Clever stock metal storage?

[st@rk]

I’m looking for inspiration on clever ways to store off cuts and sheet metal once it’s cut down to smaller sizes? What have you guys found works so you don’t end up throwing bits to the back of shelves and forgetting about them?

 

[LutzTD]

I’m looking for inspiration on clever ways to store off cuts and sheet metal once it’s cut down to smaller sizes? What have you guys found works do you don’t end up throwing bits to the back of shelves and forgetting about them?

looking forward to some ideas. I have been throwing my scraps in the area that will eventually be behind the racks I haven't built yet......

 

[strength_and_power]

I have my short pieces of steel on a shelf under one side of my welding table, ends facing me. I know the pieces are less than 48” ( depth of my table) and I can easily find the profile of tubing I’m looking for. It’s easy to let scrap pile up with stuff you won’t use. My current bandsaw won’t clamp onto anything under about 10 inches so if it’s shorter, I have gotten into the habit of throwing it away. Keeps things more organized for sure


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[Copymutt]

Nothing fancy. Just a solid wire milk crate on end. All 4’ or less slipped into the wire mesh. The crate is tall enough to support them on end.

 

[dkmc]

Sub'd to see what ideas come up. I've seen where guys put short bars in file cabinets, and even in Lista cabinets. I think for ease of selection, and quick scan of whats on hand, short stock should be on open shelves, or even a 'tower' where you can walk around all 4 sides, in search of what you need.

 

[Gummi Bear]

I cut down a 55 gallon drum, and bought a dolly for it.

Small drops I throw in a galvanized bucket for making gussets and brackets and such. You can see the handle of the bucket sticking up in the picture.





Having it on wheels allows me to move it out so I can rummage for what I want, and also to get it out of my way.

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[PhantomEB]

I have a milk crate next to the tool cart. If it can fit in the milk crate flat, then that’s where it goes. If not then it can lay flat in the tool cart. If not then it goes up on the steel rack.

One shelf on the tool cart is for sheet stock.

 

[lis2323]

Here’s some random photos of my steel storage...









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[MushCreek]

I have my short pieces of steel on a shelf under one side of my welding table, ends facing me. I know the pieces are less than 48” ( depth of my table) and I can easily find the profile of tubing I’m looking for. It’s easy to let scrap pile up with stuff you won’t use. My current bandsaw won’t clamp onto anything under about 10 inches so if it’s shorter, I have gotten into the habit of throwing it away. Keeps things more organized for sure


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There are tricks for holding short pieces in a bandsaw. I use step blocks that are used for milling machine set-up. Set a pair of blocks to the same size as the stock, and put them in the back of the jaws. I've also made parallels to use so I can clamp the stock very close to the blade. I've had less than an inch clamped that way. At the price of tool steel, 10" length would be a luxury.

My current set-up is some metal totes I found. They are about 18" long, the depth of my shelves. One is for round stock, one for solids, one for shapes like angle and channel. Anything over 18" is in a disorganized heap on the floor except for pieces that are tall enough to stand in the corner. It's a work-in-progress...

 

[PhantomEB]

At what length do I throw out the cut offs.....

 

[lis2323]

There are tricks for holding short pieces in a bandsaw. I use step blocks that are used for milling machine set-up. Set a pair of blocks to the same size as the stock, and put them in the back of the jaws. I've also made parallels to use so I can clamp the stock very close to the blade. I've had less than an inch clamped that way. At the price of tool steel, 10" length would be a luxury.

...

*****In addition to MushCreek’s trick here is what I currently do...*****










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Credit and thanks go to Garage Journal and Welding Web member (Bob) BD1 for this simple yet effective concept I copied.


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[MushCreek]

Nice!

 

[tarmy]

My drill press has all the shorts at the base...up to 4’is in a vertical divided cabinet on wheels I made...up to 10’ is on the storage rack.

 

[bigguns69]

Those half round pieces to hold short stock in Bandsaw are very ingenious and worth their weight in gold. Thanx for the info.

 

[Monza Harry]

Those half round pieces to hold short stock in Bandsaw are very ingenious and worth their weight in gold. Thanx for the info.

+1 for me also! I'll have to make up a set. Thanx BD1 & lis2323, I've used step blocks and other shorts of the same material(Mushcreek)!

 

[dkmc]

A couple weeks ago, I needed some small steel spacers to shim a flywheel key puller. Checked the scrap bin near the cold saw, found a couple 1" x 1/2" x 3/8" thick pieces. Worked perfect.

At what length do I throw out the cut offs.....

 

[astroracer]

This is one I built a few years ago. It is nice to be able to move when necessary.

I also have a steel cabinet and wall racks for the longer items.

 

[gnpenning]

No pictures, but I write on the visible end what the dimensions are. A quick look tells me if it's long enough or whichever measurements are critical for my needs.

I also do this with lumber. Really speeds things up for me.

