Oil and Fluid Storage

[brycez28]

I'm finishing the inside of my garage. I have it insulated and have a couple panels left to hang up and the walls and ceiling will be covered with tempered hardbaord, then I can paint it. I'm trying to figure out the best utilization of my space (14'x 20' garage). I don't really have room for cabinets, any ideas for fluid storage? I've got all my cans/bottles of WD-40, PB Blaster, carb cleaner, anti-sieze, power steering fluid, transmission fluid, washer fluid, coolant, oils, etc. I had a few shelves (about 15 square feet of shelf space), but they always looked cluttered. Also, any space saving/organization ideas for engine oil? I probably have around 40 quarts (car, truck, boat, atv, lawnmower, snowblower, and weed eater all take different oils). I have a 2"x4" framed loft in my rafters (7' ceiling) and was thinking of maybe making pockets so the quarts of oil could lay on their side under the loft?

 

[JFBURLINGHAM207]

I have a shelf for all the spray cans, but I buy oil in 1, 2, or 5 gallon cans so it has to sit in the corner

 

[bullfrog123]

I use an old upright freezer that took a chit. Keeps things organized and clean. Easy to see whats there and what you may need. With it being sealed tightly all the funnels and such stay much cleaner.

 

[wrench409]

I have eight cases of motor oil in my garage attic.

If the place ever catches fire, it'll look like a burn off pit in south Louisana.

All other consumables (vehicular and home project) go on shelves that I'm planning to add doors to.

Human consumables go in the lil' dorm fridge o' course.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Bottles of oil laying on their side is asking for trouble. Somethings gonna leak. The bottles need to stay upright.

I have a 8 ft section of pallet rack, 26" deep, that I have Blitz galvanized steel drip pans on that are something like 24x48. I keep loose oil and fluid containers sitting on these sheets. Other oil is in full cases on the shelves.

Charles

 

[crewchief888]

the ********* cab up on the back wall is an industrial/commercial base cabinet, approx 48" w x 36" h x 24" d.

heavy as hell,
screwed to the wall studs with approx 1.6 million screws.




holds all my oil, lube, coolant, ect

trash day pickup on the side of the road....

 

[Reverend]

I used milk creates, stacked sideways and upright depending on use. U can always see what's in them and they always stack the same

 

[wrench409]

Bottles of oil laying on their side is asking for trouble. Somethings gonna leak. The bottles need to stay upright.

Yes, mine are in the cases too. I don't drive as much as in the past, so all those cases are taking up shelf space on the back wall.

 

[owenst7]

I believe I actually read about someone doing this here, but I recently started storing my quarts and similar fluids in a heavy file cabinet. It allows me to keep sparks and dust off them, along with stacking them vertically with some organization so they are quick to get to but take up less floor space.

The aerosols and really flammable stuff goes in a small refrigerator that the refrigerant leaked out of. The seal keeps the fumes out of the rest of the garage, and again, the stuff is protected from sparks.

 

[justanengineer]

Do yourself a favor and get a proper flammables cabinet. Ive heard numerous times from firefighters that the minute they see more than a few bottles or barrels laying in the open is when they pull out and youre ruled a total loss.