Lumber storage for a garage shop

I’d just put it all on the table saw under the peacock.

-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com

I don’t know about the peacock, he said something about moving to Idaho in the near future.

: ^ )

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I guess a lot would depend on how much wood you have on hand. If it weighed more than say 500 lbs, you would have a tough time building a cart for it, not to mention moving it when you needed too.

The carts I have seen so far were mainly designed for sheet goods. It would not be difficult to adapt them to hold lumber as well. The lumber would probably have to be stacked in the middle, to avoid overweighting the cart to one side.

I would try to find an area I could build a lumber rack in. Maybe you could move the tools and such around to allow this to happen. Just a thought.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

The rolling cart is a good idea.

I would also suggest positioning all of your wall cabinets so the tops are at the same position. Then, you can lay boards on top of the cabinets. This could potentially give you at least 12” of space all the way around your shop.

If you have a storage shed, you could obviously put wood in there. However, if there’s not enough room, you could build an “addition” onto your shed that is enclosable. Something where you can lay boards flat and slide them in and out from an access door. This could also be built on the side of your house. Put a small inclined roof on it so water is shed away.

-- There are three types of people in the world, those who can count and those who can't!

I would hope I could keep it under 500 lbs. I have to share the garage space with my wife and kids. This means I might get one and a half walls. Good idea relative to using the space on top of cabinets. Been storing some small items there, but they could be moved.

I’m thinking of a cart that has perhaps 3 sections. Center is for full sheets, one side is for partial sheets and the other side has shelfs. I was thinking of using a commercial rack such as those you would find at woodcraft to hold the lumber.

Overall demensions are perhaps 8’ long 30” wide and 60” tall. This would allow me to use the 55” shelf brackets.

There was an interesting sheet good roller in Woodsmith #167 (pg. 5) that could be placed in the end areas where sheets roll in and out. It is basically a 1” PVC pipe with a 1/2” black pipe in the center. Looks cheap, easy, and useful.

What do you all think?

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

did you see the WoodWhisperer’s shop? He has something like a room divider set up that holds his plywoods etc. Not sure what your shop space is like or if this works but you might be able to play with the idea to get a double-service out of it.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Some shops say to stand the plywood up on end to store. Other people say build a cart and store it on its side. Both claim it prevents warping, but storing it flat is the only way I know to do that.

I guess a lot depends on your space. If you could store your sheets upright in a corner, then your cart could be used for storing your lumber only. Might be a help.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

The WoodWhisperer clamps his upright sheets.
(I hope I got that right, Mark).

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Maybe he will weigh in with some comments, or maybe even a podcast on the subject.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

what about a ceiling mounted rack?

-- ...straight lines or tight lines, either will make me happy! Muddler

That would work if you do not have too much wood to put up. You would not want to weight it so heavily that it breaks the joists.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

Or comes tumbling down on those items below.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Overhead would be good if you’re not dealing with full sheets of 3/4 ply or MDF, otherwise you’d probably be crushed trying to get them down. I currently have mine stored on the side. It works well as long as the ply can be stacked tightly. If it is allowed to lean it will bend.

-- Jesus is Lord!

I’ve ruled out overhead in my case. We are already storing some other stuff there and I am worried about the weight. I think I will build a rolling cart and perhaps use some shelves high on a couple of walls and perhaps the tops of the cabinets.

I’m trying to keep the amount of lumber on hand to a reasonable amout. Hopefully, I can be successful.

I’ve been going through all of my old magazines looking for plans. Hopefully I will get started soon.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Not sure if you can open this (and I know that you don’t want wall storage) but for anyone doing research, this might be of interest). I hope it opens for you.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Thanks. It opened for me.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I went to my local big box lumber store,lets just say it has a” Ho”at the beginning a “de” in the middle and an “ot” at the end and asked if by chance would they happen to have any shelving units that had accidently been run into by a way ward fork lift driver,wouldn’t you know they did have some of their heavy duty adjustable shelves out back that had been bent up do to an employee with lead in his/her foot. I picked them up for the price of scrap,took them home,straightened out the bent legs and put some locking casters on the legs and I now have a heavy duty roll around lumber storage units with adjustable shelves. The best part is as long as there’s no shortage of forklift drivers with heavy feet and low common sence there will always be a supply of shelving units thats needing repair. Sincerely,
Jim at
Clark Customs

-- James Clark

that’s a super tip!!!!