 

[LutzTD]

*****In addition to MushCreek’s trick here is what I currently do...*****










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Credit and thanks go to Garage Journal and Welding Web member (Bob) BD1 for this simple yet effective concept I copied.


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that is fantastic!, I will keep my eye open for round tube drops next steel yard visit! thanx

 

[PhantomEB]

Flat stock, angle iron and square tube I cut up to around 12” or less, kept it as close to 12” and laid flat in a milk crate that I will put on a mobile base today.

Next step up was 18-30” of the same as well and ready rod etc got cut off at 30” then laid down in my tool cart.

Anything longer goes up in the racks. I think I will steal the Mark the seen end with the length in paint marker.

Today I am squaring up the sheet stock, some is to be put behind the compressor up front to clear out space around the trucks.

 

[BD1]

I use plastic Coke trays that I got from friends store. They work perfect and slides easily on shelf.
Thanks for acknowledging me but not necessary. We are here to help each other and contribute what we can.
As for cutting short materials, my half round is 6" schedule 160 pipe. This is what we use for pipe welding certification. It definitely won't bend.

 

[StRacerDuke]

I’m looking for inspiration on clever ways to store off cuts and sheet metal once it’s cut down to smaller sizes? What have you guys found works do you don’t end up throwing bits to the back of shelves and forgetting about them?

Here's what I did to my lower shelves to hold smaller items:

 

[Chateau Slate 66]

I stole this idea from a member here. Pretty simple and works great.

 

[st@rk]

*****In addition to MushCreek’s trick here is what I currently do...

Credit and thanks go to Garage Journal and Welding Web member (Bob) BD1 for this simple yet effective concept I copied.

That’s so simple yet so clever!

 

[st@rk]

I like that rack Chateau Slate 66!

 

[MP&C]

Most of my sheet metal, if not in full sheet, is cut to two foot widths to be able to stack in this stand, made from leftover pipe from the air line install. Pay no attention to the cable stretcher.

For cutoffs, I was using the space below the weld table to just lay the pieces on the floor. Down side to this is that it becomes hard to see what is at the bottom of the pile, and because you can't readily sweep up anymore, becomes a mess. So during our last spring cleaning, with the cutoffs out of the way, I couldn't bring myself to fill up this floor area again...

So we made use of wasted space by adding some square tubing underneath the welding table's top for support, and used our "radius brake" to make the bends in a piece of diamond plate to form the shelf.

Both have helped to keep things more organized in the shop, and now the floor stays cleaner under the welding table..

 

[quadrcr87]

MP&C that sheet metal rack is elegant. Good use of left over material!


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[lis2323]

Most of my sheet metal, if not in full sheet, is cut to two foot widths to be able to stack in this stand, made from leftover pipe from the air line install. Pay no attention to the cable stretcher.

For cutoffs, I was using the space below the weld table to just lay the pieces on the floor. Down side to this is that it becomes hard to see what is at the bottom of the pile, and because you can't readily sweep up anymore, becomes a mess. So during our last spring cleaning, with the cutoffs out of the way, I couldn't bring myself to fill up this floor area again...

So we made use of wasted space by adding some square tubing underneath the welding table's top for support, and used our "radius brake" to make the bends in a piece of diamond plate to form the shelf.

Both have helped to keep things more organized in the shop, and now the floor stays cleaner under the welding table..

Very nice! What diameter is the roller in your “radius brake”. 4”?5”?


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[slowtx275]

Just made a rolling rack out of scrap I had laying around. Built it small enough to roll under the workbench. Did expanded metal shelves and put it on casters so I can move it for cleaning, or pull it out from under the workbench when I need to dig for something. Will have to get an updated photo, but since these were taken, I ended up putting tubing length wise between the feet and put expanded metal in the bottom. So, now the very bottom is a 72" x 24" 3" deep "basket" for the pieces smaller than 12" or so and the sheet metal pieces that will fit.

 

[MP&C]

Very nice! What diameter is the roller in your “radius brake”. 4”?5”?


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IIRC it is 4" pipe with about 1/2" wall thickness. (see the cutoff under the weld table)

 

[racer-john]

How can one ignore the "cable clamp", it's in every photo of the sheet metal rack.
By the way MP&C, nice work on the storage problem.

 

[Jazz1]

At what length do I throw out the cut offs.....

I have a box of larger pieces of metal/cut offs under workbench. When it gets full I bring most of it to scrap yard. Have drawer with smaller pieces which I empty occasionally as well. Its really tough tossing any metal...Larger stuff stays indefinitely, as in 20' 3" angle iron I got free decades ago and have yet to use any

 

[dkmc]

I have a box of larger pieces of metal/cut offs under workbench. When it gets full I bring most of it to scrap yard. Have drawer with smaller pieces which I empty occasionally as well. Its really tough tossing any metal...Larger stuff stays indefinitely, as in 20' 3" angle iron I got free decades ago and have yet to use any

I saw a wooden box in an Amish workshop years ago. The label said "String too short to use".