed into as the wood dries out.

This is one of the brackets that I took back this one is even worse than the 1st one I looked at; to be fair couple were bit better.

Different ones from another company are perfect.

They are unsuitable for strengthening as they can bend easily when weight is applied which could be why they are bent.

A similar one with a little angled bit joining the two pieces together is a better option.