Manga Rack Bracket

I got tired of buying cheap bookcases for my manga that took up too much floor space and decided to make a multi-function, wall-mounted solution that was simple, cost-effective, and durable. Each shelf holds about 20 volumes and costs about $3.50 in materials (varies depending on filament cost, etc). This makes it a cheaper solution than anything but the most flimsy, cheap, and bulky bookcases on the market.

This shelving is specifically designed for manga but can be adapted to other sized books. They've been sized for 190mm x 128mm Shonen Jump volumes, like those shown in the picture, but if spaced out more they could accommodate larger manga or books. Each bracket is stamped with the Japanese character for "manga" (漫画) (but a clean version is included).

There are a few different ways to use these. I've stacked them vertically but they could be placed horizontally by placing two dowel rods half-way through a single bracket, with two brackets on either side of it. They will also work with 3.5" wooden planks inserted in them (although you will need to add some additional height between brackets for this to work). I've opted for wooden dowels because they are super cheap.

I recommend printing with the outer/inner edge of the bracket on the plate to ensure maximum durability. I've added in some caps that fit snugly in the holes to conceal the wooden rods and prevent them from falling out.

To achieve the effect shown in the picture, I followed these steps:

1. Used heavy-duty mounting tape for the bottom half of one bracket, leveled it appropriately, then placed it on the wall.
2. Drilled into the wall in the screw slot with a basic 3-inch wood screw (the hole accommodates a screw head of 8mm).
3. Got out my laser level and made a mark to ensure brackets were vertically leveled
4. Measured out 18 inches horizontally from the outer edge of the first bracket and made another mark
5. Placed a second bracket at the height of the mark from step 3 and its outer edge along the 18-inch line mark
6. Bought 1/2-inch thick, 18-inch long wooden dowel rods at https://woodpeckerscrafts.com/1-2-x-18-wood-dowel/ at $0.41 a piece
7. Slid the dowel through the holes
8. Placed another set of brackets immediately above/below the first set using a level (note that this limits the height of the manga you can place on the shelf; add more height between brackets if needed)
9. Repeat for each set of brackets required

This design uses the angle and depth of the bracket to allow the manga to gently lean against the wall. This is beneficial because the manga tend to "drag" against the wall, preventing them from falling over like they would in a traditional bookcase unless using a bookend or filling an entire shelf.