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Need some storage ideas for material

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BrokeEF

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Joined
Dec 24, 2008
Messages
341
Location
Elgin, IL
Hey guys, I am in the middle of "remodeling" my garage. You can see all of the progress here

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=365450

The quick details are that it is a 20' x 20' space with 8' ceilings. I tend to work on a little of everything from cars to wood working. As such I always have some amount of materials around. I am looking for some ideas to store both long stock (tubing, conduit, long boards, etc.), and sheet stock (drywall, plywood, MDF, etc.). I am trying to take up as little floor space as possible. Clearly a rack on the wall will be good for the long stock. I am more looking for some ideas for designs on that. The sheet stock is where I am really stuck. Do I build something overhead, and if so how? I have seen a member here who did a really cool cart deal that was on wheels.

So any ideas you guys have for methods, designs, plans, or whatever is appreciated.

Thanks,
Sean
 
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tjdux

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Feb 4, 2014
Messages
801
Location
Southern Nebraska
I built a lumber cart on castor wheels that is the standard A frame design that's commonly found on google search or pinterist but the big space saving concept is that i leave it outside on my rear alleyway concrere drive.

Its tarped up pretty good and so far nothing has got damaged from water. I realize that a big enough wind storm and the tarp will come off but been good now for over 2 years.

It is a bit of a pain to use since it has to be opened and retarped when done so i tend to use it as a long term storage device. If i end up with a extra sheet it goes on there. I still keep some scraps in the actual shop and i generally wait til shop gets full (messy) do a deep cleaning. Throw away so scraps then put the rest on the cart. Also if i go to open it even when cleaning up scraps i force myself to make something like a tool holder to organize a group of tools just to not hoard every little peice.

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theoldwizard1

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Feb 22, 2011
Messages
43,137
Location
SE MI
Same problem with long small stock.

I bough the largest pre-made shelf brackets I could find.
49153_plat.jpg

and lag bolted them to every other studs about 1' down from the top plate across the back wall.

I went about 2' down from that and installed another set, but I put 1by #2 pine screwed to the top so I could use it for short pieces and boxes. I had to drill a couple more screw holes in the horizontal member because I mounted 3 pieces of 1x6.

Sure being high up they are a pain to get to, but also, the stock is out of the way.
 
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Kaizen

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Jan 9, 2015
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6,948
Location
New England
I got a few lumber holders from rockler for thirty bucks I think. They have standards that screw onto studs and shelf brackets that fit into them. I have hundreds of pounds on each bracket. If you have a lot can you use upstairs for storage?
For sheet goods it's hard. An a frame on wheels that slides in between some items is the best but takes up so much space. Consider just getting rid of it all and buy as you need sheet goods.


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James-W

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Feb 3, 2013
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Location
Southeastern Wisconsin
This may not be an idea you would consider doing, but I have seen this before and it worked out well for the guy. He built a shed right next to his workshop, about 4 or 5 feet away from the side. The shed was about 12 feet wide and 36 feet long (same length as his shop) and he made a covered walkway between his shop and the shed with a door that he could close. He kept all of his project materials and his other supplies in the shed and that kept his shop area nice and neat for working.

I realize this may not be practical for you to do, or even possible, but if you could do it this would likely be ideal because then everything would be on a lower level and you would have easy access to it.
 
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PFSard

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Sep 12, 2013
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2,423
Location
Mesa, AZ
Looks like you've done a lot of great work. A 20 X 20 space is not a lot. If possible, I would not store stock in the garage. Takes up too much room.

Good luck with that water leak.
 
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isb cornbinder

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Nov 3, 2010
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7,073
Location
Pacific South West, BC, Canada
I like to use http://acmeshelving.com/index.php/ez-rect-shelving.html
The only tool one needs to assemble is a hammer. There are many choices of width and depth. I have lots of this racking in my shop, a basement storage area and our wine room.
Those red clay drain tiles make good wine storage. I lay the tiles on their sides. It is important to put two thin strips of soft wood between the rows or the weight will destroy the lower tiles. The tiles help to stabilize the room temperature and keep the light off the bottles.
I use those 8 inch diameter plastic tubes for storing pieces of small dimension steel croppings. Those hard card-board shipping tubes are good for storing gasket material and plastic rolls of sheeting.
 
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B

BrokeEF

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Joined
Dec 24, 2008
Messages
341
Location
Elgin, IL
Thanks for the responses so far guys! Allow me to clear some things up.

I am not able to do any near by storage. I have the family room on one side, kitchen along the back and the other side is just outside, but too close to the property line to do anything additional. That also means I am not able to store anything outside.

Someone also mentioned storing material in the attic, but unfortunately that is already full of stuff.

I do also try to not store material, but it ends up happening regardless. Things like wood are not that big of a deal because I can easily run to the store and get more, but sheet metal, carbon fiber, tubing, etc. are not easy to get same day and can also be expensive so I tend to hold onto it. So as much as I would love to not have to store more stuff, its inevitable.

I will have to check out some of the racks you guys mentioned and start to see what I like and what I don't. I have some ideas for the sheet stock, and will check out the one that was linked as well.

Thank you guys for the help so far, keep the ideas coming! Thanks also for the kind words. Its not much but I am trying to make it as usable as possible on a budget. I just got done closing up the wall from that water leak. That was a wrench in the works for sure, but that's life :D


Sean
 
J

jrdchiropractic

New member
Joined
Dec 11, 2014
Messages
3
Hang a rack from the ceiling over the open garage doors. A sheet of plywood for the “floor”. Hang one for studs/conduit/pvc etc, and another for sheets.
 
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