Pallet racking

[2011laramie]

I sketched up a couple ideas for what I'm thinking. It will be anchored to the wall to prevent sway.

I need to store tires, totes, miscellaneous junk lol. Snowmobile maybe(pending layout decision). Table saw, router table. Nothing extremely heavy, just stuff I don't use week to week.

any comments or ideas, tidbits of knowledge. All appropriated

 

[nadogail]

IMHO, Pallet Racking is wonderful stuff , comparable to Tinker Toys. I have repurposed load beams into Gate and Fence Posts, with my Arc Welder and Chop Saw the possibilities are endless.

I will no cosider the purchase of new pallet racking, either free or used, but never new.

 

[duneslider]

Technically speaking, pallet racking isn't supposed to be attached to the structure. It is designed to move around in seismic events.

I happened to be in our warehouse during an earthquake in 2020 (5.7 so not huge) and it was pretty interesting to see how much the racking swayed around.

Anyway, no idea what the seismic activity is in Alberta, so it might not matter much.

 

[mike93lx]

Anchoring it to the floor is plenty and what is done in industrial environments. It will be plenty ridgid that way

 

[MattN03]

If you stack the two pallet racks back to back with access to only one side, it might be difficult to reach the very back? I have racks that are 42" deep. It would be pretty difficult to get to the very back if they were 84" deep.

 

[turbodave]

You have 13' beams in your drawing and that isn't a size that I have seen before.

4',8', and 10' are what I see most often on auctions or used listings online.

Looking on Grainger's site I see 4', 6',7',8',9',10' and 12' beams listed.

https://www.grainger.com/category/material-handling/storage-workspace/shelving-storage-racks/pallet-racks-components/pallet-rack-beams

I would make sure you can get the sizes you desire.

 

[2011laramie]

You have 13' beams in your drawing and that isn't a size that I have seen before.

4',8', and 10' are what I see most often on auctions or used listings online.

Looking on Grainger's site I see 4', 6',7',8',9',10' and 12' beams listed.

https://www.grainger.com/category/material-handling/storage-workspace/shelving-storage-racks/pallet-racks-components/pallet-rack-beams

I would make sure you can get the sizes you desire.

The guy that's selling it has 12 and 13ft beams.

 

[2011laramie]

If you stack the two pallet racks back to back with access to only one side, it might be difficult to reach the very back? I have racks that are 42" deep. It would be pretty difficult to get to the very back if they were 84" deep.

It will be kinda difficult, but it's stuff I don't use very often. It should realistically be sold hahahah

 

[jack stand]

You'll find that the cross beams really take care of all l/r sway and attachment to the wall is unnecessary.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a section put in to make a corner for the storage I'm using it for. Another thing to think about is using a shelf as a workbench.

 

[mepstein]

We used it a lot at our shop. Never got around to mounting it to the floor.

 

[cannuck]

Always makes me wonder how you intend to lift snowmobiles, etc. onto those pallet racks in a garage???

 

[duneslider]

Always makes me wonder how you intend to lift snowmobiles, etc. onto those pallet racks in a garage???

Most people make ramps and just drive them up.

 

[mike93lx]

Always makes me wonder how you intend to lift snowmobiles, etc. onto those pallet racks in a garage???

Send it

 

[2011laramie]

Always makes me wonder how you intend to lift snowmobiles, etc. onto those pallet racks in a garage???

Pallet forks on tractor or excavator

 

[scooby074]

I like plan A. But Id make it an L with multiple tiers vertical instead of going several deep. Once you get past one section deep its too hard to get to the back. Hilti bolts to the floor will hold it solid.

 

[racecougar]

Pallet racking rocks. Agreed that bolting it to the floor is all that should be done. Getting the kart up on this one (before I had the 4-post lift) was a chore.

 

[laser3kw]

I see a lot of pictures of other people's shops and have one question: where is all your wife's stuff? Some how, my wife's stuff creeped out to my shop. Took 10 years, but it happened.

