Material storage solutions for fabrication/machining

[fnieto]

I started off by modifying the horizontal steel rack to accommodate flat sheets of plate overhead . This rack has six HD swivel casters allowing the rack to be pulled away from the wall for periodic cleaning.

After re stocking, I realized I had way more shorter pieces of remnants that would clutter the rack making it counter productive for efficiency.
I designed a vertical remnant "rib cage" rack. The spine is 2" x 4" x 14 gauge with five 1-1/8"holes, the ribs are 1"x 12 gauge round tubing and the base is 2" x 2" x 1/4" angle with a piece of 14 gauge diamond plate. The rib cage also sits on four HD swivel casters. I will be able to quickly pull shorter pieces from this rack when needed.

I hope someone can use the idea to improve material storage.

 

[fnieto]

The rib cage ready for paint.

 

[zkling]

Great idea and execution.

 

[longlivepunk]

Awesome storage, and nice job on building it! Looks like quite the shop and machinery too, what kind of work does your shop get? I'm guessing probably custom/jobber general metal-fab?

 

[fnieto]

Thanks guys. I'm still putting the finishing touches on the shop. I had to take a break from working on the shop to work in the shop. I take on custom meatal fabrication/ machining. I recently posted last months build of a 14K dump trailer build.

 

[tarbellb]

Very cool. I love seeing storage solutions like this.

Question, whey did you decide to store your bottom materials at a angle like that?

 

[airrj]

I love the casters. My mill, lathe, and workbench won't have wheels on them; everything else I own will. The remnant rack looks very handy. I would like to see a photo of it and your thoughts about it in six months just to see if you have any tweaks that you do to it.

Also, "The one to one rescue system" hanging on the wall behind the rack. What is the rest of that poster?

 

[Strouty]

I like most of the design, I do think the angled steel rack has a lot of wasted space, there has to be something you could store behind it. Maybe make some bins for very short but useful pieces or make it so you could slide more stock in from the ends? I really want to see the sheet portion loaded. That is where I have the most trouble, my sheet goods are place behind some other cabinets, I have to move the cabinets away from the wall when I need to get a piece out. I really would like to have my rack mobile, but it is an older design that has separate columns. I feel I would be better off starting from scratch. I too suffer from shorter piece syndrome, it really does mess up the rack for sure. My rack is only good for 16' length, I have to store anything longer than that in a very awkward location, so I tend to use my longer steel quickly.

Thank you for posting up the pictures, hope I wasn't too critical, great job overall!

 

[fnieto]

The original steel rack was built 16 years ago to fit in my attached shop. The angle of the rack allowed me to clear the door with the rack agenst the wall (5'). The new shop had the same distance from the wall to the door jam keeping the drive through clear. The angle allows for alot of material to be stacked per shelf. The angle also allows you to grab the end and flip it to the top for pulling without dumping other stock.

All of my machines are on HD casters with the exception of the precision machines. I'm really trying to run a clean,clutter free shop environment.
The "One to one rescue system" is our slogan to one of the products we patented and sell.
The RescuExpress is a multi casualty rescue litter used by military and fire departments.
Thanks for the comments. I wanted to share a solution that plagues many fabrication shops.

 

[airrj]

Nice product. And thanks for the ideas.

 

[fnieto]

Nice product. And thanks for the ideas.

Sure thing,
take care.