Stacking Lumber in Lumber Racks

[Bruce Page]

Hello all,

I’m finally doing some long overdue rearranging in my garage shop that will allow me to get my lumber off the floor and onto a wall mounted rack. While researching different rack options, I noticed that most people stack their wood on the rack without any stickering. Naturally, not stickering would allow almost twice as much wood to be stacked – a big plus in a small shop, but do you see any problems with the wood warping or cupping?

Thanks for any insight

She got her looks from her father. He’s a plastic surgeon. — Groucho Marx

[Bart Leetch]

Hello Bruce

The White Oak I have on my wood rack is stickered with 1/4" stickers.

[David Rose]

Bruce, I always sticker if the wood is at all flat. Many say it is a waste of time and effort, but so far my wood comes off the rack a little flatter than it starts.

I do need to cut all my stickers to a consistent thickness. I think I will follow Bart's lead and cut them thinner too.

David

[Todd Burch]

Bruce, I dead stack dry lumber (<= EMC*) and sticker stack "wet" lumber (> EMC).

I have two indoor methods to store lumber. In the shop, I have a simple wall-mount method using 2X6's essentially nailed to my exposed 2X4 wall studs, sticking out and up at 5°. Between these 2X6s, I have 2X4 vertical blocking also cut on the ends @ 5° and nailed to the wall studs.
All wood on this rack is dead stacked.

At my wood storage unit, I purchased the same vertical pallet racking that home depot uses (Three 12' sections, ~$250 each section). This allows me to dig through the lumber, card-file fashion, without unloading the whole section. This is dead stacked too, just as it is at Home Depot. Lowes stores their wood also dead stacked, but it is horizontal, and a bear to go through to get a lower board.

Every lumber yard around here dead stacks their dry lumber.

The only time I'll sticker stack lumber in the shop is when I first cut it from a log, or after I have brought it indoors and it has been re-wet from rain (again, > EMC).

I prefer to store lumber vertically. It takes up significantly less floor space and is gone through more readily. However, with limited ceiling height, you do what you gotta do!

Todd.

(* = Equilibrium Moisture Content)

[Jim Becker]

The White Oak I have on my wood rack is stickered with 1/4" stickers.

I tend to do this also, at least when I first bring the lumber into the shop. Thin stickers (made from scrap cuttoffs) let a little airflow through the pile and I'm more comfortable that way. I lose a little capacity, but that hasn't been a problem to-date.

[Bruce Page]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

One advantage to being a woodworker in New Mexico, (about the only one) is the relatively low humidity. I have gotten away with some joinery that would likely fail if moved to a more humid location.:rolleyes:
I have never had a problem with wood cupping if stickered, but I’m going to “dead stack” the new rack and keep an eye on it. If it looks like there might be a problem, I’ll try the ¼” stickers as Bart suggested.

A gentleman is a man who can play the accordion but doesn’t. — Unattributed

[Paul D. May]

Hello all,

I’m finally doing some long overdue rearranging in my garage shop that will allow me to get my lumber off the floor and onto a wall mounted rack. While researching different rack options, I noticed that most people stack their wood on the rack without any stickering. Naturally, not stickering would allow almost twice as much wood to be stacked – a big plus in a small shop, but do you see any problems with the wood warping or cupping?

Thanks for any insight

She got her looks from her father. He’s a plastic surgeon. — Groucho Marx

Bruce...

I dead stack my lumber and haven't had a problem yet...the rack is much fuller now than when this shot was taken...

Stickering it would just get in my way...

<center><IMG SRC="http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid63/p8d41444579fb3c349ea12b5562d25e23/fc04bb60.jpg"></center>

Paul

[Dick Parr]

I also dead stack mine. I just have to keep those little pieces out from under the big ones or they cause a bow after awhile. Just keep them flat.

I dead stacked in both wood racks I have had.

[Steve Clardy]

I used to sticker most all my lumber, but I was the one that milled it green. Now, for several years now, due to the fact I got too busy to process my own lumber and the sale of my woodmizer mill, I purchase all of my stock dried, ready to use. I flat stack all of it.
Steve

[Mike Laing]

Todd,

I find your post on vertical stacking very interesting but unfortunately I can't really visualize what you are saying from your description. Would you happen to have a picture of your vertical stacking method?

Thanks
Mike

[David Rose]

Mike, I'm not Todd but forgive the intrusion. The way Home Depot does their main woods (besides construction lumber and sheet goods) is thus. There is a shelf just above the floor. One end of each board rests on the shelf. They use dividers to separate the sizes about midway on the boards. The boards thus run from the shelf to the height they are long. With one board resting on top of another, the wood takes up little more space that the wood itself. Only the bit of lean is more than the wood thickness.

It is definitely easier to sort through than my horizontal setup. And stickers do slow things a little, but I have front access instead of just end. That helps a little with stickers. I have only stored spf this way and it usually warped a little on me after a bit. Obviously, hardwoods must do better.

David


Todd,

I find your post on vertical stacking very interesting but unfortunately I can't really visualize what you are saying from your description. Would you happen to have a picture of your vertical stacking method?

Thanks
Mike

[Todd Burch]

Hi David - no problem - you described them very accurately. But, you have to understand - this is an opportunity for me to use Sketchup again, so here goes!

These are two views of a "concept" vertical rack. (No guarantees for structural stability - it's just a quick drawing). This rack does not show the dividers used between the different sections of boards. My racks have the dividers, and are metal - exactly like the actual home depot racks.

Todd.

[Jim Becker]

Sketchup again, so here goes!

Excellent illustration, Todd. What's really important for folks considering this method of storage to note is that the design of the rack provides support for the board at several places in the middle...that insures the material stays flat. Leaning boards up against the wall doesn't do that!!! :p

[Mike Laing]

Hello Todd and All,
Thanks very much for your excellent 3D picture of a vertical stacking rack. I am in the process of buying some storage sheds from HD that have 7' ceilings and I think I could store 6' material this way. I buy alot of constrution lumber cut out the bad parts and dry it out to make painted furniture for my 6 children. I have learned from past experience "spruce" is alot cheaper to work with than say ash or maple when making things in multiples of 6.

Thanks again
Mike

[David Rose]

Jim & Todd, that's a good point about the middle support. Good idea. If I ever redo my rack, I'll certainly give the idea consideration.

David