Lumber storage

[bacpacker]

I'm wanting to build a storage rack to organize my lumber and to store it all in one location. This will be for lumber only, no sheet goods. I want to be able to store up to 12' lengths and would like to have it supported every 2' so I can sticker green lumber for drying if needed.
Does anyone have some ideas or designs you use? Photos of your storage racks? Any help would be very helpful, even if just to get some ideas to start on.

 

[sarge97]

Honestly, I'm a wood worker and have made several different variations of lumber holders and they all never seem to do the job. Everything always seems to be on top or just in the way of the piece I need. I went back to "Ol Faithful", my rafters. I just nailed a couple pieces of wood across the rafters and sorted them the best I can. This works well if your space is limited. Still open to ideas myself though.

 

[eldirector]

I put a "double" loft in my shed for wood storage. 2x4's nailed across the width of the shed every 24". 8' wide by 8' deep. The "top" loft has a plywood floor, and my boards (2x4s, 1-bys, ets...) are stacked to one side (assorted other items on the other side). The "bottom" loft is a foot below the top one, and the same dimensions. I slide sheet goods (plywood, chip board, pressboard, etc...) in that space. It will hold two 4x8 sheets side by side.

Getting the bottom sheet of plywood out is is chore, but I don't need it THAT often. I'm usually pulling out the smaller cut-offs I keep around.

 

[westray]

I have the same problem and would like ideas of what i can do. Im tired of having to get on a ladder to get a piece down.

Lets see some ideas of wood storage racks

 

[bacpacker]

http://www.free-plans.com/workshop-lumber-storage-racks/lumber-storage-rack-plan/788/

Here is one I found, I'm considering. I've just never saw anything like it. I have about 300BF of oak left over from a project I just completed, plus a bunch of 2x's and other assorted stuff. I think this design would work for the quantity I have and would be able to be taken down and reinstalled. I don't have my concrete poured and don't want a permanent fixture just yet.

The site appears to have a boat load of other plans for various stuff. Hopefully someone will find something useful on it.

Eldirector, I like the double loft idea. I may have to borrow that at some point. I have a 24x40 pole barn that is enclosed, but no floor, electric, and is not sealed up yet. So I have a ways to go. Hope to turn about 16x24 into a wood shop some day. Right now it's just storage for tractors, lawn mowers, tillers, and many other items. I'm trying to get it organized where I can use the space better and still get to what I need.

 

[GarageEnvy]

I'm too lazy to head to my shed for a photo but I just put shelf brackets on every other stud. I actually plan on putting a shelf on it. A lot of what I store is short remnants of hardwoods and exotics.

 

[ddawg16]

I used a bunch of L hooks.....they are rubber coated...work fine....

This is not the best picture but you can see the stack of wood on the far wall.

What you can't see in this pic is the back side of the large PSL beam going across my garage. I also have hooks on it...lets me put really long stuff up there....like 16'.

 

[shopnut]

I know this isn't exactly what the OP is looking for, but I will post it anyway for those readers getting drawn into the thread by the "Lumber storage" generic name. Maybe it will benefit someone.

I enclosed one of my roof overhangs to be a dedicated lumber storage area (among other things). Because of the roof slope, 12' items can only fit on the bottom.



For sheet goods, I built an integrated "plywood pocket" (as I call it) over by my stairway. Plywood and paneling store in a 5" wide recess between walls behind the white board. Arrow points to the opening and shows the way sheets are inserted. Some in-process shots are included to explain things better. A sheet of drywall is shown in one of them.

 

[agsanders]

Fine woodworking had a recent article that contained a decent idea for a lumber rack. 4x4's were attached to the wall. A horizontal dado was cut that would accept a piece of angle iron. One leg of the angle iron slid into the dado and the other leg rested flush on the outside of the 4x. One lag screw was inserted through the angle iron into the 4x. It looked to be pretty strong without the need for additional bracing. It's featured in the winter 2011 tools and shops issue on page 30. It's titled "ultimate one man shop."

 

[theoldwizard1]

I'm too lazy to head to my shed for a photo but I just put shelf brackets on every other stud.

Yep. I bought the biggest shelf brackets I could find at HD. They came with a 45 degree diagonal brace so the can hold a fair amount. Mostly 2 by but a bunch of #1 pine 1 by also.

 

[5lima30]

I have 14' racks that I built out of 2x4 w/ plywood gussets fastened to the wall in my lean-to for my rough sawn lumber (mostly 1x12) and 2x? materials. I keep my interior trim, mouldings, etc. on simple "L" brackets that are used for ladders on the wall inside my garage. I lean sheet goods up against the wall behind the man door. Nothing fancy but works for me.