How Do You Store Shop Manuals?

[tez929rr]

I have, as probably most of you all do, several shop manuals for vehicles as well as other equipment. As they have accumulated it's become harder and harder to put them someplace at the workbench where they are readily accessible as well as protected.

Ideas welcome.

 

[battmain]

Saran wrap on the shelf. Wrap is removed when I expect to use them and then replaced new. It keeps the dust off them. I usually place them flat, label out since if I stand them up, they tend to get curled and fall over. Easier to read too when flat.

For other equipment where there isn't a good label, they are all placed in a large box. I go fishing through there when I need something.

 

[Ironcrow]

Remember when NAPA had those 4 foot long book holders on the counter for the man to look up your parts? Before computers? I want one of those.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Remember when NAPA had those 4 foot long book holders on the counter for the man to look up your parts? Before computers? I want one of those.

I had been looking for one of those for years, and finally bought one at a swap meet this summer.

 

[porphyre]

+1 on storing flat. Store them in a cabinet with a door, if possible.

I'm lucky in that I've got some old kitchen cabinets in my garage. I store my manuals behind a closed door in one of those half-height upper cabinets. I'm actually kicking around the idea of cutting out the center of the door and putting glass in.... I think it'd look cool.

 

[jmh21586]

A lot of my smaller manuals like the one for my lawnmower, garage door openers, weed whips ,etc, I took and pulled out the staples holding them together, then cut them into single sheets. Then took the sheets and put them into clear plastic sheet protectors and then put them into a 3 ring binder.

 

[Falcon67]

I have shelves over the bench. Those are full, so anything else just lays around where ever. I have a ton of stuff in a small filing cabinet. And I have a small one of those parts store book racks from the old days.

 

[Sammy7]

Can someone post a picture of the parts store book rack? I guess I'm too young to remember seeing them or so old that I've forgotten them.

 

[Auzivision]

I keep mine on a shelf above my workbench… some are in 3 ring binders and some are in magazine storage boxes for Staples.

 

[BWS]

Mine are on magazine quality cstm bookcases......painted "turn of the century" machine colour, gray/green/blue-ish with all exposed edges cvrd with figured hdwds.......usually Cherry but theres a few with Walnut,topped with 5" crown.Somewhat pisses wifey off but then,SHE can piss off and get out of my shop.Pics?Hell I'm doin good just to be posting....still don't own a cell phone.BW

 

[nonhog]

Just put some of mine in a clear plastic tote. Can see in w/o having to open tote. Works for now not sure if its my long term plan?

 

[Cobra4B]

I have the GM factory manuals (3 book set) for my Corvette stacked horizontally on my workbench. I compiled lots of info on the Panoz race car and created my own manual and maintenance log in a large 3-ring binder. For my power requipment and interior appliances I have all the stuff for those inside in my office in my filing cabinet. Files are Home & Appliances 1 and Home & Appliances 2.

 

[tez929rr]

I have the GM factory manuals (3 book set) for my Corvette stacked horizontally on my workbench. I compiled lots of info on the Panoz race car and created my own manual and maintenance log in a large 3-ring binder. For my power requipment and interior appliances I have all the stuff for those inside in my office in my filing cabinet. Files are Home & Appliances 1 and Home & Appliances 2.

Yes, the C6 manuals are huge. We have a 99 Miata and the factory service manual is basically an oversize paperback. My motorcycle manuals are bigger. I have a CD for my Aprilia manual but it gets old running to the house to print pages when I am missing one.

 

[79BlackPearl]

Remember when NAPA had those 4 foot long book holders on the counter for the man to look up your parts? Before computers? I want one of those.

They are called Master Catalog Racks....a little bit pricey, and buy one if you can online, ebay or CL.....however if you can't wait....

http://www.mypencil.com/mall/page155catalogracks.asp

 

[66HertzClone]

Remember when NAPA had those 4 foot long book holders on the counter for the man to look up your parts? Before computers? I want one of those.