 

[racecougar]

I see a lot of pictures of other people's shops and have one question: where is all your wife's stuff. Some how, my wife's stuff creeped out to my shop. Took 10 years, but it happened.

In the house.

 

[MFortie]

I went with a ‘lighter’ type racking - Jaken FastRak - in my shop. Smaller and takes up less floorspace than the 4’ deep pallet racks.

Jaken FastRak Starter Unit - Industrial Storage Rack Systems | C&SS

Jaken FastRak starter unit are heavy-duty bulk warehouse storage shelving, featuring a newly designed heavier duty upright.

www.cssyes.com

 

[mogandave]

Pallet racking rocks. Agreed that bolting it to the floor is all that should be done. Getting the kart up on this one (before I had the 4-post lift) was a chore.

That C-10 is badf'nass

 

[racecougar]

That C-10 is badf'nass

Thanks!

 

[jack stand]

Pallet racking rocks. Agreed that bolting it to the floor is all that should be done. Getting the kart up on this one (before I had the 4-post lift) was a chore.

I'm more of a truck guy, but is that a crown vic up on the lift?
It's friggin beautiful.

 

[highdeserthacker]

Great stuff, esp. to take advantage of higher ceilings.
Get more than you think you need.
I didn't plan shelf spacing well enough and ended up changing things around over time...a pain.
Include overhead sections to maximize storage, like over a sink.
You can use magnetic hooks on it for all kinds of things. Eye bolts work too. I 3D printed hangers to go into the slots to hang heavier items, everything from shop clothes to backpacks.

 

[cruzer75]

Make sure you buy extra 13' beams, we have 14ft beams at work for some bridge openings and they are and odd size to get 2nd hand. Also make sure the uprights are all the same depth (you can get different depths) with 42 being one of the more common, so if you want say wire decking for them it will be easier to source (try getting 54" wire decking, it *****)

Pallet racking beams come in different heights/styles (stepped, flat) their is also "structural racking" which is made from C-channel for heavy loads, not necessary for anything you are putting up their.

The shape of the holes in the uprights and the shape of the tabs on the beam to hang are the same or compatible (you don't want to end up with 2 different types that are not compatible)

I have a lean-to shed off the back of my garage made from pallet racking it's 12ft wide (beam length) and then I bolted uprights together to form the walls and cut them at an angle, put some tin roof on and good to go.

 

[MattN03]

Pallet racking rocks. Agreed that bolting it to the floor is all that should be done. Getting the kart up on this one (before I had the 4-post lift) was a chore.

Details on the Cougar?

 

[MattN03]

We used it a lot at our shop. Never got around to mounting it to the floor.

How'd you get the Porsche up there??

 

[mike93lx]

I'm more of a truck guy, but is that a crown vic up on the lift?
It's friggin beautiful.

That's ain't no crown vic

 

[jack stand]

That's ain't no crown vic

It's a handsome car whatever it is. Still waiting to find out.

edit; ok 2 door so no CV. I've seen some CV's "done up" very tastefully that's caught me eye. Now I'm really curious.

 

[mike93lx]

It's a handsome car whatever it is. Still waiting to find out.

edit; ok 2 door so no CV. I've seen some CV's "done up" very tastefully that's caught me eye. Now I'm really curious.

95-97 mercury cougar

 

[HaiKarate]

I went with pallet racking in my shop as I have high ceilings 16 ft eaves - with 16ft racking against a taller gable wall. I bought a small forklift at the same auction to get stuff up and down. Not sure I would want to deal with racks this high w/o one.

 

[mogandave]

Buy more than you need

Set them up, drag them around, drag them around again, try them, drag them around again until you get a layout you're sure you like. Then drag them outside and paint them the colors you want, drag them back in and set them back up.

I would not bolt them down unless I were going to try and hang a jib or some-such from an upright.

I would also buy all the same height (unless I were getting them free) and I would get the tallest ones that will fit. They are easy to cut, and pretty easy to splice. Custom heights and widths are pretty easy to do on the ones I've worked with.

