lumber rack help

[Jack Clay]

I am going to try to put a lumber rack up this week end. I am looking for advice on vertical or horizontal. I have an area about 8 feet tall by 12 feet long. Please let me know you ideas and show me your wood rack planes and or pictures. Thank you for your help.

[Rick Levine]

This is what I did for my lumber:



I have even more wood on it now and is really holding quite well. During construction I added 2x12's between the studs because I wasn't sure what type of rack I would buy/make but if you lag the brackets to the studs you should be ok. If you buy them just follow the insructions. This is where I bought my set:

http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/10929

[Troy Cleckler]

I also had something similar to Rick's but a little less fancy I made it by putting 2x4's on the vertical and I cut pieces of ply to attach on either side with a 1x4 in between for the shelves. I worked good for a while until I had accumulated so much that every time I looked for a paticular piece of lumber I had to unstack it and it got to be a mess. So I thought I'd try something different. Last weekend I made a rolling cart that held all my lumber and still has room for plenty more. Just a little heavy to move around but when I get it in the right place I don't have to move it. Anyway here are some pics, I've since taken down the one mounted on the wall and just have the roll around.



If you are interested in the roll around one I'll get the magazine and issue number for you, not sure which one it's in right off hand.

[Vic Damone]

I'm using the same heavy cantilevers as Rick Levine. I installed 4" X 6" studs for the increased load of a loft as well as the rack. Then used 3/8" X 5" lag screws and washers just above each 18" cantilever.

Just a week after the install we had a 5.6 quake which had no effect on the fully loaded rack. That's some beefy steal.

Vic

[Wayne Gauthier]

Here is what I did, 2 X 4's lag screwed to the studs, and 1/2" black iron pipe. Drilled hole to hold the pipe thru the 2 X 4's and into the studs.

[Eric Garner]

Here's one I put together that stores sheet goods and lumber. It has casters so that it can roll around the shop. I have the complete plans in sketchup. Let me know if you need them, and I'll email them to you.

Eric

[Dennis McFern]

Hi Jack,

here is a picture of mine. It is attached to the ceiling joists and secured to the cement floor. It features adjustable shelves and an area for storing sheet goods. Very pleased with it. Design came from a wood magazine article.

[Jack Clay]

Dennis,
I have the same plane and I am leaning towards that design. I am back and forth between using the 2x4’s and 2x6’s. I want to stand it up between the 6x6’s in my pole barn. If you did it over would you change anything?

[Dennis McFern]

Hi Jack,

If this was a free-standing structure, I would probably go with 2 X 6. But the fact that I built it against an existing wall, I figured it would be plenty strong. I have had this rack for 2 years now and it is loaded with lumber at this moment. I have not noticed any arching in the 2 X 4 and the shelves are still level.
I like the fact that each vertical piece of the structure is set every 2 feet. This gives me a quick 'estimate' of the length of the lumber pieces I have on the rack at a glance.

[Jack Clay]

Dennis thanks for the information. I am going to glue and shoot sheets of plywood to the back to help with movement. I see you went with 24 inch I was wondering if you went with the 24 inches or 16 on center. If there is no issue with the board support I like the idea about being able to get an idea about board length at a glance.

[Todd Crow]

Here is my lumber rack. It is freestanding, because I had to be able to move it when the military chose for me to move. I made it out of 2x4s, but would probably increase that to 2x6's on the uprights. I had to add a post at the outer corners to help support the weight, the shelves sagged. With 2x6 uprights I think it would have done better.

I currently must have over 500 bdft of Oak, and 200 bdft of poplar on it, and it is holding up well.

[Steve Kohn]

Dennis,
I have the same plane and I am leaning towards that design. I am back and forth between using the 2x4’s and 2x6’s. I want to stand it up between the 6x6’s in my pole barn. If you did it over would you change anything?

I also built this rack. My only issue is the length of the shelves. As shown on the plan they are too short. If I were to rebuild this I would add at least 6 inches to the length of each.

[Andrew Schlosser]

I have the complete plans in sketchup. Let me know if you need them, and I'll email them to you.

Eric

Why not just share the model in the 3D Warehouse? File -> Export -> 3D Warehouse, IIRC.

[Rick Moyer]

I built the same one Dennis did from the magazine plans. I really like the sheet goods area as you can access any sheet easily. The only downside I have is my ceiling is only 7 ft. and I can only get two or three reasonable shelves. I made mine 12 ft. long. Only wish I could have gone higher.
btw, you could park a truck on the shelving I think, It is very sturdy!

[Keith Beck]

Sorry to get off topic, but I'd like to get some info on your cyclone, Troy. I'm guessing that's a homemade creation? Did you use the Wood plans to build it.

Inquiring minds want to know...

Keith