Clip Shelving – Why Is It Different From Boltless Shelving Or Rivet Shelving?

“Usually any business that has a warehouse would be interested in clip shelving.  I sell a lot of these systems to parts companies that need to be able to hand pick parts quickly,” said Buy Metal Shelving Sales Specialist Cameron Canfield.  “Automotive companies, pharmaceutical companies or anybody that really needs quick and easy access to their items which are stored on metal shelves.”

Clip shelving is different than boltless shelving and here is why…

“Clip shelving is usually used to store high density, heavy items.  In an office it could be used in a supply room to store reams of paper or records, or in a janitorial closet to hold cleaning materials or really anything you need to store.”

Clip shelving is a bit different than boltless shelving (which can also be referred to as ‘rivet’ shelving) but it is very different.  To the layman’s eye, it may appear like any other normal piece of metal shelving, however there are some nuances which may be great selling features that will fit your needs.

“It differs from boltless and rivet shelving because it is entirely made of metal, even the shelves.  Usually depending upon the size, it will hold 500 pounds per shelf,” explains Canfield.  “The 40 inch ones will handle about 375 pounds in the lower duty style but clip shelving can carry all the way up to 1,250 pounds just depending on the style.  But usually people just choose this because it is a nice, high quality finish that you don’t have to worry about.  For example if they were storing cleaning products they don’t have to worry about these products spilling onto a plywood deck that may affect the wood.”

Basically the shelves attach using a small clip, and not the ‘rivets’ that are built into the pieces as one sees in the boltless shelving design.

That may not be an issue for most products stored, however if you are storing harsh and corrosive chemicals, clip shelving may be a better fit than the wood decking you normally find with boltless shelving.

“I had one in my garage where I spilled something on and all of a sudden my particle board fell apart, as the chemicals ate a hole in that wood,” recounts Canfield.  “So a clip shelving unit might be good for me in my garage as a matter of fact!”

“These two styles are really great shelving solutions and it depends on what you are using it for.  I usually see people choose clip shelving for the many options like when they need metal shelving for dividers to go in them to help break up the units in their shelving storage into whatever increments you want to have,” explains Canfield.  “Boltless or rivet shelving will not allow that feature because the bottom of the actual shelves have holes in them so you can line up the dividers in increments.  The clip shelving is also great because you can buy drawer kits if you decide you want three or four shelves and then a couple of drawers in the lower part, you can do that with a clip shelving system and not a boltless or rivet shelving system.”

As far as advantages over boltless or rivet shelving, people prefer clip shelving where they need to be able to access stored items easily.

“You can even get a type of clip shelving where it is actually called pass through shelving and it is designed so you can have access from all four sides without getting an ex-brace or anything in your way,” said Canfield.  “It’s pretty much fully adjustable so when you first  buy it and you want an open model, you can later just close it off and all you have to do is purchase the side panels,  so it is kind of a more adaptable type of metal shelving than boltless or rivet shelving.”

Like boltless shelving options, clip (or clipper shelving) is also easy to set up.

“There are usually posts that go into the corners and you can choose between a closed style that will enclose the unit with a sheet of metal, or you can get x-braces if it is an open metal shelf style.  The x-braces will hold the posts together and then the clips will actually clip into the posts, they are on inch and a half centers, they will fit into the posts itself and then the shelf will actually sit on those clips,” said Canfield.

One of the most distinct advantages about clip shelving is the fact it offers the end user entirely more options than boltless shelving.

“You can’t use these options/parts for boltless shelving simply because it is a different type of system.  They are not compatible.  The cut out in slip shelving is much different than the keyhole cut out in boltless or rivet shelving that is on the post,” warns Canfield.

For example, clip shelving has an array of dividers for paperwork and other features that other metal shelving options simply don’t allow.  Clip shelving can also have a HUGE variety of accessories that can greatly expand its use and functions.  Clip shelving can offer such cool features as locking doors, drawers, dividers and other things that, say, and automotive parts store may stock.

The Rousseau line clip shelving even took it a step further combining modular drawers with a clip shelving turning it into a system akin to an erector set with things that can be added onto. For more information on their line, CLICK HERE.

Now if you think this type of shelving will cost an outstanding sum, you may be in for a pleasant shock.

“Price is just a little bit more for clip or clipper shelving than boltless shelving.  But like I said it allows you to adapt a little easier to your needs, especially if they change, than other styles of metal shelving,” Canfield states.  “But it is not that much more than the boltless so don’t let that price throw you too much if you’re choosing between the two.”

So if you think clip shelving may have the solutions you need, call Cameron up and he’ll look over your needs and let you know more about clip shelving and how it can solve your storage issues.

“This is just a great product because you can adapt it 100 percent to your needs, you can also buy it in medium or heavy or extra heavy duty options which gives you the ability to customize what you want to fit onto your shelf if you are thinking of having long spans or very heavy material stored on the clip shelving option,” summarizes Canfield about why clip shelving is desirable.  “This is the perfect item for that, and you can also get H-posts that will give you even more weight storage capacity.  It allows you to fully, one hundred percent to customize everything you are looking to store.”