scrap metal storage

[Johnny A]

hey guys,
I need some ideas. I have lots of metal scrap. Most is piled outside as far as the large pieces.

I have three 5gallon buckets ful of metal brackets,rods,u-bolts,2 inch square stock,ect....

I need to store the "smalls" outside, but want them protected by the rain.
any ideas? My buddy said a trash barrel w/lid & my other buddy said a huge rubbermaid bin. What do you guys use?

JUst want to keep them clean as I can.

 

[matt_i]

I just keep piling it up on a pallet. Which I can move around with a pallet jack. When the day comes its onto the truck and off to the yard.

I don't think they care if its rusty, do they? Its scrap

 

[Garagetime]

I use a 275 oil drum cut in half. That gives me 2 bin's. I cut holes in the top sides to put a chain through. When full pick up with tractor load dump out at scrap yard.

 

[Johnny A]

I use the scrap for "quick fix" welding jobs.
Fixing a tractor/snowblower. It's easier if it's minimal rust.
I should of included that the scrap is pieces I use.

 

[bwringer]

Poke holes in the buckets so rain water doesn't accumulate.

 

[matt_i]

I use the scrap for "quick fix" welding jobs.
Fixing a tractor/snowblower. It's easier if it's minimal rust.
I should of included that the scrap is pieces I use.

Aha. If its not going to stick out like a sore thumb I would get a lateral file and put it outside, build a shed roof or the like, metal or shingled. Some treated wood so the bottom isnt touching soil. If the lateral file gets too rusty, then either repaint it or haul it off with the next load

 

[TurnipTruck]

I used a pyramid of 55-gal drums on their sides, with each drum holding a different shape or material.

 

[6768rogues]

My son owns a lot of properties and regularly replaces bathrooms. I use an old cast iron tub to hold small stuff. It has a lot of capacity and a drain hole. When it is time to take the scrap in, I borrow his dumpster truck, use the bobcat with pallet forks, and toss the entire tub and contents in the dumpster for hauling to the scrap yard. Then I look for another tub.

 

[JRC3]

These food totes/pallets are so cheap on CL, sometimes free. They come in different sizes. Stack the buckets inside. Cut a side out for access or just use the metal cage with some wood and a tarp on top. Be good for large scrap too.



I'm dying to find a use for some of these things.

 

[kbs2244]

Tarp.
Or maybe plastic garbage cans upside down.

Either one is prettier than a pile of rusty junk.

 

[MO-Iron]

I taught welding, metal fabrication and machine shop. We had a lot of people that would stop in and ask if I had a (fill in the blank) piece of scrap metal for a project they were working on. My standard answer was that we don't keep any scrap, but I may be able to sell you something out of the short-stock inventory. A mere change in nomenclature sure cut down on the metal moochers.
For storage, I like to have racks that will allow the stock to be laid flat so that it is easy to find what you are looking for.

 

[engineer2]

Long pieces get stored in an old kitchen garbage can or 5 gal bucket. Useless scrap get put in a cardboard box or coffee can and put out on the curb. It's gone the next day.

 

[nes999]

I taught welding, metal fabrication and machine shop. We had a lot of people that would stop in and ask if I had a (fill in the blank) piece of scrap metal for a project they were working on. My standard answer was that we don't keep any scrap, but I may be able to sell you something out of the short-stock inventory. A mere change in nomenclature sure cut down on the metal moochers.
For storage, I like to have racks that will allow the stock to be laid flat so that it is easy to find what you are looking for.

I use the cage from a 330 gallon tote. I have a sign that says "steel scrap 1.00 per pound" that usually scares of the moochers. The honest people I tend to give them the scrap or offer it to then for a little pocket money. It completely depends on their attitude.

Sent from my VS988 using Tapatalk

 

[isb cornbinder]

I used a pyramid of 55-gal drums on their sides, with each drum holding a different shape or material.

Your idea is one of the best I have ever seen. It is so simple. I need sorted storage for metal cropping and I am going to use your excellent idea, except, I am going to reduce the size down to 8 inch plastic pipe. I have picked up lengths of this plastic pipe for free at construction sites, with permission. The contractors are often pleased to have the shorts taken away.
I have been using this plastic pipe to store gasket material and the thought never crossed my mind to use the pipe for metal crops.
Thanks

 

[4 FN 27]

I only keep "Drops". The scrap gets recycled every few weeks. I just take it to work and toss it in the trailer there. Not worth my time to take it in. Our main plant produces about 20 tons of Laser Webs, Turret Webs and holes a week.

The drop I store under a work bench where I made a racking system. Any thing 2 feet and less across the top, small chunks in the plastic bins below and 3-4 footers from the end.

4-6 foot Drop goes in a rack next to the wall. And anything over 6 feet goes in the material rack and can hold up to 24 footers.

Now I have to work on the Sheet Metal blanks and drop. I have a cart that holds about 3000 lbs right now but need to either build racking for 5 x 10 sheets and create another rack for standing less than full sheets up on end.

TurnipTruck can you post a pic of the pyramid?

 

[isb cornbinder]

I only keep "Drops". The scrap gets recycled every few weeks. I just take it to work and toss it in the trailer there. Not worth my time to take it in. Our main plant produces about 20 tons of Laser Webs, Turret Webs and holes a week.

The drop I store under a work bench where I made a racking system. Any thing 2 feet and less across the top, small chunks in the plastic bins below and 3-4 footers from the end.

4-6 foot Drop goes in a rack next to the wall. And anything over 6 feet goes in the material rack and can hold up to 24 footers.

Now I have to work on the Sheet Metal blanks and drop. I have a cart that holds about 3000 lbs right now but need to either build racking for 5 x 10 sheets and create another rack for standing less than full sheets up on end.

TurnipTruck can you post a pic of the pyramid?

This is a very good day. I just saw some more good ideas.

 

[TurnipTruck]

TurnipTruck can you post a pic of the pyramid?

Sorry, I disassembled it when I moved. It was just ten drums on a pair of RR ties, banded together, and sloped slightly for rain runoff. The lower drums have ovalled from the weight.
The new stack will probably be built into a roofed pallet rack so I don't have to dig so deep during the winter.

 

[astroracer]

This is the roll-a-round rack I built for my shop a few years ago.

The design and build thread is here:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=236804&highlight=roll-a-round+metal+rack
This is so handy... Plus, being mobile, it is never "in the way".
Mark

 

[Johnny A]

Originally Posted by TurnipTruck View Post
I used a pyramid of 55-gal drums on their sides, with each drum holding a different shape or material.:


Guys, thank you so much for all the ideas. I have a few 55 gallon plastic drums. I will try the pyramid this weekend. Thanks for all the ideas. This is the best webpage to gain the knowledge for so many tasks. I honestly appreciate the time you guys took to help me out.



Thank you !!!

 

[n20junkie]

I made some tray organizers out of plywood and 2x4's for the little stuff, and a rack for longer pieces.

Buckets and trash cans are a great way to store stuff for 50 years and never use the bottom 2/3's. For me, anything more than 3.5 inches deep of any one material is too much. I try to get drops 1/2 off or more when I buy other needed materials. The really small stuff just isn't worth keeping around.

Around here scrap with a "free" sign is a sure way to effortlessly make heavy stuff disappear before the next day.

 

[DaveIRL]

the drums are good but sewer plastic pipes are stronger and a hardware shop used the concrete ones stores outside between two walls for all types of pipe and tube stock

 

[sberry]

One of those little metal garden storage sheds with some shelves in it. Mine is in ths shop and use it so much that most of the time I only have to do minimal fab work, can find something close and rarely have to buy steel for repairs.