[TheForge] Steel Storage

[Bob Ehrenberger]

That was my article in the July /Aug BAM newsletter.

Having good stock racks has really made my life a lot easier.

I can send you a PDF of the article if you you like.

Robert Ehrenberger
Shelbyville, Mo.
eforge at centurytel.net

----Original Message: --------
Date: Wed, 21 Dec 2005 08:27:06 -0500
From: "Bruce Freeman" <FREEMAB at pt.fdah.com>
Subject: Re: [TheForge] Steel Storage
To: <theforge at mailman.qth.net>
Message-ID: <s3a911ed.091 at gv01a67m.gv.us.pri.wyeth.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII

Happens I was going through recent ABANA chapter newsletters passed along to
me by our editor, and I came across a steel rack in one of them.
Unfortunately, I don't remember which - but maybe someone on this forum will
remember.  The rack was constructed from available materials, which in this
case were I-beams and rectangular stock.  The rack is basically this:

E
E
E
E

etc.  You get the idea:  A backbone with ribs sticking out one way only.
This author chose to angle the ribs upwards slightly, which is a good idea
for roundstock, but not (IMNSHO) for flat or rectangular stock, for which
horizontal supports are probably better.  The rack was welded together, but
I'm sure one could be made bolted together.  A friend of mine has a rack
like this, and also a two-sided rack like this (ribs point both ways from
backbone).

Now, IMNSHO, tubes are NOT a good idea.  The author of the above article had
used cement blocks and came to the same conclusion.  It's a PITA to slide
stock in from the end.  You want a rack that gives you access anywhere along
the length.

My own steel rack is not like I've described.  Instead it is a series of
square hooks (3 sides of a 6" square) bolted onto steel shelves along one
side of my shop.  The hooks are positioned such that they only slightly
block access to the shelves behind them (which are spaced about 18" apart
vertically).  I have three 4-foot-long shelf units (from Home Depot) so I
can stash up to 12' lengths, but this could be extended to twenty feet (had
I the shop space) by adding two more such shelf units.  I've probably got
about a half a ton of stock on the hooks.

Bruce
NJ