Replies

1. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 16, 2007 03:22am | #1

   I store all mine in a rack that I built solely for this purpose.  It holds 30 sheets, and is tilted back at an angle and fully supported, so none of the boards warp due to sagging.  They are all standing up, but I have a 12 foot ceiling in the shop, so it's not a problem for me.  I store all I can standing up to take advantage of the unused real estate in the upper third of my shop!  Whichever way you decide, I think it's more important to make sure the sheets are fully supported to keep them as flat as possible.

   Jeff

   
   

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   Edited 1/15/2007 7:24 pm ET by JeffHeath

1. 
   loucarabasi | Jan 16, 2007 04:33am | #2

   hey jeff, do you have any pictures of the rack

   Thanks, Lou

1. 
   JeffHeath | Jan 16, 2007 07:03pm | #4

   Lou

   I don't, and I would have to empty it to take one.  It's nothing special, just a 2x4 wall 8 feet tall tipped back at about 5°.  It has a plywood back, and a plywood floor. 

   If I were to do it again, I'd build it with side access, so I wouldn't have to remove all the boards to get to something in the back.  Oh well!  Works for now.

   Jeff

2. 
   ring | Jan 16, 2007 01:37pm | #3

   If it's large quantities (dozens of sheets, all the same) then lying flat on pallets is the best way. But you must have a fork lift and lots of space.

   I have a metal rack that holds about 50 sheets standing up straight, with dividers every 10" or so. They don't seem to suffer from standing straight, and you can pull out any item easily.

   David Ring

   http://www.touchwood.co.il/?id=1&lang=e

1. 
   KD7NKN | Jan 16, 2007 07:16pm | #5

   Thanks for the great information! 

   It sounds to me as if the orientation of the wood isn't as important as having the surface supported.  True statement? 

   Thanks again!

   Cheers,

   Cliff

1. 
   mapleman | Jan 17, 2007 12:45am | #6

   Cliff,

   Jeff's idea on a rack is a good one. It wouldn't work for me, as I use a few different types of plywood for each job. Murphy's law says the sheet I need would be in the back under everything else. I try to minimize how much plywood I keep at a time, I order a few extra sheets  than I need for a job, and if I don't  use them they get used on the next job. Some of the plywood I use is chinese in origin. It is stored flat at the warehouse where my lumber distributor is located. I can get home and put it in the rack and see that some of the sheets are already bowed. It has been my experience that the higher quality plywood (such as maple and cherry) seems more stable and less prone to warp/bow in the rack.  Maybe it's just me that notices that, or maybe it's just the brand I'm getting.

   Anyway, I built this rack about 6 months ago because I was tired of digging what I needed out from behind the stack of plywood I had leaned up against the wall. The pics are not great and the shop is a mess, but you can get the idea. If I have something particularly valuable and I won't be using it right away, I push it flat against one of the sides and c-clamp it so it is extremely vertical.

   Lee

   
1. 
   KD7NKN | Jan 17, 2007 05:03am | #7

   Lee,

   Thanks for the pictures!  Do you have some way of holding them tight against the rack frame?  (bungee cord etc.)  Do your sheets stay fairly flat? 

   mmm....I might have to borrow your plan. :) 

   Thanks Lee.

   Cheers!

   Cliff

1. 
   mapleman | Jan 17, 2007 08:10am | #8

   Cliff,

   Do my sheets stay fairly flat?  I haven't noticed any issues with the sheets sagging, but like I said, the plywood doesn't stay in there long. Most of it stays in there a week, the rest maybe 2 weeks longer.

   The left side is almost empty, there are 2 1/2 sheets left over from a job. The right half holds my 1/4" (which has the most tendency to warp) and some assorted maple and cherry, plus a few other things. I try to keep that half stuffed with more things to keep the sheets upright. The place I get my ply from keeps a skid of 4 X 8 cardboard. I always get a sheet for the bottom and top of the stack for the ride home. Comes in handy around the shop, and it's free. I have a bunch of those sheets stuck in there for "filler", if I need the room, I can just chunk them out. If need be, the plywood can be pushed up against the side of the rack and held in place with a c-clamp or quick grip. This keeps it perfectly upright.

   As far as borrowing the plan, help yourself. If you want more pics, let me know. I should have the space cleared out in front of the rack in a few days, and I can get some better pictures.

    A few suggestions: Make the rack a bit higher than 8' - mine is about 8'6". Gives you a little room to get the sheets in and out. You don't want a piston fit. and make sure you have 2 x 4's on the ground between the plywood and floor, keeps the ply from absorbing moisture from your concrete. Good luck and if you need anything, let me know.

   Lee

3. 
   Jfrostjr | Jan 17, 2007 07:02pm | #9

   I too store my plywood on edge - horizontally. It is easy to select any of the back sheets by leaning them forward against the rope-supported frame. I have lined the floor with UHMW plastic for easy slide-out.

   Frosty

   
1. 
   KD7NKN | Jan 17, 2007 08:48pm | #10

   Thanks Frosty!

   Some great ideas.  I like the idea of sandwiching the panels together so that you can leaf through them.  The rope 'hinge' is another great idea.

   Thanks again.

   Cheers!

   Cliff 

4. 
   Sequim Tool | Jan 17, 2007 09:25pm | #11

   Flat is best

   In 1962 at Shaples Jr. High in Seattle Wa. Mr. Post's woodworking class. A boy was killed in the stock room when the plywood stacked on it's long side fell over on him.

    

    

5. 
   tuolumne | Jan 17, 2007 11:55pm | #12

   My plywood hides behind the harwood rack.  I have vertical 4x4s floor to ceiling at 32" on center for storing lumber.  These have holes drilled on 6" centers when 3/4" electrical conduit can be placed anywhere.  These 4x4s are set about 12" off the wall and the plywood slides in behind horizontally.  I've never had more than 12 sheets there, so leafting through and hauling out the needed sheet works fine.  Of course, you need more than 8 feet of room next to the rack to get it out.  An aquainence solved this problem by making a slit in the wall, and plywood is hauled into the next room over, then brough back through the door.  Best way?  I doubt it, but it works well for my shop.  The plywood has never deformed in any way, even when just a few sheets are leaning well over.