To anyone considering aluminum shelves, I highly recommend TrainShelf made by Dick Wacthman, who has had a booth in the Orange Hall at York for many years. I looked at both of the popular brands, and although TrainShelf is the more expensive option, I like the design better. What do you get for the additional money?
1: Putting sections together is very easy: all you need is 2 pieces of solid wire, which are used as pins. #12 wire is used for large shelves, and #14 is used for the small shelves. When installed, you don't see the wire, giving a very clean look at shelf joints.
2: Ease of handling: 4' sections are (IMO) easier to handle than 6' sections.
3: Safety: With TrainShelf, there is a small part of the shelf that extends out beyond the train, creating a buffer between the train and people passing by.
4: Strength. When installed correctly, these shelves are solid and will hold even the heaviest of Standard Gauge trains with ease.
5: Great service. On one of my orders, a few shelves were damaged in transit. I called Dick, told him what happened, and he had replacements on the way, no questions asked. That's tough to beat.
There was one part of my train room (along a beam) where I removed the Trainshelf brand and replaced it with 2 sections of the competing brand. I did this because in this case, it allowed more clearance between the beam and the ceiling, maximizing space for taller trains. Putting those 2 sections together was a lot more difficult than any of the sections of Trainshelf that I used. Either product will do the job, so it comes down to preference and budget. All I'm saying is based on my research and using both brands, I'm glad I went with Trainshelf.
John