Looks like a great idea until you have to use one. Better off getting 3 ring binders and a tool to punch holes in the manuals. You can then take them with you as needed, they will open and stay open to the page you want. I bought a three foot long book rack at a garage sale, one row the base is tilted so the titles are easy to read, works great for storing my collection.

I spent almost 13 years in the parts business, left just on the edge of the computerized catalog age. We were testing a computer system to look up parts, the programmer was writing code in the store. It was great when someone came in looking for something and I could move thru the books and pile the parts on the counter before he was done looking up what was needed.

 

[Sammy7]

Now I see... Looks nice, but it looks like the manuals would barely open enough to read.

 

[Ironcrow]

Might work for me. I rarely read a shop manual that closely. Usually I just want to look up a trouble code or bolt torque. A quick glance at the right page and I'm done.

Too pricey though. I should make one out of plywood to see it I like it. And if I do, weld up a permanent one...

 

[Gary S]

I have a metal file cabinet in my garage. I just stack them horizontally in one of the drawers.

 

[tcianci]

I have dozens of them in copy paper boxes, the oldest, coolest looking ones I keep on a shelf above my bead blas cabinet.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I keep them in one of the cabinets over the workbench.


I have also put instruction sheets, whether they came with stuff I bought or stuff I printed offline in a three ring binder. Actually thy're in document protectors in the binders. It makes it easy to wipe greasy finger prints off and they don't tear at the holes either.

 

[Joe69]

My Napa store still uses the master catalog racks.

Joe

 

[justinmc]

Most "real" parts stores still have catalog racks with paper catalogs to supplement their computer database. I currently spend my entire day using EPC (electronic parts catalogs) to look up parts for late model vehicles. In the event we get something too old we still have microfiche.

Either way.. if you can score a catalog rack such as those used in parts stores they are nice.. but alot of service/repair manuals are not punched/drilled for a catalog rack. However with a drill bit and some work you can make them fit. I prefer being able to lay a service manual "flat" on a table in case I need to look at a wiring schematic or I need to take it somewhere and make a copy of something for whatever reason. So for that reason mine are on shelves. I've seen guys keep them the "big" bottom drawers of their boxes as well.

 

[sberry]

I have a shelf for the big books and a file cab for every little thing with alphabetical file. I have hundreds of pieces of equipment and it can be/was a real problem. I also toss a lot of obsolete stuff, avoids a lot of confusion.

 

[ruby76]

I have a big rubbermaid tub - that I keep in the basement with all the owners manuals to my equipment and appliances - for shop manuals, they are currently without a home - as I have not fully moved in to our new house's garage - but they'll just be put on a shelf on my workbench/cabinet.

 

[fordcragar]

I just picked up some catalog racks off of Craigslist and have been slowly converting my books to them. I ended up with about 12 feet of racks and all of the hardware for $30.

 

[jmh21586]

you guys got any pics of thoses catalog racks you speak of ?

 

[neverenoughtools]

I have a shelf above my workbench which holds all my manuals and other loose leaf sheets which are in a 3 ringed binder. I use a pair of heavy bookends , simple to move out as my collection expands. This has served me fine for about 25 years so far.

 

[D.J.]

[/IMG]
________
Ketamine rehab forums

 

[fordcragar]

Here are some, I did a Google search on "master catalog rack".

http://www.thefind.com/office/browse-master-products-catalog-rack

If you buy them new, they can be expensive. I got about 12 feet of racks and all of the snap-in clips (where you put all of your pages) for $30 on Craigslist. These are the same catalog racks they use in auto parts store (or used to) and many other places where they sell and use catalogs.

I didn't look very long when I found mine, just a couple of days. The guy that I bought them from had been listing them on Craigslist off and on for 5 months.

I just did a multiple city search on Craigslist and here are the results:

http://craigslist-search.blogspot.c...arts%22&sa=Search+entire+craigslist#1584#1575

 

[nonhog]

Heres a pic of one of my totes, you can see through a little better than the picture shows.