Scrap steel storage

[Rt jam]

Looking for ideas to store end cuts and scrap steel tubing, angle iron and flatbar.

Tire of it laying on the floor. Looking for the smallest footprint possible so stacking it vertically is the goal.

 

[Bessy]

How much scrap are we talking? That will dictate how much space you need. I'd consider treating it like a lumber rack, short pieces 16" or less in cubbies, with longer pieces on end up against the side. With a few bands of steel or wood to hold them upright.

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[didit]

I've been contemplating the same issue. I have several lengths of heavy wall plastic drainage pipe of various diameters up to 12". I could put these to use.
I was thinking of using these by cutting out several elongated holes with a hole saw and skil saw, on a 45 degree slant, for easy access to shorter pieces. They could stand about a foot tall and be anchored or even hinged at the floor to make it easier to load/unload lengths of steel. A small footprint and stability. I have a 12' ceiling height and could stand up a lot of steel without using up valuable floor/wall space. A length of chain lagged into the wall and strung to a hook on the next stud will hold everything in place and provide adjustability.

 

[Kaizen]

Similar plight. Just got four of these. They hold a lot of weight. At 14 bucks each it works well. Eventual plan is to have something like this with pull out drawers and stand up storage for 2-4 ft pieces. The rest will be in a rack.


Stackable Storage Bin in Black

https://www.homedepot.com/p/300170479


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[isb cornbinder]

I found the LISTA cabinet on Craigslist for $100. It is perfect for metal storage.
I put casters under the cabinet for easy moving.

 

[Gummi Bear]

I cut down a 55 gal drum, and put it on a drum dolly so I can move it out of the way, or make it easier to rummage through





You can see my sheet goods leaned up against the wall behind it.



I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

Henry David Thoreau

 

[PugetDude]

Tack like-size 1'-2' long pieces together and stand them vertically. You're going to cut it to size as soon as you pull it out of the pile anyway.

 

[matt_i]

I don't have the right structure, the idea is in my head, but I feel like I want to weld a washer to short pieces (under 10ft long) and hang them up like the v-belt selection in an old time gas station/service garage. Buy a box of non-plated washers just for such purpose.

Alternate would be to drill a 1/8" hole in the end and use rebar wire tie loop but it seems like more work.

That way its always vertical, never fall over in a crash, easily seen, handles multi-lenghts.

Under 27-28" I use a Vidmar. It would kill any caster set under 8" dia the way its loaded...

Edit: looks like a person can't buy a non-plated (plain steel) washer any more....its either drill them or a punch & shear session on the ironworker.

 

[MushCreek]

I'm slowly getting my stuff organized. As a retired tool maker with a home shop, I have lots of metal stock laying around. I have some very strong shelves, and some metal bins, so I sorted all of my short stuff into brass, aluminum. tool steel, etc. At least then when I need a little piece of brass, I know where to look. The longer pieces are standing up between wall studs, but once I finish the walls, I'll have to come up with a better system.

 

[txvwnut]

Mines in two buckets. I started with one and said this will be the size I need... more of to store everything in. I have an idea on the project list to make a scrap, I like to call it project steel, storage container out of an old bed frame and plywood and put it on casters.

 

[nadogail]

I was able to get some 2" iron pipe that had been holding up a clothes line and added 8" sections of angle welded perpendicularly spaced about a foot apart. I welded tabs on the upper ends and lagged them to rails of a strong fence. The 2" pipes became uprights and the angles are pegs that have steel laid across them. The hold the weight of the steel and the fence keeps them from falling over.

This is under a bit of a shed roof along side of my workshop garage. A 5' high gate on the alley end screens the "lumber yard" from the neighbors.

 

[wrenchguy]

My drops to about 4' long outside leaning against shop wall.

 

[brownbagg]

i maded a"A" frame, for my longer stuff

 

[A**holes Garage]

 

[TurnipTruck]

Until I moved, I had a pyramid of 55 gallon drums on their sides outside sorted into rectangle tube/square tube/angle/exhaust tube/bar/plate/heavy plate remnants.

 

[Rt jam]

I do not have enough scrap for a steel drum. If I had to guess it's about 50 pieces of off cuts. I generally throw away less than a foot and have nothing longer than 8'. Garage is also small so vertical storage is my goal.

This is what I found on google.

 

[Augus7us]

I was going to mention the first photo you just posted. That is the one I plan on building once I finish my shop.

 

[astroracer]

Here is one I built a few years ago. Still in use and loaded up. The nice thing is, it is mobile. Rolls around for cleaning and access to both sides.

Build thread:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=236804&highlight=roll+round
Mark

 

[homebuilt burner]

My father and I have used a version of all of those shown above. They will all work fine.

But, the first step is to decide which pieces are scrap and which are useable pieces. I did this by picking an arbitrary size and sticking to it. In my shop, anything under 6" long is scrap iron anything over this is useable. If you make the choice there is less stuff around.

 

[Rt jam]

Thanks for the ideas. This is what I've got so far. Going to add a wood back to support the pieces leaning back and to the sides. Then some rods going forwards to help stand the longer ones up. Might do small casters too.

 

[4 FN 27]

I try to utilize space under Work Benches for my drops I want to save for later. I added some shelving under my "Assembly" Bench.

The Saw Feeder Table works to. I need to add a few features to this area.

I did build a rack for some of the odds and ends and use plastic Totes separating materials by type. Just picked up some better Bins and need to transfer to those.

For Tubing under 4-6 Feet I built a rack and sort by shape.