Look at an online catalog for ideas. The last thing you want is a bunch of loaded racks that are okay, but you really wish you'd have done it a little different, using different components.

 

[racecougar]

I'm more of a truck guy, but is that a crown vic up on the lift?
It's friggin beautiful.

Details on the Cougar?

That's ain't no crown vic

It's a handsome car whatever it is. Still waiting to find out.

edit; ok 2 door so no CV. I've seen some CV's "done up" very tastefully that's caught me eye. Now I'm really curious.

95-97 mercury cougar

Thanks all. Don't want to derail the thread, but it's a '90 Mercury Cougar XR7 that I built 20 years ago. It has a blown, all aluminum DOHC 298ci V8, methanol injection, IRS, '97 interior, etc. It's a fun car.

 

[inphx]

I had a floor space challenge and accidentally lucked into using supermarket "gondola" shelving around the perimeter. it allowed me to set shelves higher up the wall so cars can still tuck in underneath and only needs the back support (and a foot at ground level) . I scored mine from a Sears closing. A search of "gondola" shelving on facebook or craigs fijnds used shelves and racking, a little effort is needed to find the longer vertical struts instead of supermarket heights. The 4' wide shelves seems to be standard. The brand i got was "maddix" and the shelves range from 200 to 600 lb load ratings. It wont fit a snowmobile though.

 

[mepstein]

How'd you get the Porsche up there??

We bought a 10K forklift and made a platform for the forks to attach (actually slide into enclosed channels. At first we tried to lift lengthwise but it felt too sketchy so we added channels that were perpendicular to the rack to pick up the car from the mid point. The rack was always full of Porsches and we had a second 3 tier rack off to the side. We bolted the uprights to each other but never bolted them to the floor. It was four deep so it couldn't fall over. It survived the earthquake that originated in VA but rumbled through the area in Delaware. Used pallet racking is very reasonably prices and we build up and break down some benches and racks as needed. I'm going to build a pallet rack work table for my shop. I'll put heavy duty casters on it and use it as a cart for resting a car chassis to be built.

 

[mogandave]

We bought a 10K forklift and made a platform for the forks to attach (actually slide into enclosed channels. At first we tried to lift lengthwise but it felt too sketchy so we added channels that were perpendicular to the rack to pick up the car from the mid point. The rack was always full of Porsches and we had a second 3 tier rack off to the side. We bolted the uprights to each other but never bolted them to the floor. It was four deep so it couldn't fall over. It survived the earthquake that originated in VA but rumbled through the area in Delaware. Used pallet racking is very reasonably prices and we build up and break down some benches and racks as needed. I'm going to build a pallet rack work table for my shop. I'll put heavy duty casters on it and use it as a cart for resting a car chassis to be built.

Why not build skids for them?

 

[TobeyA]

Probably not necessary to mount to the floor or the wall.

I think your first idea is more useable. But the high shelves in the rear might be tough to access unless you leave plenty of room between for a ladder.

I have 14' walls and bought 8' high racks. I put a 30" deep rack against the back wall, with a 48" deep rack parallel to it, about 2.5' apart. Then I built a wooden deck across the two for more storage.

On the other side, I have a 30" deep rack that I turned into a work bench with shelves above and below. I even built some drawers to mount under the bench.

 

[PCO6]

... On the other side, I have a 30" deep rack that I turned into a work bench with shelves above and below. I even built some drawers to mount under the bench.

Pallet racks make great benches. My main bench is 10' long. I was able to put 3 standard width tool cabinets 2 standard width 2 drawer file cabinets below it.

 

[nadogail]

Pallet rack load beams are one of my favorites things to repurpose into fence posts.

 

[TurnipTruck]

If we’re talking about non-rack uses:


I built this bed from pallet rack beams twenty years ago for my beater plow truck. I have since influenced two guys at work to build their beater flatbeds from beams I have given them.