Not sure I’ve seen a good answer to this in my (somewhat limited) searching. I have about 4500 board feet of mixed species, various widths, lengths and thicknesses, sitting both in my basement (heated and conditioned space) and in a semi-trailer (basically enclosed but unconditioned storage). I need to put this all into a shed I have just built, and consolidate it as much as I can. The shed is unheated, pretty much unventilated, and has a concrete floor. I need to come up with some sort of very heavy-duty lumber storage system, freestanding if possible, that will handle a large and heavy quantity of wood. Vertical storage is not an option I’m considering. I have a freestanding wood rack in my basement that has about 1500 board feet on it, and it’s made from glued and bolted 2x dimension lumber, mostly 2×6 and 2×8, and that is twisted and warped from the sheer weight of the lumber.
I have looked into pallet racking (HD/Lowes type) but the diagonal braces or struts will interfere with end-loading the rack. Can anybody think of a better idea? I do have access to raw steel and a good welder, if building something heavy enough would work. I don’t really need adjustability either, but I don’t want to space shelves more than about 16″ apart because I have such a wide variety of lumber that I’d rather not have to unload a whole shelf just to get to one board. I can really only keep about 200 bf in my basement before it gets to taking up too much space.
Replies
However you stack it, mark the ends for length,width and species. Once you have all that wood stacked(its a bunch) You won't want to dig thru it all the time.
I had tons of walnut at one point in my journey and I just couldn't manage all of it. Had to sell some off and regroup. Looking back I'm still glad I did. Sometimes you can just have too much. (unlike clamps)
dan
danmart,
TOO much lumber......GASP....GASP(again)..!!!!!
IMPOSSIBLE..................UNHEARD OF>>>>>>>>>>>I can't even think.......
I think I need a cup a coffee. .
Bill D.
Billy
This is advice from a "partially-reformed" wood squirrel. I was in the USAF for 20 years and that kept the piles somewhat small. On the other hand... visiting remote places in large helicopters allowed me to collect some rare and interesting wood in some distant lands.
Some of the wood on the ground in Central America would make your eyeballs pop out of your head. The challenge was always getting it to a point where a C-130 friend could haul it back to the states for me. The rest you can imagine. Lots of wood left behind to friends and bargains along the way that many did not understand. Too much wood?
I define that as the point where you don't remember where you stored it.
Currently, I am trying to centralize the wood I have stored in 5 different places from Vermont to North Carolina. Its mind boggling. Since I left the AF in '94, I have ... accumulated some wood. I think I know where most of it is???
Photos: walnut and maple. I have piles of odd shaped and figured wood that can be a bear to transport and store. It makes all the difference when you are trying to make a piece a little more "fired up" when its finished. See the example of the 2 cabinets- one in rather plain wood and the other with a bit of flare. Some other shots of desk pieces from the pieces made in 09. Currently working another desk and longrifle.
Hope you get to see the photos before Monday. With the new forum, this entry might go up into the blue.
Too much wood? Ah, just ignore my ramblings and get some good stuff and store it carefully.
good luck
dan
I built a homemade rack that has bays that are 2' wide by 2' tall. Each bay can store about 500' fully loaded. The uprights are two 2x4's and the supports are 2x10's that are sandwiched and bolted between the 2x4 uprights. There are 2x4 spacers between the 2x10's that are on the same upright. The whole assembly is lag bolted to the top plate and the floor plate, so the wall studs do not carry any of the load. The design of the supports transfers the weight to the uprights and to the floor.
I keep it about 3/4's loaded, and it works fine. The front is open for easy access. I have been using it about 6 years, and it is just as good as the day I made it. Here is a pic that I have posted here before.
Edited 11/24/2009 5:41 pm ET by DHAM
If you can get your hands on enough pallet racking, that would be the way to go. I bought some used 4' x 8' sections, cut some, and welded together to make a 4' deep x 12' wide x 8' high rack with four shelves. Didn't use cross braces on the sides - just on the back, and it's as sturdy as can be. Pieces were made of 2" x 4" "I" shaped steel. Needed three strong helpers and several adult beverages afterward to stand it upright.
Check with places which are closing....recently a Home Despot near me closed, and sold their racking dirt cheap, although I had already built my rack and didnt need any.
kreuzie
An alternative design for a horizontal rack, I pulled from some magazine years ago, uses short lengths of pipe and 2x4's. Can be made adjustable by boring extra holes, but not necessary. Mine's full to the brim now, but I don't have a picture of it when stuffed. Since you have a new wall, you have more fastening options than I did.
Pipes angle upward about 5 degrees. Holes are 7/8" diameter and 2-5/8" deep. If I had it to do over again, I'd put less distance between the uprights, adding another row.
Early picture with just a few sticks tossed on, and those two big slabs of air-dried walnut that Sarge lusts after:
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Top brace to prevent tipping out (since there's only one row of bolts in the wooden upper wall.
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Bottom was strapped into the concrete block wall. Last picture is of the rack with some lumber and some junk on it. It now has predominantly lumber, including the walnut slabs and some teak. It's been standing solid since about 2003:
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Jon
See this thread, 45374.11 , lots of discussion about this topic.
Rich
The Professional Termite
Jon,
Concrete floor, no ventilation, unconditioned space.
I would address some ventilation before storing lumber in this space. The moisture that is contained within a concrete floor is very high and constant. I would be concerened about the condensation. Just a suggestion
Taigert
I would start by drylocking all the concrete surfaces.
RichThe Professional Termite
Similar idea to what Forestgirl showed , except you can use timber . Very quick and easy if you have a hollow square chisel morticer. But the uprights require a wall to be attached to especially at the top....Philip Marcou
Edited 11/28/2009 3:48 am by philip
Heavy Duty Lumber Storage
:)
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