Sheet stock has it's rolling cart. Sorted by Material Type and Thickness.

Scrap gets recycled...drop get made into other things.

 

[schurtjl]

I found this awhile back and really like the storage rack this guy built in the video. I plan on making one soon.

 

[MushCreek]

Funny- I use the short pieces the most, especially round stock for lathe projects. I often need a little 2" piece of angle iron to weld on for a mounting bracket. I save just about everything, but I don't have all that much stuff in stock right now.

 

[turtleman321]

I started with a 5 gallon bucket. now i have 6 buckets full hah.

Need to just consolidate and scrap the majority.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a tote like those used in delivery goods to stores, plastic with flip open top. I have it mounted to a larger HF mover's dolley. It rolls under the workbench.

 

[matt_i]

I found this awhile back and really like the storage rack this guy built in the video. I plan on making one soon.

Man, I would have moved about 30 yards out being paranoid about that overspray on the building exterior

But he built a nice design.

 

[cj7jeep81]

I found the LISTA cabinet on Craigslist for $100. It is perfect for metal storage.
I put casters under the cabinet for easy moving.

Since no one else said it, you ****
Would love to have a couple Lista cabinets for machine tooling, but even at auction they normally go $400.

 

[Mattlt]

I acquired a few old server racks over the years. One holds shorter pieces, the other longer ones. I'm not totally happy with the vertical rack; have to dig through too much to find the right piece.

 

[Rt jam]

Thanks for the great ideas and links. I wish I had the room for horizontal storage. Here is what I came up with for my little area.

What is hard to see in the picture is a built it with a bit of a lean towards the center to keep it stable and there is a chain to keep any tall pieces captured in case it want to fall forward.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a tote like those used in delivery goods to stores, plastic with flip open top. I have it mounted to a larger HF mover's dolley. It rolls under the workbench.

Updated with a couple of pictures.

 

[zmotorsports]

Sheet stock has it's rolling cart. Sorted by Material Type and Thickness.

Scrap gets recycled...drop get made into other things.

Pat, all of those drops made me drool. I'd give my left nut to have most of that on hand in my shop.

I also like your mobile sheet metal cart/rack. I have been contemplating building a small version now that I have a small brake I will have slightly more sheet metal than previously and would like to keep the pieces organized and readily available.

Thanks.

 

[lis2323]

Here’s some random pics of steel storage around my shop

 

[vrinner]

I made something simple, in the corner out of the way and vertical.
A few tall pieces with plate on the bottom bolted to the floor. Then a couple of bars horizontally with some arms sticking out to make separate "cubbies".

Works good for the longer scrap stuff. Shorter stuff I just pile in a box.
View media item 98662

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

The only scrap steel storage I have is stuff that is getting save for monthly local DPW pickup.

I used a plastic Postal Tote for several months. This month I watched as the DPW guy stopped, threw the scrap (tote and all) into his truck and drove away.

Cheers

Jim

 

[4 FN 27]

Pat, all of those drops made me drool. I'd give my left nut to have most of that on hand in my shop.

I also like your mobile sheet metal cart/rack. I have been contemplating building a small version now that I have a small brake I will have slightly more sheet metal than previously and would like to keep the pieces organized and readily available.

Thanks.

Mike while I don't accept "left Nuts" as payment I will offer this: Come to Minnesota and you can go dumpster diving for drop pieces. I have a couple of people that stop by on occasion to do a little diving.

Every Monday @ 9:40 am My Brother the CEO, the GM, the Engineering Manager, Ops Director, Quality Director, Shop and Prototype Foremen and myself walk the floor as part of our Lean Initiative. A couple of weeks ago I altered the tour path to walk everyone past the Bins where are the drop goes. I pulled (3) .060 x 28 x 48 pieces of #4 Finished Stainless out of 1 bin. Drops from the end of the sheet.

It was an eye opener for most. I see it every Friday after the plant shuts down for the weekend. I make my weekly trip through with my favorite Shopping Cart...the forklift. I grab whatever I need.

Now it does seem wasteful but at the same time we can't keep it all. As much as we would love to order Sheet Stock to size time does not always allow for it. The customers want their parts faster and faster.

Currently we are looking to sell off a 1997 Laser (our first Laser) that only gets used on a couple of jobs a year. That space would then be converted into a storage area for drops (24 x 24 minimum) of the more expensive types of material. It would be right next to our Prototype Lasers thus the operator can just take from that supply to fill the orders.

A few of the issues we run into is Material Certs. If a customer needs Material Certs we have to have a way of tracking that piece of material back to a Purchase Order. Another issue is material thickness. Variations in thickness make it a challenge to hold angles in the forming operations.

A couple of hurdles but I am sure these smart cookies around here will sort it out. I think our new business system software is capable of printing a Bar Code Label having the PO #, Material Spec, Thickness and drop size which can easily be applied to the end of a drop...I haven't mentioned this yet. I want to see who takes the bull by the horns and figures it out. The Label then can translate into and inventory our Purchasing Manager can oversee saving "the firm" money and eliminate some waste.

Bring a Trailer Mike...

 

[zmotorsports]

Mike while I don't accept "left Nuts" as payment I will offer this: Come to Minnesota and you can go dumpster diving for drop pieces. I have a couple of people that stop by on occasion to do a little diving.

Bring a Trailer Mike...

I would love to Pat. While the sheet sounds tempting, what really drew my gaze were all of those thick cuts of aluminum and steel under your workbench. Those are just beckoning to be machined into something cool and useful.