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Make or buy storage?

wkearney99

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 10, 2012
Messages
323
Location
Bethesda, MD USA
I've got a new shop space and am wondering how to best outfit it for storage. I've been using wire shelving for ages. That along with various kinds of plastic storage containers has worked wonder to allow me to 'save' far too many things. My goal here is to avoid bringing anything back into the new shop until it's been gone through and pared down.

The downside to the wire shelving is it's open and dust collects. I plan on doing some work with wood (but will be using a dust extractor). The upside to them has been they're wheeled, and being able to store sheet goods behind them. As in, stash an 4x8' sheet of plywood behind it. The wire setups have been able to hold a lot of weight (Costco units, some probably had upwards of 800# worth of stuff on them).

I'd at least want to be able to hold the same sized tubs (max being 23.5" deep). With the wire shelves I could get three each on a shelf (monoflo flip-lid from Costco). The tubs waste a bit of space, due to their taper. But not as much as all the empty space in them from having too many things spread across too many tubs.

I'm leery of building something from scratch, as that just makes it one more project on my never-ending To-Do list. I'm willing to assemble.

I considered going with some of the shelving that slides along tracks (a la for medical office paperwork) but figured that would just become yet another cleaning hassle. Something wheeled with doors that close seems a better solution.

So I'm debating what to get moving forward. I'd prefer to avoid overspending but for the right product I'd be willing to shell out some coin.

Any suggestions on what to consider? Or, perhaps more importantly, what to avoid?
 
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BikerDad

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Apr 24, 2014
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975
Location
Utah
Since you're using tubs, the dust is essentially a non-issue other than appearance. If it bugs you that much, you could just have some covers made that go over the units and zip open/closed, or even use ties rather than zippers. Hell, if you want to you can even just skin the mobile units with plywood, putting doors on the front. That way your units are still mobile, they're still adjustable, it's an easy project, and everything can be tucked neatly away.
 
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wkearney99

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Joined
Oct 10, 2012
Messages
323
Location
Bethesda, MD USA
Well, I've been using the tubs but I'm not committed to continuing using them. They're convenient for a lot of things, but not all. Likewise the wire shelves aren't great for storing stuff like a chop saw. Having something with a solid shelf would be more convenient. As would having actual doors that close. Some sort of zippered covers would remind me too much of the danged winter storage contraptions my mother used to have up in our attic.
 

crewchief888

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Joined
Dec 3, 2009
Messages
13,751
Location
NW indiana
i have a few tools stored on wire shelves, a few pieces of scrap plywood make as easy "solid" shelf for things that like to fall through the cracks.



:beer:
 
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Nowater

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Joined
Nov 29, 2011
Messages
744
Location
Southwest Florida
Like fruit flies around ripe fruit, woodworking begets dust. Dust collectors help protect your lungs and help to containerize the dust, but there will always be some dust. Here are some ideas.

1. Use a leaf blower to blow out the dust on a windy day.
2. Do all sanding outside.
3. Use a shop-vac regularly.
4. Cover your wire shelves with thin plywood or Masonite. Put doors on the front for access.

By the way, if you are wanting to convert a 1 1/2 hp portable dust collector to work on several machines via 4" pvc piping, I have found the machine to be only marginally powered. You may try Lumberjocks: http://lumberjocks.com/forums Much like the garage journal, these people routinely discuss problems like dust collection.
 
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hickfied

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Joined
May 21, 2012
Messages
223
Location
W-NC
For things not used often, I use storage totes. I built shelving holding two tubs high per shelf, with a total of 6 tubs high.

Everything else is in upper kitchen style cabinets, or hanging on the wall.
 

Ray916MN

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Joined
Apr 15, 2012
Messages
1,066
Location
Orono, MN
For the most part I use pallet racking. Widely available used for cheap, super strong, flexible, easily reconfigurable, can buy wire deck for it or solid deck it inexpensively. I use plastic bins as well as boxes.
 
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