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Cool. You will have to post some photos it you have time. Hopefully, it will not start a run on them.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I have been thinking about storage in the garage quite a bit lately… one thing I looked at a lot was a lift. Someday I suspect Ill get one (they are expensive but relative to the cost of the structure itself a $2700 lift could be worth it. Park project car on top of it and the 4 wheelers underneath. That being said I have been thinking about taking and making a set of storage shelves underneath the area we park on. Make it so the car comes in the garage and drives up a 2 foot ramp that sits on top of storage. This may take some welding but it could be done. I have been thinking about it for a month.

Drew

-- Drew, Pleasant Grove, Utah

I think Drew likes playing with big toys!!
Sounds like great ideas you have.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

ShopNotes #55 has a great design and plan as well as a cutting diagram for a rolling storage rack. Unfortunately it can’t be downloaded . August Publishing will fax it (not recommended) or snail mail it. It has room for sheets, shorts and longs as well as a provision for a panel cutter.

-- DaBull

Just as a PS to the above: You can see a picture of the rack as well as just the cutting diagram at www.shopnotes.com/issues/055/extras/roll-around-store-all/

-- DaBull

Thanks DaBull. This really fits the bill.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

I have a .pdf file of issue 55 if anyone wants it. Just let me know.

Gosh Wayne, it’s hard to find a space to comment. Take a look at my shop photos. I have a stationary rack like you describe. It has space for sheet goods with racks for lumber on the side and on top. You might not be able to see the rack. It’s always pretty full.

-- Thos. Angle

I just looked a the pic and yuou can’t see the rack.

-- Thos. Angle

With space being such a limited commodity for me I have learned to plan carefully. I do not store any sheet goods other than decent sized drops frpm completed jobs. When I am ready for sheet goods, I go get them. Solid stock is another matter. I buy my Oak in 600 bdft lots because that is what my F150 will carry comfortably, and I can get that amount planed to thickness over a weekend. This I stack outside under a black tarp, elevated about 14” off the ground. Been doing it like this for years with no problem. My shop space I reserve for tools and assembly.

Ed

-- Come on in, the beer is cold and the wood is dry. www.crookedlittletree.com

Wayne, I just thought of something else we do. We stack sheet goods on two sawhorses in the saddle shop next to my layout table. we now have a finishing bench that is 8 foot square. we just throw a tarp over the sheet goods. It becomes a real solid bench.

-- Thos. Angle

Thanks. Great ideas. I think I am going to have to completely redesign my shop. The stuff in it is out of control. I’m hoping to get some time to work on it when I take vacation in a couple of weeks.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov

Hi Wayne;
—-why not own a piece of NH real estate….

I was talking to a friend on Saturday and he was mentioning a barn and carriage house, in very good condition that he is wanting me to take down and I can have for free….or any can have for free. So all you need to do is tear it down and number the beams and wood….ship to Sacramento, CA and you’ve got a ‘big wood closet’ for all your wood storage, plus you now have bragging rights to owning a piece of NH real estate….LOL

I know we laugh at this, but the barn and carriage house are both in very good condition. I would be thinking about taking this one down and still am considering, however I also have a major cabin renovation going on at this moment also….oh well.

Take care and enjoy your week in the redwoods….
Thank you.
GODSPEED,
Frank

-- --frank, NH, http://frank.wordpress.com/

I would love to own a piece of NH real estate. Unfortunately, I have a small lot in the suburbs that has no room for additional buildings. I’m hoping to move back to the country one of these days. Thanks. Redwoods are still two working weeks away.

-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov