Replies

1. 
   Northboundtrain | Mar 06, 2006 05:06pm | #1

   That lee valley system looks real nice -- if you've got the money to spend.  Right now, I'm building a wood storage shed and I'm trying to figure out what to use for a rack.  The LV system would cost me over $700, so I think I'll end up building a simple rack with 2x4s and plywood gussets.

1. 
   garmtn | Mar 09, 2006 06:21pm | #10

   Not trying 2 b funny but, whats a gusset?????

1. 
   Northboundtrain | Mar 10, 2006 05:34am | #12

   A gusset is a plate that is used to connect two pieces of wood or whatever together.  In this case, the two pieces being connected are a wall stud and a 20"-24" tapered 2x4 for the horizontal member.  The gusset is a piece of plywood glued and screwed to both to make the connection.  I'll probably use two gussets -- one on each side. 

1. 
   garmtn | Mar 10, 2006 01:56pm | #13

   Thanks for info.  I made a storeage rack for garage junk frm 2x4's and "strong ties."  Don't know if u ever used them but, wrk great!  Anyway, plans I saw have u make a jig, then use it 2 drill into 2x4s on an angle and insert black pipe for support of the wood.  They recommended making plywood shelf over the pipes to keep wood flat and straight.

2. 
   agomega | Mar 07, 2006 01:47am | #2

   I own the Lee Valley system and I think it is great. They describe how sturdy it is on the website but I was still surprised at how heavy duty it was when it arrived. I would worry about the wall it is mounted to caving in before I worry about any of the lumber rack components having a problem. I would definitely buy it again.

   Phil

1. 
   woodman1549 | Mar 07, 2006 02:24am | #3

   Thanks Phil, when I built the shop I used 2x6 construction and where I am going to put the storage I put double studs.

   Mark

3. 
   JeffHeath | Mar 08, 2006 12:55am | #4

   mark

   I recently put a horizontal storage system in my new shop.  I first looked at LV's system, but knew I could do better than the $650 it priced out at plus the shipping.

   Here's what I came up with, and it works absolutely great.  I glued and screwed 3 sheets tall wise of 4 x 8 3/4" plywood to the studs.  Then 24" on center, I screwed with 5/16" lag bolts through 2 x 4's vertically, 5 across.  I went to Menards, and in their industrial shelving area, I found Heavy Duty Steel Hangers with a 20" total width capacity for about $7 apiece.  They are rated for 1500 lbs. for 2, and I used 5 across for each row.  I have 4 rows going up, all level to each other, and it works fantastically.  Not even a creak out of it, and I filled each level completely with cherry and maple. 

   Total spent including plywood, 2x4's, brackets, and lag bolts   =   $198.00. 

   If you'd like a picture, let me know.

   Jeff

1. 
   BilljustBill | Mar 08, 2006 03:35am | #7

        Jeff,

       It seems about 3 issues ago, I thought Fine Woodworking had quite a nice article on building your own wood storage system.  It was almost to the back of that issue.  Could you post a picture of your ideas and solution?

      Thanks,

       Bill

1. 
   JeffHeath | Mar 09, 2006 02:40am | #9

   Here you go gang.  This is what I came up with, and it works very well.

   Jeff

   
2. 
   Frozen | Mar 09, 2006 08:44pm | #11

   An advantage to the Lee Valley system is that the supports only take up about 2 inches: the system shown in your photograph looks like the supports take up about 10-12" of wall space. When space is at a premium (as in my shop), that can make a difference. The fact that my sister-in-law worked at LV at the time and got me the employee discount didn't hurt either.“Expectation strolls through the spacious fields of Time towards Opportunity.”
   Umberto Eco, The Island of the Day Before

4. 
   mufti | Mar 08, 2006 01:06am | #5

                 I have used individual tubular saddle racks on the wall for horizontal storage. The advantage is that the arm lifts and twists to lay flat when the rack is empty. Cheap from horse supplies.

5. 
   RickL | Mar 08, 2006 01:58am | #6

   Someone bought the LV initially for our shop. The next time I bought the Grizzly rack system. Pretty much the same thing for a lot less.

   I would take 2 x4's and double them up an drill holes for EMT and go that route myself. Worked in a shop where we had hundreds of pounds of brass stock on such a rack and no problems.

1. 
   henboy | Mar 08, 2006 05:21am | #8

   I agree, the EMT or galvanized pipe set up works great.

   Mine are set in holes spaced 12" vertically, in 4 x 4 treated pine and lag bolted to the wall. I canted the holes up about 2 degrees, and the pipes settle level under load.

   This system is inexpensive, very strong and the spacing is easily changed to accommodate current lumber supply. Pipe length may also be varied.

   After getting a nice 'smile' in my forehead (from bonking the end of a pipe), I added rubber balls in the ends of the pipe !!!

   HL

6. 
   forestgirl | Mar 14, 2006 09:11am | #14

   Here's the rack I built using 2x4's and pipe, based on a design in one of the mags several years back.

   http://forums.taunton.com/tp-knots/messages?msg=7813.1

   The pipes can be moved to adjust the heights of the stacks.  Super-inexpensive to build, it's been up several years now and hanging in there just fine.  Now has alot more lumber on it, including teak and white oak, fairly heavy stuff.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   

1. 
   woodman1549 | Mar 14, 2006 10:47pm | #15

   Thanks for the pcs your rack looks great!

2. 
   TomFerreira | Mar 19, 2006 01:49am | #16

   Not to steal this thread but Jamie, where has Sarge been?

   TDF

1. 
   forestgirl | Mar 19, 2006 08:56am | #18

   Hi Tom.  Sarge hasn't been active at Knots for a couple years now.  He's persuing another "hobby" rather seriously from what I remember.  I tried to email him before Christmas and it bounced back so I wasn't able to get an update.  Drop me an email and I'll give you more detail if you want.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

3. 
   Jaymac630 | Mar 19, 2006 05:40am | #17

   Hello forestgirl,

   Your lumber storage rack looks good.

   I notice the lumber is 6' or better.

   How do you store short pieces of lumber.

   I have a shop 24x24. I installed three shelves the entire length of one wall.  the first shelf is 4 ' up from the floor.

   The wall is 9' tall.  I have accumalated since 1982 enought cutoffs and short pieces of 3/4  and 8/4 to fill up one and a half of these shelves . (problem) I use the lower shelf for long and  uncut lumber.  Do you have a suggestion

   1. better way to store cut offs.

   2. The cut offs lenghts are various sizes

    

   Thank You in advance  

   Jaymac

    

1. 
   forestgirl | Mar 19, 2006 09:07am | #19

   Oh, man, I'm not going to be much help with the miscellaneous stuff.  I have a separate rack that stores some wood vertically, and that's where I'm keeping the short stuff now (that, and in office-style waste bins for the 1x stock).  It's not at all space effecient.  I've actually considered going to an all-vertical system for the dry stuff.

   With embarrasment, I'll put a pic of the other rack below.  It now has probably 3x that much wood in it.  What I really have to do is get rid of those trash bins. 

   View Imageforestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)